Worlds Smallest FUNCTIONING Hit & Miss Engine?

Kirk_Allen · June 16, 2005, 04:20:01 PM

While looking at some Walnut trees the power company is giving me I drove by a parking lot where folks were setting up for a Small Engine show.

I iwll go back tomarrow and get more pics of everything but this engine the guy just had to show off!

Note the Quarter by the wheel as a size perspective. This thing acutally runs!

This is one of the Larger engines he had. I dont recall what he said this one was but its not Hit & Miss.

Ernie · June 16, 2005, 04:28:03 PM

Hey Kirk

What is a "hit and miss" engine

Kirk_Allen · June 16, 2005, 04:30:55 PM

Jeff could probably splain it better that I can but I will try.

Basically the motor only hits (fires) when the rpms drop to a point where flywheels close and the magneto sends a spark. That one hit creates enough energy to turn the large outer wheels, which are VERY heavy, and that inertia keeps it going for several revolutions without needing to fire again.

So Jeff, how did I do?

Ernie · June 16, 2005, 04:58:10 PM

Thanks Kirk

Jeff · June 16, 2005, 05:15:15 PM

Thats right Kirk.

Thats not the smallest but its a small one. Ya know what? If that tiny tot is a working model, it would cost you as much to get as the big one there more then likely. I'll send this to Harold, he will probably know what the bigger engine is at a glance.

Bro. Noble · June 16, 2005, 09:15:18 PM

That larger engine looks like it might be a Fairbanks by the shape of the water tank.

Lots of those engines could be purchased with a choice of throttling governor or 'hit-and-miss- governor. Throttleing governors are what most of us are familiar with-----when the governor weights extend due to cyntrifical force, a connecting link closes a butterfly in the carb. That cuts down on the air and less fuel mix is sucked in. On the Hit and miss, the linkage from the gov. weights drops down on a notch in the pushrod that goes from the cam to the exhaust valve. It holds the exhaust valve open until the rpm's drop. Since there is no compression (or suction) in the cylinder while the exhaust valve is open, it freewheels. The intake valve opens by suction and so no fuel is pulled in while the exhaust valve is open. In addition, there is usually a trip on the push rod that cuts off the spark (which could come from a mag or a battery and buzz coil (which was another option) thus conserving battery and/or wear and tear on the ignition.

An exception to all this is the single cylinder Matag washing machine engine which was hit and miss. It just cut out the ignition, however and was not nearly as efficient as the larger engines that opened the exhaust valve.

Jeff,

The guy that I got that old single wheeled garden plow from made working steam engine using a .22 case for the cylinder. I don't know if it was the worlds smallest, but it was pretty DanG little :D :D

DanG · June 17, 2005, 12:21:28 AM

I saw a large collection of them miniature engines at the Moultrie show last year. Y'all really oughta think about coming down for it. ;D

sawguy21 · June 17, 2005, 08:22:40 AM

There will be a model hit'n'miss display at an ag fair I am going to in September. These engines are neat but I wonder the original need for this type over a conventional piston engine. Were they more fuel efficient?

Kirk_Allen · June 17, 2005, 09:10:33 AM

My guess would be dependability and ease of taking care of compared to others and the fact that they were designed to run a belt drive for equipment. Something a common engine cant do on its own.

Buzz-sawyer · June 17, 2005, 10:39:37 AM

They were designed and sold before over head valve engines came into common use, they are very fuel efficient , dependable, and have few moving parts..........Why was it we stilldont use em??????? :D :D

Fla._Deadheader · June 17, 2005, 11:57:26 AM

Check on some of the oil wells where the pump jack has a stationary engine, that runs on fuel from the well. ;)

Buzz-sawyer · June 17, 2005, 12:03:24 PM

I asked EZ about that at Sawlex.........He said,"I aint THAT old!".........So I guess they dont use em anymore.....my buddy Jack used to work on em in the eastern Illinois oil fiels....ran on natural gas outta the well they pumped..day in , day out year after year....
I recall hearing them backfire while hunting in the mid 80's.

Texas Ranger · June 17, 2005, 12:04:01 PM

Yep on them pump jacks, can hear em running for a mile.

Fla._Deadheader · June 17, 2005, 12:49:32 PM

Y'all must drive with yer eyes closed. Even at Supersonic speed, I eyeballed a couple of 'em, hidin in the weeds, pump jack idle, right there in HO HI HO. :

:

:D :D

Kirk_Allen · June 17, 2005, 01:37:15 PM

OK Jeff, Maybe this is the worlds smallest.

Sorry for the bad pic but it was the best I could get. The matag in the back is 1/2 scale of an original matag and this guy built the half scale model from scratch. Once that was done he built the one in front of it that is 1/4 scale of the 1/2 scale. IT RAN!