600 Hp Snow Engine at Coolspring - Night Run

[@chuckbear1961]

Impressive sure glad it wasn`t scrapped . I confuse modern mechanics when I told them I seen a 4 cylinder engine with only one connecting rod !

[@steveskouson9620]

Also, that camshaft, with 4 lobes for 4 heads. Intake and exhaust BOTH use the same lobe. I'm not sure how they list this, but looks like 2 cylinders, with a head at each end of each cylinder. What is amazing, I can get a car, with 100 MORE horsepower under the hood. (Although, I'm pretty sure the Hellcat can't TOUCH the torque here!) steve

[@stanfischer6175]

@@steveskouson9620 I had a 1951 Indian motorcycle that had a "shared" lobe camshaft that worked both intake and exhaust valves via rockers. The exhaust would close, the cam would rotate just a little and would start opening the intake!

[@edwardjonez6615]

The fellow in the green and white ball cap needs to get himself a pair of bib overalls. Belts just don't hold up a pair of working man pants. Great engine and a wonderful place. These fellows put their hearts into these machines THANKS!

[@bobl78]

it´s so hard to believe that These things used to run every day back then

[@Highpocktz]

Music to my ears!!

[@ponkkaa]

It sings! Beautiful mechanical rythm

[@Jason1Pa]

Thanks for posting!! I was there on Thursday this year and missed it running

[@billmorris2613]

Good morning to all from SE Louisiana 20 Dec 21

[@therealchayd]

I was literally thinking "I wonder how many degrees past TDC do they have to bar it to start" now I know :) Was also wondering why Snow didn't include a small air powered motor to bar it. I guess it's because these ran pretty much continually, so there wouldn't really need if for the rare times they would need starting up.

[@SteamCrane]

LOL! Never know when you'll be called to start one up. Yes, they would run for months at a time. However, skilled operators could get them to stop at a convenient angle to avoid barring.

[@TumpaTalapatra]

I am fascinated.

[@Flaaaaanders]

An engine that runs on snow as fuel? Awesome idea

[@grettagrids]

there's one in ragroll MN too

[@steveskouson9620]

Bar some, pull up pants some. Wholly he!!, I miss the last generation! Someone get that BOY a belt! 2.52, you HAVE an adult. Finally! Maybe, not so much. He hasn't "moon" ed anyone. Yet! steve

[@OnlyTheEd]

Sounds like the engine says "Faster, faster, faster, faster".

[@nlo114]

I'd imagine a 3 cylinder double-acting engine would run as smooth as a straight 6 and need a smaller flywheel. Was one ever built?

[@renegadeoflife87]

Probably not. Sealing is a real problem on double acting engines, this engine's cylinder pressure is only a fraction of what modern engines run because of that. Even among engines from this time period very few companies were successful in building double-acting internal combustion. Also double-acting engines require the use of a crosshead, greatly increasing the reciprocating mass and the overall length of the moving assembly from piston crown to crankshaft.

[@jameslacey858]

If the same cu. in. displacement was used with modern day technology I wonder what the hp would be using modern fuels?

[@thegreenerthemeaner]

What particular job did this engine have in life?

[@themadmailler]

thegreenerthemeaner It compressed natural gas to be sent to cities or elsewhere for use. the gas compressor is on the opposite side of the crankshaft and was operated off the push/pull of the crosshead.

[@steveskouson9620]

Yes, the interesting thing here, this engine didn't really USE the rotating forces, just the reciprocating forces. (Yes, I do realize, the engine used the rotating force to function, but it used reciprocating force to do its work.) Or, all 3 pistons went back and forth to do the work. 2 to make the power, and the third to compress the natural gas. Flywheel just kept everything running. steve

[@themadmailler]

yes, that's correct. very unique set up for sure.

[@Agtech4020]

Is the engine being operated on only two cylinders as it sounds like the plugs are pulled out of two? Or is that the sound of the shaft seals leaking?

[@stoomheier]

The sound is "suck suck dong dong" and that twice (two cilinders, double acting) suck is air intake and dong is work.

[@renegadeoflife87]

Coolspring has all 4 combustion chambers connected and running. But this video is from shortly after they got it running again. The seals were leaking, the chambers weren't firing evenly, and the throttle governor was not even connected- it was rigged for manual throttling. So some cylinders are hitting harder than others. More recent videos it has smoothed out considerably, hitting evenly on all 4 chambers and holding a steady RPM on the governor.

[@BangAsoursRex]

in the description, it says designed speed is 100rpm. is that the max rpm for this beautiful engine?

[@SteamCrane]

I believe that 100 RPM is the maximum. Some later ones ran a little faster, but not much. There is a huge amount of force on those heavy reciprocating parts and the flywheel at that speed.

[@warmfreeze]

SteamCrane I believe max would be around 125rpm as 90-100rpm was its working rpm range.

[@gregsampson4166]

4 or 2 cylinder?

[@SteamCrane]

+Gregory Sampson 2 double ended cylinders, thus operates as if it had 4 cylinders. This gas engine is very closely derived from steam engines used for the same purpose. That valve gear was often used on them.

[@cyberbadger]

They need a barring engine to put it to the right position. :-P

[@SteamCrane]

Since it would run for several months at a time when in regular service, occasional barring was no big deal. Also, a good operator could get it to stop in a good position to start without barring. Talking to the guys, the dead center range is fairly narrow, it can start at most angular positions.

[@eldvendeDlaguarda]

Seems like breathing

[@frankanddanasnyder3272]

Cut the first 6 minutes...waste of my time....