Author Topic: My new old farm engine  (Read 9916 times)

Offline Jwitt

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My new old farm engine
« on: March 29, 2019, 05:19:56 PM »
A 1929 Fairbanks Morse, 2 hp throttle governed (not Hit & Miss) made to run on Kerosene. Unlike most of the old engines I buy this one ran when I got it :-\

« Last Edit: March 29, 2019, 05:23:15 PM by Jwitt »

Offline goodfellow

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2019, 06:09:46 PM »
Very nice find. I've also been on the lookout for a small hit'n miss engine for a while now.

Offline slip knot

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2019, 08:18:11 PM »
Sweet. I love the sound those guys make. :-*

Offline DeadNutz

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2019, 08:40:42 PM »
I thought about buying something like that or a hit & miss but I was afraid it would start an addiction that would take up all the room in the shop. :o

Offline Jwitt

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2019, 12:39:55 PM »
I thought about buying something like that or a hit & miss but I was afraid it would start an addiction that would take up all the room in the shop. :o

That’s pretty much how it went with me.

Offline bonneyman

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2019, 11:27:41 AM »
A 1929 Fairbanks Morse, 2 hp throttle governed (not Hit & Miss) made to run on Kerosene. Unlike most of the old engines I buy this one ran when I got it :-\



Nice old unit!

Must be tough to start when the temps drop.

I think my older (1985 vintage) B&S lawn mower can be made to run on kerosene but I don't know if it's worth it.

Offline Jwitt

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2019, 09:42:32 AM »
A 1929 Fairbanks Morse, 2 hp throttle governed (not Hit & Miss) made to run on Kerosene. Unlike most of the old engines I buy this one ran when I got it :-\



Nice old unit!


Must be tough to start when the temps drop.

I think my older (1985 vintage) B&S lawn mower can be made to run on kerosene but I don't know if it's worth it.

The mixer has a small reservoir that you fill with gasoline to start it on then gradually switch it over to the main tank with kerosene. I run it on gas only, kerosene is way too expensive anymore.

Offline bonneyman

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2019, 06:25:11 PM »
A 1929 Fairbanks Morse, 2 hp throttle governed (not Hit & Miss) made to run on Kerosene. Unlike most of the old engines I buy this one ran when I got it :-\



Nice old unit!


Must be tough to start when the temps drop.

I think my older (1985 vintage) B&S lawn mower can be made to run on kerosene but I don't know if it's worth it.

The mixer has a small reservoir that you fill with gasoline to start it on then gradually switch it over to the main tank with kerosene. I run it on gas only, kerosene is way too expensive anymore.

10-4 I only use kerosene fo degunking parts. But i't nice to know it's an option if times got tough.

I thought about trying to make a portable generator out of an old lawn mower engine, and tweak it to run on kero. That way, I won't be having people steal my fuel as kerosene won't help them with their cars.

Offline jabberwoki

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #8 on: April 16, 2019, 06:49:16 PM »
Howbout a vid with sound of it working?
Is the need enough? Or does the want suffice?

Offline goodfellow

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #9 on: April 16, 2019, 07:20:47 PM »
Howbout a vid with sound of it working?

+1 == that'd be nice to hear.

Offline Jwitt

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2019, 11:28:50 AM »
Here you go, hope it works. Being throttle governed it should run a little smoother then that but I haven’t had time to fool with it.


Offline Jwitt

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2019, 11:37:39 AM »
Here is my Fairbanks Morse (1923) hit & miss governed for those not familiar with the difference. It has a small case of stage fright and didn’t want to start right up.


Offline goodfellow

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2019, 03:20:51 PM »
Love that sound -- thanks for taking the great vids!

Offline jabberwoki

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2019, 10:46:53 PM »
Here you go, hope it works. Being throttle governed it should run a little smoother then that but I haven’t had time to fool with it.


I freakin love it. Before I cark it I`ll have one of these on the porch.
Is the need enough? Or does the want suffice?

Offline DeadNutz

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #14 on: April 18, 2019, 10:20:05 AM »
Thanks for posting the videos. I like going to shows that have a whole row of these engines running at the same time. It is like a wonderful symphony.

Offline m_fumich

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #15 on: August 09, 2019, 02:34:33 AM »
Can someone explain why it’s called a hit & miss and how it works that’s different from a 2 stroke or 4 stroke that I’m used to?


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Offline eborcim

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #16 on: August 10, 2019, 01:08:38 PM »
Oil fields in southern IL and IN are full of these small engines.
« Last Edit: August 22, 2019, 03:47:58 PM by eborcim »

Offline muddy

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Re: My new old farm engine
« Reply #17 on: August 12, 2019, 08:53:27 PM »
Can someone explain why it’s called a hit & miss and how it works that’s different from a 2 stroke or 4 stroke that I’m used to?


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It's the governing system that is different.
They govern to a certain speed/load by either holding the exhaust valve open or cutting the ignition therefore not firing or missing then firing again once the rpm drops or the load is increased. Hence "hit and miss"

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