agree all the tractor pulls ive been to all the old timers say the same thing. my friend has a few and he too just let them idle. and the old timers said to bring them over and hook belts to their different equipment and it ran much better. there another channel billtmaxx he has a few small ones he pulls out every once in a while. he has done a few videos of him and his father at tractor pulls doing hay with a small bale hay maker his dad made. bill also has a desk top hit and miss that runs off of zippo liter fluid it actually runs. he shares the link to buy it and it was 300 Canadian dollars so only a hundred our us dollars lol
*That is what I instinctively wanted to do, too. I don't know why it was instinctive. Before I saw your post I had put that up as my suggestion here, too.*
Scrolled down looking for this specific comment, or to make it myself. These old girls need to be under load for them to run properly, they weren't designed to freewheel like that.
@@DMPB-fi2ir Right, but they are designed to fire less often when the load is reduced(or removed). That's why they are called hit & miss engines, because they don't fire(ie. "hit") on every ignition stroke. Therefore, they purposely "miss" more often than they hit when not under load. The problem with ^this engine isn't that it's missing. The problem here seems to be the double-suck intake thing that its doing. I've seen some of these engines that will fire once, then continue to freewheel(miss) for a surprisingly _long_ time before the centrifugal governor finally slows down enough to cause them to fire again. But I've never heard one doing the double intake thing this one is doing.
Memories! Thanks for the video! When I was a kid in the late 40's in South Missouri we had a stubborn farmer who had a tractor that had a "hit and miss" engine and we could hear his engine long before he got to the village. They would sometimes set up a thrashing machine with those very long wide leather belts on those huge pulleys and our parents would spend all their time keeping us kids from getting entangled! Best of luck!
JS, Best way to stop wasting your time keeping kids away from the belt is to let them get mangled. Once. Once is about all it takes ( unless the kid is particularly slow learning ) . . .
Smart dude!!! I just saw a great display of working hit and miss engines at a county fair. An old-timer did his best to explain the "technology" behind the old engines to me. They are a true marvel given their age and the technology of the day. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Where I grew up in Texas there was an oil well about a half mile as crow flies from our house in the country. I can still hear that hit n miss engine running that well in my head. You could tell exactly where it was on the stroke just by listening. I miss hearing that old well engine run......
I lived near one and falling asleep was hard as it was not a steady hit and miss. My neighbor finally snapped and shot it with his 30-06. The oil company replaced the engine with a silent tiny inline 4 cylinder and all neighbors were thankful.
Same here raised in Kermit TX miss that old sound. With the pump going up it popped every time. Going down it sputtered. Needs a load on it to run right.
I have a friend that had twenty or thirty of the old "hit & miss" engines. I was amazed at his ability to get these old engines to run. There used to be a collectors show in Adams, Tennessee every year. Some were really big engines with six foot diameter fly wheels.
They used them alot on the railroads back in the day, not for the trains but I imagine since it's a pump they used them to pump water and maybe other thing's. The old O&W railway by me there is one of these pumps by an old train tunnel
A lot of the big oilfield engines are like this. Hot tube ignition is dead simple, nothing to wear out or get stuck. And it was common for these engines to burn wellhead gas, so they are supplied with LPG in preservation.
That is a beautiful old engine. Oilwell Supply Co was a predecessor to NOV i.e. National Oilwell Varco. NOV is possibly the biggest oilfield equipment manufacturer in the world.
Outstanding effort! " more fuel and intake valve spring pressure" I believe this sentiment was echoed many years later by the Ramchargers in Detroit. Fantastic video! My 93 year old Mom remembers the kerosene hit and miss on the front porch washing clothes.
You're on the right track with an accumulator - a lot of those old engines had a piece of casing with the ends welded shut used as an expansion or accumulator tank to give the engine an easy slurp of fuel instead of drawing through the restrictive regulator....it also separated out moisture from the gas
@@yokiniqu I'm only 25 min into the film but I'm wondering about the temperature of the inlet pipe. In the UK we have at various times seen amounts of LPG powered vehicles because of the price of petrol. (gasoline) They are all a bitch in cold weather to get any cabin heating because the coolant water is first run through a pre heater for the inlet LPG mixture and the pre heater takes quite an amount of heat. Is the low temp of the intake mixture killing the first combustion?
@@COIcultist This is why the best LPG conversion systems inject liquid gas. They cost more, but repay with better fuel economy and fewer warm up issues.
Man that engine sounds like a hit or miss type. I remember these from my grandfather's oil well but never could figure out where it got it power to pump. I saw the flame but that is all I knew. Of course I was to young to be able to go near it but do remember these some. As for the buzzards they only fly over me when I have not showered in a few weeks or months. By all means ask the professionals about this and show us again when running better. Thanks for sharing.
Man, for the clear-coat alone you deserve a thumbs up and my adulation. That is something I have thought was a far better thing than filling and painting beautiful old cast as many fellows do! Thanks for another pleasan, intelligent and entertaining video Sir!
I agree that engines of this type benefit from a load. It stabilizes the entire system and matches the input fuel power with an appropriate load. Even purely mechanical systems require balance. That said, AWESOME diagnostic path and a brilliant resurrection of this antiquarian engineering marvel. You, young man, are a genius. It is a privilege to watch you work and follow your logic. Thanks for sharing. Be safe. What a pepper engine. Generator power using stone knives and bear skins. Realize this is a prime mover capable of operating on any combustible gas and technically approachable with rudimentary iron casting capability. Quite amazing and thanks again for opening my eyes. You rock, be safe. LL&P (couldn't find a Vulcan salute) 👍
Not sure how many times it died from over rich mixture... Then tried to add more fuel pressure. Not the direction my mind was taking. I would have tried killing it from leaning it out a couple times too. Just to take note of any behavior changes for better or worse. In any case, I enjoyed the video and the making of the valve too. Cool old engine. Love this old stuff. Thanks for taking me/us along for the journey. 👍
That sure brings back memories. 60 to 70 years ago uses to drive around the oil fields and could here the chug chug of the pump jack engines. At the time never gave it a thought. Great restoration.
New subscriber here and have been looking through back catatolgue. It is great to see an expert capable of presenting information so clearly. Education and entertainment at the same time!
Neat engine Mike. My dad's uncle was a machinist at Oil Well Supply in Oil City, PA back in the 1930's - 1950's. I have a hard cover Oil Well Supply book or catalog from back in the late 40's or early 50's that I think my dad had gotten from his uncle when my dad built a scale model of a cable tool drill rig. Thanks for another great & interesting video !
*Nice fixup job, Mike. I instantly wanted to put even the slightest load on the drive pulley wheel to see if that would take away the "double-suck". Simple. Quick check. Easy to do.* *A long 2x4, backed or footed steady to the ground on 'backside'/furthest from the propane tank, and the side where the pulley is spinning downward would easily work just fine. Then just push the 2x4 flat against the spinning pulley and produce a friction load.* *Heck, you could even press the bottom of your shoe against the bully (from the propane tank side) and that might work. Or put a length of 2x4 under the pulley and lift up. Doing this from the side against the 'rock-forward' could be a bit dangerous but might work better.* *It should not need to be said: orient the 'lever' for safety so it doesn't want to fly away/up and hit you in the face.*
I watched one of these power a pump jank in about 1975 near Beaumont tx. and it would really get to popping on the pump jack up stroke, it was plumed into the well head for fuel, fun to watch good vid, THANX
I'd bet issue with the double intake stroke is like others have said, no load. I'm thinking the reason is because with out a load the engine is so close to governed speed it takes that second intake stroke to slow it down enough to actually fire. Although, you may be onto something with the intake valve tension (as others have also mentioned). I look forward to seeing the next episode with hopefully a solution to the problem. Keep up the awesome content! Stay safe out there! Dan @6-4_Fab Glen Rock, PA
That doesn't make much sense, though; If the engine has slowed down enough to let the exhaust valve close, and for the compression stroke to occur, then it should fire. That leaves timing, fuel or ignition as the other possible culprits. It could be timing, if the exhaust stroke isn't timed correctly or the governor isn't releasing the valve properly, you could be losing a partial compression stroke causing it to have to come around a second time. The ignition tube might not be hot enough without a compression stroke to heat it up just enough to work. Seems unlikely but who knows.. not much else to go wrong with that ignition system! Fuel, I have no idea. I'd think that if adjusting the fuel mix at the valve didn't help then there's not much else to fiddle with. Might also be that the exhaust valve isn't closing properly, so the intake stroke "leaks" air back through the exhaust and doesn't take a proper charge of fresh air and fuel. Reducing the spring tension ought to compensate for that but maybe not. Odd that such a simple machine could be so difficult to troubleshoot!
It's not the lack of load, the gas supply is constantly on so while the engine is 'missing' and winding down the intake bowl is filling with gas, the first intake stroke is then super rich, then the second intake is right.
@@I_M_Nonno Correct, which is exactly the issue, the gas is collecting in the bowl above the valve for that 1-2 sec as it slows down. The gas delivered in the time between the two intake strokes is obviously the correct amount because it fires, so you can imagine just how much gas has collected in the 1-2sec it takes to slow down.
I think maybe your problem is with the hot bulb. Maybe dial back that fuel a bit to keep the flame inside the tube, or even possibly remove the insulation. I just realized this video is two years old, so you probably already have it dialed, but I'll leave the comment anyway. Very cool old engine. Thanks for sharing.
The dreaded double gulp lol.. the sniffles of most old engines. The good thing is its a runner. Sounds good Mike, you'll work the bugs out. They all are well past their intended life cycle.. but getting way more oil and love now than when they were new. Nice engine.. I hope to acquire either one of these or a Bovaird & Seyfang or Myrick. Always like the hot tube ignitions. Lot easier than replacing fouled spark plugs constantly haha.
I remember that sound from when I was a kid waiting for the bus. The was a man that came every morning around 6:30am and started the motor at the oil well across the road from our place.
In Australia we have traction engines and I just love the sound of them this is awesome thank you for restoring or keeping these old machinery going God bless America and all that lives it
Hi Small Engine Mechanic, Great video you have produced here, I really enjoyed it, great content. I particularly enjoyed the part at 2:00 explaining the engine. I felt it was really informative and you really brought the point across well. I am really interested in engineering and have had a career in engineering for over 28 years from everything from starting as a mechanics assistant to now a Project Manager. I enjoy sharing my skills and knowledge as well with others like yourself. I have provided training to others and had apprentices work with me to kick start there careers. Many thanks, Great job.
When I was a boy,we lived on an oil lease that had a much larger version of this type engine.Engine was used to belt drive a large turn table that had a crank on it.Hooked to the crank by rods that ran out of the building and went to several pump jacks that then of course pumped oil out of the wells and into storage tanks.Engine was a huge single cylinder type that I as a six or seven year old boy could actually crawl inside the cylinder.I did one time when the engine was being repaired after a breakdown.Normally the engine ran 24/7 year round.Flywheel was taller than me,and from our house we could hear it running all the time.
I wonder whether a little more intake manifold before the fuel inlet would help. I'm curious as to how much fuel is blowing away rather than being sucked in, and more pipe prior to the fuel inlet would reduce that.
Thanks for the interesting video. I had an old friend, since passed on, who lived in Wichita Falls, Texas area as a child. He said that on quiet mornings he could hear these old hit and miss motors miles away. Laying in bed he would hear the thing fire and then a long pause, wondering if the motor would make another revolution; then it would fire again. He mentioned the gas from the well was run through a column of copper wire or copper wool to remove the hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell). In the bottom of the column a crude gasoline he called 'drip gas' would collect and when he was a teenager they would use it when they couldn't afford refined gasoline. Sulfur rich fuel will eat out the copper in bearings, so it had to be removed or bearings without any copper used.
I just had another thought - LP gas has 2.5 times the BTU per cubic foot compared to natural gas. If the engine is designed for well head gas the orifices around the intake valve seat are likely too large. No different than trying to run a natural gas furnace on LP without changing the orifice - way too rich.
yes its not just pressure its the volume flow , my garden tractor i converted to propane and it steps down main pressure to and a low pressure demand regulator and an orifice that has an adjustment same as a needle valve so basic idea it meters the amount of fuel via the screw adjustment opening and closing the gap for the propane to flow through and at low speed the demand regulator has an adjustment that governors the low speed flow rate. and the basic adjustment is adjusted at 1/4 turn per HP of the engine to allow so it doesnt flood out the engine mix
yus. too rich. not only in the combustion chamber. looks to me like a too-rich flame coming out of the heater-plug chimney. if that burner is given more air, the plug will get hotter and firing will improve. ta daaaaaaaaaa
Well what's with all these thumbs down? If you thought this was a noisy coffee grinder, then you must be on the wrong channel. Great video, love to hear these girls bark!
I always enjoy how you present and, explain things Mike! Pro stuff for sure. I also like your knowledge of propane or, natural gas supplied engines with regard to air mix and, regulated pressure. I like the cast iron clear coat looks you have going on. Looks great! As for the intake thing, it kind of reminds me of a girl I used to date in much younger days. Haha!😜 just joking. Nice episode as usual!
It's like a push lawn mower. It runs great at a constant steady speed with the blade on but run it with out the blade and engine surges up and down and governor takes over.
My guess on the double stroke for intake is 2 things. 1. Fuel pressure too high, needs less so the valve can be opened more for greater flow on the draw to keep the top of the cylinder rich enough to light. 2. Exhaust runner too long or not long enough. During the held exhaust valve, enough of the burnt fuel left in the pipe causing it to be recycled back into the cylinder. This is requiring the intake stroke to purge the cylinder since the valve doesn't closed always on the top of the stroke. Then exhaust the purge stroke to draw in enough fresh oxygen to light it off on the seconds stroke.
The cam lobe might be too worn out and you may not have enough cam duration to fill the cylinder. That might be why its double intaking. The piston rings can also be too worn causing low suction/compression and blowback. Increasing the spring tension will make the valve close even faster worsening the situation. Increasing the NG will impede air from getting into the cylinder causing the engine to stall. But before doing any changes you should test it under load to see if it runs better.
A coworker of mine has a half dozen of these type engines that he takes to the Indiana State Fair every summer. He always has them trailered up and brings them in for us to tinker with. I swear they sound on the verge of stalling out. But onwards they run. And each one runs on a different fuel. A couple will run on just about any petroleum product made. Fuel oil, diesel, kerosene, you name it.
My grandparents had old Jack pumps on their property when I was a kid. I remember hearing those things in the summertime when we would play outside by the pond
You are the guru on the old ones . This is just a thought ;but, If you put a longer runner on the intake ,it might stop the double tap ? Let a little richer charge build up in the runner and then give it a good gulp when the time comes . Just a thought . Love the videos . Love the old motors. Cheers !
