Lars66 unveils entry, "Oldest Welder" competition - Lincoln 400 amp w/Hercules diesel

[denrep]

Bought an old Lincoln 400 amp portable welder on a old John Deere running gear Friday. This should be an interesting machine to get running as it has a pony engine start Hercules diesel for power + a large ac 115 volt generator. My second hand information is this was a pipeline welder.
. . .Alfred isn't pushing this one off a bridge!

(At least not by himself )

Take it away Lars

Here are some pictures, forwarded from Lars66:
Attachment 43500

Attachment 43501

Attachment 43502

Below are a couple of pictures showing the very unique "pony start" system.
The "pony" is a small, easy to start, gasoline engine, which is started first, and then engaged to crank the large diesel to life; from the days before large electric starter systems were refined.
Attachment 43504

Attachment 43505

Good score Lars.
Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Georgiaboy]

Those are awsome !!!

[DSW]

What no compressed air start or shotgun starter cartridge?

Nice old machine.

[tanglediver]

It looks like you could drive it away, just needs a seat and a steering wheel.

[RobertDoubrava]

I've heard about the old Lincolns powered by Herc diesels but have never seen one, looks like an awesome project!

[denrep]

It looks like you could drive it away, just needs a seat and a steering wheel.

Now that you mention it, some of the first commercial engine drives, circa 1910, were on dedicated carriers, truck-type and rail-type.

[J. Strunck]

Neat project machine!

[tankeedog]

in 75 , inthe taconite mines in minn, i had the good fortune to use a 500 amp lincoln deizel { 353 detroit} and there was a footpedel {remote} that you could mash down upon ifin ya wanted a little moor poop so as to dig in a little harder ! fantastic machine to make footage on the roundseam.

[tankeedog]

I think i'm gotta learn to teach myself to spell and type.

[denrep]

Lars66 has been busy.

He's freshened up the Hercules BXB pony engine.
Attachment 47798
Attachment 47799
Attachment 47800
It was in good shape, mostly just filthy.
Valves have been lapped, and the carb and mag treated to a rebuild.

Here's the pony engine fitted to the Lars66 Custom Dyno Stand, getting ready for its first run since who-knows-when:
Attachment 47801
Attachment 47802
She purrs like a kitten.

With the starting engine up and running, it's on to reviving the main engine, a Hercules DJXC.

Stay tuned

[RobertDoubrava]

Good old Hercules power, very cool!

[lars66]

First off a Big thank you to DENREP. I thought the diesel would be running long before this but, there has been one medical issue after another with the wife. I also got side tracked when I bought a 1949 US Motors generator with a Hercules IXB5 natural gas engine. The generator was a standby unit from a fire station that had been in private ownership since removal and was in remarkable condition. I jumped right on this since it looked like a quick project. Yeah, right, I never seen so many time consuming problems with a low hour machine.

[tigmusky]

I saw this thing on CL not to long ago. Is this the sameone

Daye

[lars66]

I saw this thing on CL not to long ago. Is this the sameone

Daye

It probably is. I had the magneto repaired up in your neck of the woods. The personal life has settled down for now but the shop work has picked up so I will have to spend more time with that. I have two 24"x 30' augers to build so that is going to delay this welder project more. If you get down this way you are welcome to stop and take a look at it.

[lars66]

I made a little progress Sat. afternoon on the diesel. My friend Ben was here a week or so ago and not a bit impressed that I have the starting motor going, he wants to see the diesel running! The pressure is on now.

[RobertDoubrava]

Thanks for the updates Lars, good to hear she's getting closer to running and welding!

[lars66]

Thought I would update this a little. I have started working on the Hercules diesel and have found the reason it was parked, the starter ring gear is thrashed , as it was machined into the flywheel this wont be an easy fix. Right now I am ready to pull the motor to try getting the generator off to get to the flywheel, hope the coupler will come apart. There is only one set screw that can be removed from the coupler so I hope that is the key. Lincoln wasn't taking any chances that anyone would take out the wrong bolts, all the heads are welded.

[allycat204]

attachments do not work can you re post them?

[rjk welding]

i would like to see the picks also i have an 80s lincoln sae 400

[denrep]

thought i would update this a little. I have started working on the hercules diesel and have found the reason it was parked, the starter ring gear is thrashed , as it was machined into the flywheel this wont be an easy fix. Right now i am ready to pull the motor to try getting the generator off to get to the flywheel, hope the coupler will come apart. There is only one set screw that can be removed from the coupler so i hope that is the key. Lincoln wasn't taking any chances that anyone would take out the wrong bolts, all the heads are welded.

Starting "pony" engine pics:

[rjk welding]

that is really nice it will be sweet when ur done with it

[lars66]

Would any one have an idea how far onto the ring gear starter drive engagement should be? Opinions on what rod, wire or tig filler to build up the teeth on the flywheel? The starter drive is in perfect shape and the nose bushing, washer has already been shortend to give more engagement, but its still not enough. As a very last resort I have been consideriing turning off 1/8' on the nose casting.

[Rhyno]

Would any one have an idea how far onto the ring gear starter drive engagement should be? Opinions on what rod, wire or tig filler to build up the teeth on the flywheel? The starter drive is in perfect shape and the nose bushing, washer has already been shortend to give more engagement, but its still not enough. As a very last resort I have been consideriing turning off 1/8' on the nose casting.

I don't have any recommendations for build up. Normally the gears are hardened, but maybe something else......

You shouldn't have to go through, all that you have, to get the starter to engage.

Can the flywheel be put on reversed? Kind of like, an automotive flexplate?

Also, measure the diameter and tooth count and head to NAPA. Ring gears, of the past, were replaceable. Which also, might be the cause of the problem. The replacement process entails getting the gear hot, it expands, and then placed on the flywheel. The problems start if it is in the wrong position, or upside down, as it cools. Let it cool, slowly, on it's own.

To take off the old gear, use a wafer wheel and make a light, perpendicular, cut. Be careful not to go too deep and damage the flywheel.

The replacement shouldn't be too hard to find.

I hope that this helps......

-Rhyno

[Rhyno]

After going back and reading one of your older posts, you said that the flywheel looks to be machined. Can you post a good picture?

-Rhyno

[benc]

A few photos of the Hercules powered Lincoln that lars66 is saving from the scrap pile.



@70 years worth of grime removed.



The good side



The ring gear turned out to be only 3/4 of the way on! The starter drive had been modified
to get more engagement, as you can imagine it did not work. We were able to remove the
ring gear and flip it over to the other side. Each tooth had a bevel cut in it to lead the starter
gear in. I lost count grinding them in but I think there was 103 teeth