Starting a Rare Fairbanks Morse 3hp 'Z' True Hit and Miss Engine with Buzz Coil Ignition

Рет қаралды 16,914

Жыл бұрын

A rare auction find! Fully restored but will it start? Watch and find out!
This video is for the true small engine aficionado as I go into great detail about the unusual buzz coil high tension ignition and the fly ball hit and miss governor. Very few of these 1923 engines were made and even fewer still exist.

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@ropurser4902 2 ай бұрын

It's so great to see this video!! I found [and still have] one exactly like this one in 1972. Way before the internet, which brought me to this. I haven't had mine running for years but am going to get it running again and hope to power a line shaft machine shop I put together many years ago. I use a big electric motor to run it all the time but I have a smaller throttle governed enclosed crank that I've used before. I just want to get this out and running again. Mine still has the tin box with the knife switch and a model T coil like this one. When I dragged it out of a junk yard in 1972 the rocker arm was broken and missing but I figured that I could make something to braze on that would work but it would be a lot of trouble and thought. Imagine my happiness and surprise when in cleaning out all the junk in the water hopper I found that whoever broke the rocker arm off in the past was thoughtful enough to put it the the water hopper to be found! I brazed it up and it worked great. I had it running for years [after much trouble without the help of the internet] and with a load on the flywheels it would keep certain RPMs pretty well. I need 250 RPMs on the main shaft so the spring trick I just learned will most likely to come in handy. That and a bunch of pulleys. I'm so grateful to see this! Mine also has the same [but weary and rusted out] gas tank too. I now see one can even buy a new gas tank! Who'da thought?

@Radiotexas 2 ай бұрын

Thanks very much. Let me know if I can help!

@sportsphotos31 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing. Love this old stuff. We didn’t own anything like this, but my dad took me to local antique tractor shows and events. Ironically, we also had a Model N railroad layout we tinkered with.

@Radiotexas 2 ай бұрын

Very cool! Thanks!

@dajoway 2 ай бұрын

I love your engine! Great find !

@Radiotexas 2 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@SteamCrane 2 ай бұрын

Great video, lots of detail! That is quite a find! We recently bought an engine that needs a buzz coil, nice to see the information. Weird Detroit Engine Works 3 Hp 2 stroke reversible vertical boat motor with a cooling water pump.

@Radiotexas 2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! I learned a lot working on it.

@andrewclark1451 Жыл бұрын

Amazing-- thanks for putting another informative & significant historical video together, Jay-- so great to learn about these vintage engines.

@wklinger79 Жыл бұрын

Yet another superb video. In a moment of weakness.... Laynie understands. 😂 Careful around that buzzbox.... don't get "bit"!

@mrc1539 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video. I have a 1917 3HP Z ENGINE which is throttle governed with a plug oscillator , and was not aware that Fairbanks Morse made a Hit n Miss . Never to old to learn .😉 !

@Radiotexas 8 ай бұрын

Glad it helped. Thanks for the comment!

@larrykrise3609 5 ай бұрын

very nice.i used to have a z 1 1/2 throttel gov.used to boil eggs while craking corn.

@Radiotexas 5 ай бұрын

That's hysterical! Took me a second but I got it!!!! Thanks!

@daviddatteri7081 2 ай бұрын

Your Z is a beautiful engine. I myself rebuilt a 1 1/2 1918 Z compression was not high due to pitting on the cylinder. I had a machine shop bore and sleeve it. The points were modified from original and now it’s a running machine.

@Radiotexas Ай бұрын

Thank you! I'm getting ready to put this one a pecan cracker!

@W4AX Жыл бұрын

Another fantastic video and project!

@decathelondave9340 5 ай бұрын

I can't wait to get mine going, thank for the inspiration.

@Baitone 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing!!

@macmistyfinley8661 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great explanation and demonstration of a unique governor mechanism. I wasn't aware that FM ever made anything but throttlers in the Z series.

@Radiotexas Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I really learned a lot myself!

@frankschultz4170 Жыл бұрын

You done did it again! Great Stuff! Suggest you keep the "Run Slow" spring installed. It better matches your own speed...

@dustysrandom5079 Жыл бұрын

Love it Jay. Always wanted a hit and miss for our farms sourgum smasher. Something fun to watch other than a tractor.

@Radiotexas Жыл бұрын

Check out some of my other videos! We use one to make ice cream and another runs an oil pump jack!

@tomstrum6259 Жыл бұрын

Great work on that rare engine !! ......A good, clean Contacts, connections & wiring Properly Adjusted buzz Box should run Good off 6 volts.....Sometimes the Internal 0.22 uF 400 volt Condenser (Usually Buried within the wood Buzz box) goes "open" & Reduces the spark Intensity......New or Rebuilt boxes are available.....

@Radiotexas Жыл бұрын

We really had to clean those contacts Tom. I've used some vibrators in amateur radio equipment and often VERY aggressive cleaning is necessary. After running the engine a while AND having to readjust the contacts a couple of times I was thinking about trying it on 6 volts just to see. The cap was replaced before I got the coil by the way. Thanks very much for your comment!

@user-ep5wf9fs9r Жыл бұрын

Very informative video. Thanks

@user-ht1ju9df3m 4 ай бұрын

I wish they would make equipment half as good as this tofay

@jurgcor1 Жыл бұрын

I also have one of those, it's twin a 3hp throttler with the AB mag...... And a 2 hp dish plan from 1923

@peterjohntyers7924 13 күн бұрын

Evening, im from England and have just purchased a 1 1/2 hp model dishpan

@philhall5609 7 ай бұрын

You will need to adjust the chock or / and the main jet. As you change the engine speed. To keep it dialed in to one hit between misses.

@jeremylastname873 11 ай бұрын

This is really nice, Jay. Thank you for sharing your adventures. What? No Morse code whilst testing the buzz box? 😿 Good call on the choke issue. I would have suspected fuel delivery. 👍 I have extreme curiosity about the hit-and-miss mechanism. I will look it up to see if I can “see” it.

@Radiotexas 11 ай бұрын

I actually did test it with a Morse key.... gotta be careful as there is a LOT of current! Only two things will keep and engine from starting... fuel delivery and spark. Of course, adjustment of same is what makes them RUN!! Thanks!!

@TheWolfReport Жыл бұрын

What a pretty red engine!!!! I'm sooo sure Laynie loves it!!!!

@Radiotexas Жыл бұрын

Of course!

@mcburcke 8 ай бұрын

What was the point of the hit-and-miss firing cycle? Fuel consumption?

@Radiotexas 8 ай бұрын

I think it was cheap to make and maybe used less fuel.

@mikereinhardt4807 9 ай бұрын

What were they used for?...

@toddday8774 Ай бұрын

I've been looking for a good hit and miss engine, I have a idea for a good business that I can use one for

@Radiotexas 21 күн бұрын

We use ours to run an oil pump jack, make home made ice cream, grind corn and this one will soon operate a pecan cracker! Watch for a new video on that this fall. Thanks for your comment!