New Guy with 1955 Mk5 Greenie

[Culprit]

Forget the Shopsmith, what is that possibly an engine driven water pump sitting behind it.

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You're exactly right - it's one of my other hobbies. It is a 1924 hit and miss governed Fuller and Johnson Manufacturing Farm Pump Engine coupled to the original water pump that it shipped from the factory with. It's been in my wife's family since 1929. I found it in the hay loft of their barn and got it running again.

Here are a couple YouTube videos of it. The first video is of the engine only after I got it running. The second video shows the engine driving the pump pumping water.

http://youtu.be/gMnfwsP0NgM

http://youtu.be/IzDyNL-P_KA

[Culprit]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

And holsgo, give me some time to do the background reading, watch the videos, and buy the parts I need, then I might hit you up with some questions when I figure out what I want/need to do.

How did you cut the access hole? Did you use a hole saw in a handheld drill, or did you remove the headstock and jig it up in a drill press, or something else like a mill?

I read on the Sawmill Creek forum that some guys over there build a shelf between the legs under the bench pipes and put some sandbags on the shelf. They said the extra weight makes it more stable, and helps dampen vibrations - especially when using it as a lathe. I haven't seen any pictures of such a thing on this forum yet. Any comment on that? Does it help, or if you have good bearings and align everything properly is it not necessary?

Does anyone have any pictures or parts diagrams of the jig saw? I have the lower blade mount, but must be missing some parts for the upper blade mount.

[chipmaster]

Watched the video--Very cool! First time I've seen an engine like that in operation. I've heard the local watermen used to have single-cylinder engines in their boats--Would that be the same idea?

v/r,

Rick

[Culprit]

Chipmaster, I was re-reading this thread to remember something, and noticed I didn't answer your question.

Yes, variants of that type of engine were used in boats. The name hit and miss engine refers to the type of governing system used. There is a spring loaded governor in the flywheel. When the flywheel spins too fast, the governor switch opens. The switch does two things: it electrically disconnects the spark plug, and it mechanically holds the exhaust valve open. Since the intake valve operates from the vacuum of the piston and not with a pushrod/lifter, that prevents fuel from being sucked into the cylinder. And without the spark, it won't fire. When the flywheel slows down, the spring closes the governor and reconnects the spark, and allows the exhaust valve to open and close. The result is an engine that only fires when it senses a load on the engine. This particular engine fires every 4-6 cycles under a normal working load. That sporadic firing is why they're called hit and miss engines. Many people who see them running at engine shows or county fairs think they are adjusted incorrectly and don't understand what they're seeing. And what they're seeing is a very advanced, purely mechanical, inexpensive to manufacture fuel saving technology first developed in the late 1800's. Something car manufacturers have paid a lot of money to try to develop and implement with computer controlled fuel injection. Chevy has spent a lot of money to do the same thing by electronically sensing the load on the engine and shutting down some cylinders when they're not needed. Those systems are complicated and expensive. This system just uses one spring and a latch out cam. And that latch out mechanism serves as both the mechanical and electrical switch in one. It's pretty ingenious.

[henecle]

I must have missed your first post during the holiday rush... also located in PWC, south of Manassas off Rt 234. Welcome to the forum, be glad to help out if I can.