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Lesser Known Classics Discussion Forum

Mercury Chain Engines

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John A. Moore

01-08-2007 08:25:40




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In a web search I found some previous discussion here about the old Mercury/Disston chains saw engines. Is there still anyone out there with interest in them. Here in Eastern NC these engines were sought after by go kart racers in the late 50's and they became legendary in that application. there were never very abundant in this area, therefore were scarce back then. I have 3 non complete engines. Two of them are the more familiar orange/reddish color but one is painted what seems to be original yellow. It also has a straight pipe for exhaust instead of a muffler. Also instead of the cast aluminum fuel tank/air cleaner housing combo, it has a much smaller pressed steel tank with two compartments. One for fuel the other for chain oil. I dont know if it was a later model Disston or another brand.

I also have a Merc powered generator built by the American Aircraft Co. The crankcase seems to be of the same design but the cooling fan is on the opposite side of the engine between the engine and generator. I have yet to find any info on it. It runs very well but doesnt generate power.

I have always been fascinated by these engines but could never find much info on them. I would welcome any chat or comments as well as any parts or engines.

thanks for looking
John Moore
Washington NC

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Jerry Ross

02-27-2007 08:26:16




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 Re: Mercury Chain Engines in reply to John A. Moore, 01-08-2007 08:25:40  
I bought one of those saws at a farm auction around 1960 and used it to cut firewood, mostly by myself, until I left home for the Air Force in 1967.
Those two cylinder engines sure made a beautiful sound when wide open under load!!!



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jdemaris

01-15-2007 18:01:19




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 Re: Mercury Chain Engines in reply to John A. Moore, 01-08-2007 08:25:40  
I've got a couple of 1942 G-10s (two cylinder, two-man saws). Diston stopped making saws with the Merc. engines in 1953. There was a law-suit threatened when Diston got thinking about putting West-Bend engines on their saws. You could go to the chain-saw history website and read forever - about just any saw. For Diston - go to : Link

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George S. in the real NY

01-13-2007 05:17:15




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 Re: Mercury Chain Engines in reply to John A. Moore, 01-08-2007 08:25:40  
I got one of those sittin here on the back deck. It is the 2 cyl model. Needs 2 big guys to run it. Somewhere I got a copy of some book, I think it was parts and may be operation. I wonder where that is??? Guess hunting for that could go on list of things to do when winter shows up tomorrow. This saw is complete, tried to run but the crankcase had excess grease in it, so it has to be cleaned from over greasing the main bearings. Cutter bar is about 4 ft long with big ugly teeth on chain. Fairbanks mag on it. I understand the saw was part of the equipment of a military engineering unit up in the 60's but was a left over from the WWII days. My Champion spark plug catalog shows 7 models of Disston saws but I do not know which this one is. George

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Larry from md

01-09-2007 12:34:28




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 Re: Mercury Chain Engines in reply to John A. Moore, 01-08-2007 08:25:40  
I looked in my 1958 book and they are NOT listed. Could they be older?. There is no listing for chainsaws in my 1946 book.



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John A. Moore

01-10-2007 04:08:49




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 Re: Mercury Chain Engines in reply to Larry from md, 01-09-2007 12:34:28  
Larry they were built during WWII and at least until 1949. I have 3 incomplete engines dated 46 and 47. My generator engine is dated 1945. I dont know when Merc stopped building the saw/gen/pump engines. I am guessing sometime in the early 50"s when outboards became the priority. I have read that Kiekhaffer built the air cooled engines to keep his factory afloat during the war years.

Thanks for the reply,
John Moore

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Larry from md

01-10-2007 10:06:45




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 Re: Mercury Chain Engines in reply to John A. Moore, 01-10-2007 04:08:49  
I allso looked in the sparkplug book under chainsaws and no mercury. Disston was listed. Unfortuneatly the older books i have don't list chainsaws or pumps.



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