PE-197 Generator

[macjeeper]

Hello all,

I purchased a 1944 Signal Corps Genset built by Hobart Bros. last April.
Dimensions are 44" length x 22-1/4" width x 30" height, weighs over 750 lbs. lighter than a PE-195.

Lots of work required, rewiring necessary for the control panel, field mouse lived inside.
Looking for parts from anywhere, was sanding down some of the hand brushed paint last weekend,
found it has US AIR FORCE markings underneath.

I'm looking for oil cloth welting or lining to replace the door panel welting that has fallen off, total about 9' x 3/4" length.

The Genset is powered by Hercules ZXB 4 Cyl. flat head engine, 69.9 CI. 14 HP constant 1800 rpm controlled by a governor and has a Bosch Magneto, The Glass Bowl AC Fuel Pump and Marvel Schebler TCX-39 Carb. with a Zenith Fuel Strainer all needs rebuilding and cleaning. Need Magneto spark plug wires too.

Any members that have parts or another spare genset, would be greatly appreciated.
I want to run this unit, has the original hand crank, I've purchased a 6 volt battery, bought an original TM 11-940 for the genset too.

Missing the lower panel under the control panel, covering the taps for hooking up cables and a small parts bin shelf on the right side. This has been an adventure to work on this rare genset and challenging to work and research.
Hope someone can help,
Thanks, Mac

[Adam]

Good luck there. A few thousand miles east in Greene NY, guy had a genset with what he says is a hercules engine. It is listed on craigslist. Any friends in that area?

Adam

[macjeeper]

WOW 3K miles+ away from NorCal

Thanks I checked and saw some Hercules for sale items, but way too far for heavy metal.

Thanks for looking, Mac

PE-197 for sale in the Aug. 1950 Popular Mechanics magazine ad.
http://www.smokstak.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=981&pictureid=5461

[macjeeper]

Update: Who is the specialist for old liquid cooled flathead engines?

I'm into work on the #2 PE-197 I recently picked up, last week I removed the outer sheetmetal shroud, put on engine degreaser and steam cleaned the engine and overall unit.

Went to try to start the unit, hand crank didn't move the engine, hooked up the 6V battery, pushed the button to start, starter whizzed up but didn't engage flywheel, removed the starter, cleaned the starter shaft, etc. reinstalled, tried again, starter engaged the flywheel and nothing, battery started to percolate...lol stopped it!

Removed the sparkplugs, looked inside the cylinders, and found water inside #2 bore and #3 cylinder had moisture.

What is the best way to get a stuck engine to rotate and clear the stuck cylinder?

Also I don't have the flathead lifter tool and what is the best place to find tappet wrenches?

Thanks, Mac

[resqrk]

Mac, I've worked on M38 engines.... You can try freeing it up by filling the cyliders with brake fuild or diesel fuel and letting it sit. Easiest way to spin it is with a socket on teh pulley nut or a big screwdriver on the flywheel teeth. My suggestion is that if you have actual water in a cylinder is to pull the oil pan and see what else is rusted. The crank could be rusted at the bearings or the valves might be rusted in the guides.... Either way you'll be pulling the motor apart before actually running it to avoid any bigger problems...
Rick

[lt.luke]

If you found water, you probably need to diagnose where it came from. Best case it's rain water, worst case it's a bad head gasket/cracked head or block and needs some extensive repair.

A cylinder full of water will "lock up" an engine, as water is in-compressable.

[macjeeper]

Thanks all for the advice....

I tore open the engine and removed the flat head and cleaned out the gunk that was in bore #2 and minimally on #3 bore on Sunday.

Currently I'm letting all the bores soak in WD-40 and occassionally tapping the pistons with a hammer, hoping to penetrate the rings. #1 & #4 bores are already empty of the WD-40.
#2 & #3 are still filled and tapped it today.

I'll get the pictures posted eventually...

I took time to clean, vacuum and clean some more, poured some WD-40 liquid in and used crocus cloth to break up the rust and all on the piston top and #2 & #3 bores.

It is very possible that the water came in thru the muffler which was broken off and rust was found in the exhaust ports to the exhaust manifold. Also the exhaust valve is still open for #2 bore.

Thanks again, hopefully the engine will loosen up.
Mac

[macjeeper]

The pistons moved minimally today, letiing it soak some more....

Mac

[macjeeper]

The Crankshaft rotates

It turns freely now, yeh...

Now I have issues with stuck exhaust valves on #1 and also on #3, time to remove the valves.

I need some tappet wrenches and the flathead valve spring lifter, does anyone have them for sale?

Thanks, Mac

[macjeeper]

Here are some pics of the piston with the head removed, yuck and gunk



and now the pistons are rotating, except a few stuck exhaust valves



Mac