Single Cylinder Hit and Miss
Gas/Petrol Model Engine Kit
Fully Machined Kit in Brass, Aluminium and Steel
The single cylinder hit and miss engine is a simple design, yet retains the basic mechanics of early internal combustion (gas/petrol) engines which powered many workshops, factories and farms in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
NOTE: Pictures are of the finished, assembled and painted model, this listing is for the kit of parts - as per per final picture. Batteries are not included and the starting prong is an optional extra. The base colour is black not red.
A hit-and-miss engine is a, usually 4-stroke, stationary internal combustion engine that is controlled by a governor to only fire at a set speed. They were conceived in the late 19th century and produced by various companies from the 1890s through to the 1940s.
The name comes from the speed control on these engines: the ignition fires ("hit") only when operating at or below a set speed, and cycle without firing ("miss") when they exceed their set speed. The sound made when the engine is running without a load is a distinctive "Snort POP whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh snort POP" as the engine fires and then coasts until the speed decreases and it fires again to maintain its average speed. The snorting is caused by the atmospheric intake valve often used on these engines (only the exhaust valve is actuated).
The governor mechanism is made mainly from brass and is geared directly from the crankshaft. The governor is based around two weights that fly out as the speed of the engine increases. This then holds the exhaust valve open, preventing a vacuum in the cylinder and causing the intake valve to remain closed, thus interrupting the Otto cycle firing mechanism. This speed is not readily adjusted on the engine.
As normal for this type of engine, the engine is cooled by water contained in the base "tank" above and around the cylinder liner.
This engine has two heavy steel flywheels to ensure smooth operation at relatively low speeds.
The included ignition system is powered by a 4.5V battery pack (3 x AA batteries not included), has contact breaker points and a solid state ignition module.
Starting is via the optional starter prong, using an electric drill, or by hand.
The kit consists of precision produced parts each carefully made and checked to ensure reliability in service. Detailed Assembly Instructions are included as well as operating instructions, see Documentation Tab above, and YouTube video.
Specification:
- Type: 4 Stroke
- Base Casting: Aluminium Alloy (painted Black)
- Weight: 2kg
- Engine Size: 175*125*105mm (length*width*height)
- Bore Diameter: 20mm
- Stoke: 22mm
- Crankshaft: 8mm dia.
- Crankshaft: 8mm dia.
- Flywheel Diameter: 88mm
- Ignition Voltage: 4.5V
- Fuel: Gasoline/Petrol
The kit consists of a set of fully machined parts that can easily be assembled using simple tools such as a hex/allen keys, pliers and metal file.
When assembled the engine is fully working and can be can be run using Gasoline/Petrol (recommended with 2 stroke oil), see video showing the operation of the engine (tbc).
NOTE: The model engines are NOT children’s toys and should not be assembled or operated by children unless under close supervision of an adult.
Single Cylinder Hit and Miss Engine Kit
- Product Code: HMS
- Availability: 1
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£350.00