* When Derrick told me he had this engine and that it was known as A hit-and-miss engine, I had to run over and see it. If you like to see old engines run, this is one of those moments.
The engine is a four-stroke internal combustion engine that was conceived in the late 19th century and was produced by various companies from the 1890s through approximately the 1940s.
The name came from the method of speed control that was implemented on these engines (as opposed to the “Governor” method of speed control).
The sound made when the engine is running without a load is a distinctive “POP POP” as the engine fires and then coasts until the speed decreases. When it reaches the low speed, it fires again to maintain it’s average speed.
Hit-and-miss engines were made by a multitude of engine manufacturers during their peak usage which was from approximately 1910 through the early 1930s when they began to be replaced by more modern designs. Some of the largest engine manufacturers were Hercules, International Harvester (McCormick Deering), John Deere, and Fairbanks Morse.
This particular engine belongs to Derrick Petersen, who you may remember piloted Jeff and I around in his RV8a while I made a video of his plane years ago.
The engine is an INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER
IHC-McCormick-Deering Model ‘LA’ & ‘LB’ 1-1/2 to 2-1/2HP and 3 to 5HP
LA is the earlier model and was made in two sizes-1-1/2 to 2-1/2 HP and 3 to 5 HP. The LB is the later model and was also made in two sizes, 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 HP and 3 to 5 HP. The easiest way to tell the difference is by a tag by the valve rockers. The valve rocker arms on the LA models were oiled by an oil cup on the end of the valve rocker shaft. The LB models were self oiling with a tube coming out of the front of the block going into an oil trough filled with felt above the rockers. Just about everything interchanges between both models if they are the same HP.
For Youtube Police. Background track was produced by me on my QChord Synth and is royalty free.
Thanks for watching and maybe subscribing for more.
Dave Herbert
AMA 8221
Leader Member,Contest Director
Scientific Division
