Wis. VE4, VF4 (Attn J. Schwiebert)

Send me email if you do.

- Mike Spencer

What's the horspower for a VE4D? (Online info varies from 21HP to 30HP).

What's the peak power RPM? I'd like to run it at about 1800 RPM but not if that's significantly far down the power curve. I gather max loaded RPM is 2400. Where is that on the power curve?

How does the governor work? Looks like it depends on oil pressure. Is that right?

Anything else that I don't know that I don't know.

Is the flywheel taper standard SAE 1.5" per foot (a la Machinery's Hbk)? (I may need to have the flywheel bushed and re-bored.)

Is the flywheel Woodruff key non-standard? I had to hand-make one. Seems to be 1-3/8" diameter by 9/32" thick. Standard seems to be either 1/4" or 5/16" thick.

There are 4 timing marks -- 12:00 o'clock, TDC for each bank and one other. Is the "other" one correct for dynamic (strobe lite) timing on a distributor engine?

Are there any specs or guidelines for how much starting torque the clutch will handle?

I want to try to rig this up to run a 300# Alldays & Onions air hammer (see the URL) that once had a 15HP 3ph electric motor on it. I'm looking at a roller chain and sprocket speed reduction to ca. 900 RPM. 1800 RPM would make for a nice 2:1 ratio and also make selection of sprockets and chain easier.

This engine allegedly has only a few hours on it after a complete rebuild. I expect to get an older, crank start VF4D in unknown (but not seized) condition. But for my situation, electric start is a big asset.

- Mike

http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/shop/alldays.html

The governor is purely mechanical and does NOT work on oil pressure. It is a centrifugal flyball governor. The governor control arm has twelve holes in which the spring can be hooked depending on the RPM at which the engine is to be used. The holes from bottom to top are numbered 1 to 12. You pick the hole depended on what the intended loaded RPM is to be (or add 150 RPM for the unloaded). 1400 RPM - hole 4, 1500 RPM - hole 5, 1700 RPM - hole 6, 1800-1900 RPM - hole 7, 2000-2100 RPM - hole 8, 200-2300 - hole 9, 2400 - hole 10. I don't have the specs on the cranshaft or flywheel bore taper. Flywheel key is a standard #23 Woodruff key, Wisconsin part # PL-83. Ignition timing is TDC when idle, and 27 degrees BTDC at full advance regardless if magneto or battery-distributor ignition. Below 500 RPM, the engine runs at 12 degrees BTDC.

It looks like the VE4D may be borderline for my purpose, barely powerful enough. Perhaps I can devise a compression release on the hammer to reduce starting torque that might overload the engine.

- Mike

If you are going to do all the work of finding and/or getting an engine running, why not use a bigger engine...

Well, I already have the Wisconsin VE4 and getting it running shouldn't be a big deal.

I also have a big Continental 6-cyl industrial engine similar to some of the Continentals used in old tractors. It would be just perfect: low RPM, governor, heavy clutch, lots of power. The castings and moving parts are all fine except for wrist pins and wrist pin bushings. But the previous owner disintegrated a wrist pin bushing under load and there's bits of brass everywhere -- bearings, oil galleries etc. I'd rather use it but it *will* be a big deal to get it cleaned up, re-assembeled and running.

So far as exploiting the supply of old engines in NY goes, Nova Scotia is a long drive from anywhere and the US-Canadian border crossing complicates things further.

- Mike