Detroit Engine Works - 1906 Marine Engine

Antique 2 Stroke, 2 hp Inboard marine engine manufactured in 1906 - 1911 by Detroit Engine Works. Restored in 2009 by owner John C. Davis. Two stroke is Internal combustion engine which completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during only one crankshaft revolution. This is in contrast to a four stroke engine which requires four strokes of the piston to complete a power cycle during two crankshaft revolutions. In a two-stroke engine, the end of the combustion stroke and the beginning of the compression stroke happen simultaneously, with the intake and exhaust (scavenging) functions occurring at the same time. The marine engine in this video may sometimes not be firing every revolution depending on how much the timing is retarded. When the lever is closer to 12 O-clock (Top Dead Center) the engine will fire every revolution but the more the timing is retarded the slower the (RPM) and the hotter (Lean Condition) the engine runs and it will sometimes skip igniting during a cycle. This is why it sounds the way it does at lower RPM with the timing retarded.
COMMENT'S: If you have nothing good to say with your comment please say nothing at all. Insulting comments will be deleted and could cause the comments page to be turned off.

[@TFD1982]

Huh that’s weird I just got this in my recommendation after watching musties1 video? Anyone else

[@jezmun]

Oddly enough, yes!

[@danwood1047]

I also received the recommendation immediately after watching Mustie1's video.

[@henryharrison3988]

As of right now this one runs a lot better than Husties1

[@TFD1982]

Henry Harrison definitely

[@christopherdwyer7570]

Yes sir.

[@paraglide01]

Who's here because of Mustie1?

[@billydarley6925]

his was in piss poor shape compared to this. lots of missing parts and damaged.

[@danwood1047]

I'm here because of Mustie1, too. I noticed that this engine's flywheel spins counter clockwise. Mustie1 always tries to spin his clockwise. I wonder if that's why it won't run.

[@billydarley6925]

@@danwood1047 oh yeah. i noticed that too, but i think it was puffing out the exhaust and not the intake so it might have been spinning correct.

[@David-yo5ws]

Yep. I saw the little green machine in the "up next" list. It's a smaller one than Mustie1's, but it's eeeeemaculate!

[@nickkluger97]

Runs both ways. You can see in the video it switch direction as he alters the timing significantly...

[@mdemed]

Love to see these old engines running. Thanks for putting the effort in to keep these beauties going.

[@mrnemo204]

the muffler makes pretty good music.

[@dprkassassin1876]

this engine can join my band

[@paulgrieger8182]

Bossa nova beat.

[@nikolaiorr8383]

Still better than recent trash

[@nialpollitt3410]

@Nikolai Orr Isn't that the truth..

[@Topsiekku]

In this video tractor gives beats to band kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6urfoGPd6l2etE kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnWrq35pjcpqj9k

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Thank you for the compliment. The engine has plenty of vacuum and will run the tank dry. I do have a check valve on the fuel line at the bottom of the tank. If you plan on putting your engine in a boat you would want to find a carb or mixer with throttle control. The engine will run cooler if you leave the spark advance lever at top dead center or just a little before and use the throttle control on the mixer or carb to increase rpm. This Detroit has little throttle control lever on the mixer.

[@danw1955]

World's slowest running 2 stroke... and reversible at that! Very nice rebuild! Now you just need a nice little wooden boat to put it in.😉👍

[@patrickdowns6916]

Dan W I used to have a gasoline powered pogo stick. It fired once on each bounce. Less than 30 rpm. It was totally silly and totally cool. You might say it was reversible? How can you tell if you’re going forward or backward?

[@danw1955]

@@patrickdowns6916 LOL, I've actually seen one of those! A friend of mine in Florida had one and we worked together to get it running again after it sat for like 10 years.🤣 One of the most dangerous toys I've ever tried to ride.😮

[@SaveWesternCivilisation]

@@patrickdowns6916 A gasoline powered pogo stick is easily the coolest invention of all time. If aliens find the remnants of our civilization in a billion years time, I want them to know what our species achieved...

[@Contantq]

Beautiful restoration of that engine. The makers, long since dead, would be proud to see it still running 100 years after they made it.

[@mattberg6785]

Things from a simpler time,probably a better time. Excellent restoration

[@Happy357mag]

Had to ride a horse to town if you're lucky. Or living in squalor in the city like packed sardines. likely to die before your 18th birthday from tuberculosis, polio, plague or any number of other diseases. A better time, No I don't think so.

[@mattberg6785]

@@Happy357mag there's definitely different measures of "better". How about simpler, possibly more honest, probably more moral.....definitely weren't a bunch of soy fruitcakes running around trying to usher in the stupidity that we have going now

[@Happy357mag]

@@mattberg6785 I can't argue with the morals of people today. Back then people cared about their neighbor. I know I pointed out a bunch of negative things going on back then but there was plenty of good too.

[@nerd1000ify]

@@mattberg6785 Moral? This was a time where it was government policy in much of the world to repress people based on the colour of their skin, where it was considered acceptable to send the likes of the Pinkertons in to break up a workers' strike by force of arms, and where an unmarried woman who became pregnant was likely to be either separated from her child at birth, forced into near slavery in a convent, or socially ostracized as a 'woman without morals' whether she chose to engage in the original act or not. I'll stick to the soy fruitcakes, if that's okay with you.

[@bradenhosking9342]

Damn. That thing is sweet! I could almost play that to go to sleep at night.

[@kidheadcase]

A thing of beauty! Thanks for posting and best wishes from Melbourne, Australia

[@robertvillafan1220]

this engine is a ONE man band !!

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

I have another small Detroit marine engine that is almost ready to start. I will be posting a video of it running also very soon. So check back in a few months to see it. This engine is all original and still has some of the original paint on it. A little bit later model probably 1908-1910 with low pressure fuel injection.

[@SharkoonBln]

+DetroitEngineWorks Well, there are probably around 240k ppl waiting, so take your time ;-) You ready for another dumb question? It seems to me this engine has no magneto, but a battery running a coil box. Wasn´t that inconvenient? I guess you had to change battery as often as you had to add fuel, given the really low capacity of batteries back then.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

+SharkoonBln DC dry cell batteries were rather large and lasted much longer then you would think.

[@bobbyowen8716]

Are you considering putting in a boat?

[@David-lx8zt]

DetroitEngineWorks it’s beautiful wish I could get one

[@juqebaux3912]

You can almost make a beat out of the exhaust

[@robertgarbe6348]

Similar but produced by different companies. This one Is great, and he is running it both ways.

[@timerickson7056]

The simplicity and craftsmanship is the beauty of old engineering.. Imagine no need for a transmission. Thet saves thousands of dollars. The craftsmanship make it simpler to maintain and repair. A modern sailboat engine is thousands of dollars and much larger and often very difficult to work on at sea. It's the same design on much larger motors used in the marine Industry.

[@daniellachapelle952]

I would like to buy a brand new engine the same type and i did search on the internet at Detroit Wisconsin but i think they dont make a those anymore . I use to have a 2 cylinder engine the same type running a boat at the cottage for fun when i was young . If i ever someday found a engine the same type so i promise to myself to build a boat with a real antique style design and having the pleasure to run this boat slowly on a calme lake . It is a big souvenir in my life

[@robbiehobbs2009]

The coolest thing I've seen in a long time. Cant imagine how the people that saw it back then must have imagined it to be the most advanced marine engine on the planet.

[@misters2837]

It is amazing how easily it changes rotation... took rotax 90 years to make a CDI box capable of doing what was done with a buzzer coil and a timing lever! Nice job on the restoration!

[@whotknots]

A first rate bit of work, it even has some of the original 'high and square' bolt heads.

[@HCSeelig]

I just LOVE perfection! I've got an oldie, 60+ years since it ran, 2HP, 1911~1920.

[@superiormusic]

Considering the engine is over a century old it is nothing short of amazing how nice it looks and runs. My hat`s of for you. sir.

[@MichaelRobinson-qq7ym]

I would like to thank you for restoring and posting your video. My wife has been looking to see one of these since finding out that I am Wadsworth’s great grandson.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Thank you for watching, Have you been to our website? (Link below). Check the history page out & many photo's & literature on the old engines. www.antiquengines.com/Detroit_Engine_Works_Menu.htm

[@jonnun7713]

I am so hooked on Vintage engines and this one is awesome

[@ronwhite6719]

Mustie1 needs some help with his marine engine. He tore the top and apart and phone hes got gouges in the top end of the cylinder and a ring missing. Maybe you can contact him and help him find some parts to see if his engine is totally gone or if it's worth fixing. Thank you

[@keither89]

Was thinking of him when I saw this lol

[@bumboclat]

for once, he had the timing set to counterclockwise while starting the engine clockwise with the electric drill. actually a wonder it ran at all

[@jimgee5854]

If he really cared about restoring it, he would learn more about the thing before attempting a repair, making incorrect guesses and attacking pieces he knows nothing about with a knife

[@bruceweight7319]

I totally agree with assessment first! First off he is running the spark coil on 12 volts? In the day they probably only had six volt batteries and yes you could put two together, but I doubt it. Those setups often had ballast resistors.

[@massimocorsaro1831]

I love two stroke slow speed diesel. It's music, in magic. Too fine, the state of art.

[@BruceBoschek]

Very nicely restored engine and it runs beautifully. It's almost identical to a Gile engine I used to own. Gile was also in Michigan.

[@davidd3377]

I love going to the steam and gas engine show every year. Music like this with the whistles are awesome and I always get my cornmeal ground while watching. Love the engine

[@rickeymitchell8620]

Beautiful work there sir! The engine has a very distinct sound as is captivating to watch when running.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Thank you Rickey, Just finished another small Detroit marine engine and I did a video, but not happy with video so will do it over again. New video should be posted in the next few weeks.

[@SH00T_TH3PUMP]

What a smooth runner! Great work!

[@abelvillarreal6488]

That has got to have the best sounding beat. I could listen to it all day long!

[@leerouse2001]

You did one hell of a job restoring that man congrats that is awesome I watched your first video boy you sure changed it and a great way

[@ronaldj1781]

Some people go to a lot of trouble to make a pot of tea. You have done a terrific job on this, with something so rare it must have been a challenge. Seeing you reverse the rotation reminded me of my youth. I live near Lake Nipissing and in those years there were quite a number of Dispros on the lake. They were powered by what i believe were St Lawrence Engines. They were about the same size, possibly a little larger? and the operation was similar.

[@HCSeelig]

I Love it. Have just got a 2 HP DEW marine engine, fuel injection unit patent date of May 14, 1912. Have build a mount...non "lean over" for it, and am disassembling. I watch your video as my inspiration. Thank you John!

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Sounds like your on your way to having a nice running display. Look forward to seeing photo's and/or video. The patent date is for the fuel feeder not necessarily the date of when the engine was manufactured.

[@saycat6758]

Lovely old make and break engine. On the east coast still some old Acadians and Lester engines kicking around. My neighbour got 4 on display as lawn ornaments.

[@brianmorrison9066]

I could listen to this all day.

[@burntorangeak]

You'd have to, if you wanted to get anywhere. Lol

[@bell9547]

It is so satisfying to listen to the sound of an engine after restoration. Good job with the engine. Thanks for sharing.

[@mdvener]

In the video I watched, the engine looked pretty close to what you have, but he spun the wheel in other direction. Had coolant pumping, one spin was all it took. I looked up you tube guile marine engine. Would love for you to get it running, or if not , just for display. Really nice part of history. Just trying g to help any way I can. Good luck n as always, thanks so much for inviting us to be a part of your knowledge, handing you tools. You are a very interesting to watch. A great mechanic, not a parts replace. You think out side the box. So glad I found your channel.

[@mdvener]

Yours also. Boy I feel stupid. Yes, it was to go to mustie1.

[@stumccabe]

Wow, what a beautiful little engine. Excellent restoration!

[@marknagy5892]

How cool to watch them old engines run !

[@jedediahbc]

That is a wonderful work of art, it purrs like a kitten. Thumbs up to this one.

[@python357magnum100]

Maaaaaan that is beautiful , mechanical art work at its finest !

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Thank you..

[@tonywright8294]

Why would you give a thumbs down ? Sounds and looks superb

[@SteamCrane]

Just bought one at a show today! Good compression, complete, looks like it will run. Set up with a cooling tank like yours. I took some pix, will compare with yours, but looks nearly identical. Really appreciate the video demonstration, answered some questions.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Would love to see photo's or video of your engine. Fell free to email me if you have any questions with your engine. My email is listed on my website. www.antiquengines.com

[@SteamCrane]

@@DetroitEngineWorks Found all kinds of good stuff on your DEW site! Flywheel is 4 hole, approx 14" dia x approx 2-1/4" thick, so apparently 3 Hp? Complete, good compression, nice red paint. Somebody did a real nice job on the cart and tank plumbing. No sign of a serial number. Carb is not like any shown, it's a Lunkenheimer, but it has what looks like a needle valve going straight out the end, but it's level, not angled down. Flat top, but with a little round valve handle on top instead of a lever. Need to open the top to investigate. Cart has a lovely little battery/coil box, too small for a buzz box. Will it run OK on a 6V car coil secondary/high voltage side? One question, does the water pump have a leather, or what does it have? Lube it? Probably won't run it right away, multiple projects, but may go get a car coil to try it. May get a new buzz box at Coolspring. Pictures + video, maybe soon. Thanks for all the info!

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

@@SteamCrane Water pump should have a bronze piston if it is original no lube on the water pump but it does have packing with two nuts. Please email me photo's when you get a chance & I can tell you more about it.

[@SteamCrane]

@@DetroitEngineWorks I looked at it again, and see what you said about a packing gland. Haven't pulled the pump piston yet. Folks were pretty clever back then, instead of a piston with rings, just a closed pump chamber, and the piston just varies the effective volume of the cylinder. Several projects going now, but hope to try running soon. Thanks for the info!

[@Chordmerchant]

The oldest engine I own is a 1927 Maytag "hit and miss" I haven't gotten around to restoring it yet. Gotta Finnish my airplane first! This is a beautiful old engine. Thanks for the video, and a special thanks for no music accompaniment!

[@mjinabnit4481]

OUTSTANDING work on the muffler. Man o man what a nice looking and sounding machine. Great work on the restoration of that amazing engine. Regards, j

[@jonduffer4340]

Wonderful restoration. Looking forward to next Detroit marine start-up. Great job! ( and smooth)

[@blobby273]

what a nice example beautifuly restored

[@johnsmith-vz3vr]

Beautiful and sounds like modern music.

[@sirmeowcelot]

Aaaah! the beauty of simplicity.

[@1953PE]

runs like a sowing machine, brilliant

[@telosfd]

Simply jazz, wonderful!

[@rbagel55]

That is a priceless piece of mechanical history

[@supercarpassion991]

What a beautiful restoration

[@donmelton1512]

I think it is a cool old engine nicely restored.

[@whizzer47]

Nice engine, sounds great . I love the old marine engines

[@cometghost5799]

What a cute little engine. I want one! Wow 1906, where did you find a gem like this?

[@SnoDraken]

Very nice setup, you do excellent work.

[@grettagrids]

shared this video in an old engines group I am in. you'll be the envy of all of them!

[@16mmDJ]

that reversing mechanism is a great party trick!

[@NrlyWrx]

WOW....sounds and looks BEAUTIFUL

[@rokythemirror477]

Old but gold....

[@darrenwoodhead9712]

What a talented man

[@proudtobewhiteprivileged9530]

NO check engine light ? those were the days

[@v-g-z3689]

This is a very nice engine, thank you for the video!

[@12thpanzer]

I look for engines like this (or similar era) and can NEVER find them.

[@HCSeelig]

John, soooo nice. I was given a 1912+ 2 HP a few months ago, and now have it down to the crankcase. I shall visit your video often for inspiration. Thank You! My drip oiler is 2-channel. Piston currently frozen in the head, for maybe 50 years....Original color dark bluish-green. Serial Number B-232 (stamped on outside edge of flywheel). Thanks!

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

How do you plan on freeing the piston? Email me if you want. Have a few suggestions that might help. My email is on our website, Link listed at end of video.

[@SneakersAnonymousMatt]

ive never heard a motor make a beat

[@vincej4319]

That's some real Americana right there.

[@lbbradley55]

My Grandmother told us about her Father & his Father who came to USA from Germany & they built each of them commercial boats here in Mobile Al. To do commercial work for the state docks & pull Cyprus logs to the mill in Hog Bayou where they keep them tied up. She described single engine Put Put motors they had that was cranked by spining the flywheel. Every weekend they took Neabors & a net & caught fish in the Delta & the community helped remove fish for the weekend fish fry. She talked about fish freezing in the net wile hanging on a fence they used to pick them & feed the community. What I would give for a photo of that.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Maybe you could not notice in the video but I changed the direction the engine was running. The engine rotation can be changed with out stopping the engine. Watch the video again real close and you should be able to see that it changes direction.

[@FabioTitoMontefinale]

:) :)

[@richardreynolds9389]

Beautiful restoration. Very smooth running motor.

[@captandysir8670]

Saw a reference in mustie1 23 Feb 2020. This one is VERY nice!

[@MrApeXMAN]

That's a hypnotic sound .. . ..Great looking ! Thx for sharing.

[@1961kickboxer]

That's a little gem.

[@Draxindustries1]

Lovely old engine. Would love to hear it rev right out to its max

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

The engine was not designed to run at max power. It's a 1906 engine designed to use the momentum of the heavy flywheel to do most the work. In 1906 boaters were happy to be putting down the river or lake going 10-15 mph. Not a racing engine.

[@trafalgar22a8]

Superb aesthetics job

[@nitro74cs]

Wonderful little engine, restorer did a great job so well done, but the muffler should be smaller so that nice tune can be heard more and better.

[@waveranger4974]

A thing of beauty

[@genehall9931]

What a work of art.

[@fredleonard1547]

Lovely old motor.

[@peteacher52]

I'll bet it runs a whole heap sweeter today than it ever did in 1906. Oil then was thick like treacle and petrol was (probably) about 70 octane.

[@SharkoonBln]

+Colin Gantiglew With modern oil ( fully synthetic ) there will be probably no wear at all. So, chances are good this engine will run another 200 or 300 years :-)

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

+Colin Gantiglew Actually back in the early 1900's the engines ran just like this one does. Very simple design and very reliable.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

This engine is incredibly similar to engines used in sampans on the Mekong and other rivers in SE Asia back in the day . Cool video and thanks .

[@null_carrier]

What a beautiful machine. Thanks for sharing.

[@immrnoidall]

did that just start going the other direction? thanks for saving this beautiful piece of history.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Yes, One of the features on many of the old two stroke engines back in the early teen's was that you could go from forward to reverse on the fly with out stopping the engine. All done with the timer lever and a on & off ignition switch on the timer lever and slowing the RPM down.

[@toothytube]

Great job, it sounds great and the exterior detail work looks great. And "by the looks of it" I would assume the internal machine work is of similar quality.

[@beetlesuzuki72]

What a great engine. runs so smooth.

[@chrisblester37]

Very nicely restored congratulations

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

@MOFFETTEE Thank you for the compliment on my little engine. I'm not really trying to sell it. Sometimes the Detroit marine engines show up on Ebay or Harry's Old Engines Classifieds. What kind of boat do you have? I would like to see some photos of your boat if possible. I seen the video of your twin cylinder Vivian marine engine a few months back. What a real nice job you did on it and it runs and sounds so good.

[@evodefrane63]

You got that running good I come from family commercial fishing my uncles knows all marine engines

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Yes, The lever advances or retards the spark and also has a on, off switch. So the timing can be changed with the spark on or off.

[@FinflazodeTurroai]

An engine built to last for the ages...

[@captlarry-3525]

So civilized ! wouldnt we all like a small launch with nice quiet motor like this ?

[@michaeldoherty5909]

A great programme

[@fexploder3281]

This is a cool engine.

[@san379]

what a beautiful little motor

[@royallan3717]

I love this, I have been trying to find one with that de compression lever

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

I'm not sure what you are talking about as this engine does not have a decompression lever or valve. Maybe you are thinking the primer cup valve is a decompression valve? Or may you think the ignition spark timer lever is a decompression lever? Not really sure what you are thinking?

[@royallan3717]

@@DetroitEngineWorks yes I’m sorry I soon realised it was a throttle or governor.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Yes, There's a lever on the bronze mixer which is the throttle that controls speed of the engine. The timer lever can also effect the speed of the engine.

[@garage662]

@1:16 it's playing YYZ by RUSH

[@joshpage7868]

i like the way it sounds

[@jamessidaway8934]

Think my Grandmother had one of these running her 1940's washing machine. A real luxury way back then.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

+James Sidaway Actually that probably would have been a two cycle Maytag engine running your grandmothers washing machine. They were a air cooled engine no water pump. Used a kick starter to get the engine running.

[@macthompson9750]

wow thats gorgeous.