Practical Modern Use for HitNMiss engine

allenlane

Member
Not exactly a tractor, but a close cousin. I'm trying to justify adding another project to an already longer than a lifetime list of projects. For some reason, these darn engines have always drawn my attention, but I can't get one just to take up room in an already crowded shop. Do you guys have any good modern uses for one of these (we don't have a farm, just horses and dogs).
 
You could rig it up to say power your shop or house if the power goes out and set it up to pump water for the garden etc. I've always wanted an old steam tractor so I could set it up to make power and maybe saw my self some $$ or even make some $$ by selling the power to the power company
 
I am an avid collector my self .You need to specify what kind of stationary engine you have exactly . In reality a practical use for your motor could range from a awkward boat anchor to a sizable future wise investment on your part . You need to redo this post on smokestack .com -- that is where the fanatical collectors hang out . Most of what you will get here is a bunch of cowboys that cant fix there tractors right HA HA HA!
The best use I found for one of my motors was to prevent a break in to my garage . the motor was a 6 hp grey and it weighs 1300 lbs . I had it positioned with one of the flywheels up against the side wall of my garage . The Bandits used a screw driver to pry out the 3/8 plywood exterior wall and then pulled out the insulation from the wall. They found an interior wall of 1/2 osb and decided to try to kick it in with there feet . Needless to say they found it impossible to do and gave up . I could see all the foot prints on the vapor barrier . So if you see a bandit carrying a big screw driver and walking with a limp let me know .
 
I have flat belt machines and some
lineshafts, always wanted to set up a
building say 8x20 on skids with a few
machines powered with a hit and miss. Then
I could winch it on the trailer and take it
to shows and use the machines any time if I
needed to.
 
My hit & miss powered trike. Great fun and conversation at parades and antique shows.
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I have always wanted to fit one into a vintage riding mower to use as a show putter.... Guy named Jack at my local show here (Nowthen, MN) has a go-kart he made with one. It's his tool grabber. Uses it to run around at shows when one of his many large kero or gas tractors needs a little help. Actually a pretty cool little thing!
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Excellent ideas fellas. Keep 'em coming. Thanks John and Ken for posting those pics. Johns project looks ambitious and a little over my pay grade, however I think I could handle the go kart.
 
Two things that currently use a lot of hit and miss engines is fishing/shrimp boats and remote oil wells. Personally I would like something for parades and tractor shows.
 
Hook one to an ice cream maker. Perfect modern use. Takes about 15-20 minutes and you have perfect ice cream and a usable arm to eat it with.
 
I was going to say generator then realized you need a steady rpm. Try a compressor air up the tank set it to kick in and keep it aired up. Water pump. You some of the old uses are still good today.
 
Using it to run a buzz saw might be an idea. I once saw one being used to run a concrete mixer. It might also be a good power source for a wood splitter. Maybe running an air compressor for winterizing sprinkler systems.
 
A member of our tractor club has a small hit and miss hooked to an ice cream maker.
But he's so busy at the show, he can make only 3-4 batches a day, and just pass out samples.
I have seen pic's of two ice cream makers on one engine.
Also saw a water pump on an engine that fed a water fountain. He added some VERY sudsy soap and some blue or red food coloring and had soap suds all over.
The kids had a great time playing in the "foam".
The overhead line shaft that powers the trip hammer, band saw, hack saw, and drill press in our blacksmith shop is powered by a 10 or so horse hit and miss. Works great.
Now, if we could find something for our 50 horse hit and miss to power!!
I suggested a big pump and fountain in the irrigation ditch!!!
 
I saw one powering a home made aluminum can crusher. The cans were stacked in some kind of tall tower; as the engine ran, it would
push a can out of the tower and a weight which the motor raised, fell down crushing the can. The system then repeated itself.
 

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