Ford's Quadricycle Engine

[Rdean33422]

While I was waiting on the helical gears to arrive for another project I came across this on the net.


Having already built Ford's Kitchen Sink engine I recognized several similarities in this design. He used plumbing fittings for the intake valves but now he had proper exhaust valves.
The water cooling was new and was thought to have been borrowed from the Carl Benz engine.
He had a buzz coil ignition system that was fired off a brass strip that was attached to the one and only rocker arm. He also had a trip lever that was said to be actuated when the piston was at top dead center but there is no information on this devise that sticks out the side of each cylinder.
It is a two cylinder design with the pistons attached to the flywheel in such a way that both pistons move together similar to a single throw crankshaft.
Since there were no counter weights on the rod throws the engine would have had a large amount of vibration.
A single rocker arm operated both exhaust valves with a single push-pull rod from the timing gear.
Bore was reported at 2.56 and the stroke was 5.98 inches.
There are several variations of the engine but none are the original through out as seen from old videos of Ford himself driving. I ma sure Ford made improvements to the engine also.
There is a lot more to be said and I won't be reproducing the engine but rather building a version of the engine of my own design.

I started with a 2" aluminum bar for the cylinders.


Over to the lathe for the first end.


Flip it around for the other end.


The two cylinders before cutting them apart. Doing it this way I only wasted 3/4" of material.


Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[Rdean33422]

I cut the cylinders apart and bored the inside for 0.800 pistons.
I usually use cast iron liners but not for this engine. We'll see how that works out.


This piece of channel iron was calling to me from the steel bin.
It said it would make a nice mounting plate for the cylinders.


I just had to remove the bits that were not needed.
Another dodgy setup but the result was a difference of 0.027 from top to bottom. I can live with that.


The result so far.


Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[GreenTwin]

Cool project !
.

 

[Rdean33422]

Big day 20 holes drilled and tapped 6 x 32.




All the holes lined up properly.


I did some cosmetic work on the cylinder support and cut some frame rails.


Engine frame bolted together.


Thanks for looking.
Ray

 

[a41capt]

While I was waiting on the helical gears to arrive for another project I came across this on the net.
View attachment 162706

Having already built Ford's Kitchen Sink engine I recognized several similarities in this design. He used plumbing fittings for the intake valves but now he had proper exhaust valves.
The water cooling was new and was thought to have been borrowed from the Carl Benz engine.
He had a buzz coil ignition system that was fired off a brass strip that was attached to the one and only rocker arm. He also had a trip lever that was said to be actuated when the piston was at top dead center but there is no information on this devise that sticks out the side of each cylinder.
It is a two cylinder design with the pistons attached to the flywheel in such a way that both pistons move together similar to a single throw crankshaft.
Since there were no counter weights on the rod throws the engine would have had a large amount of vibration.
A single rocker arm operated both exhaust valves with a single push-pull rod from the timing gear.
Bore was reported at 2.56 and the stroke was 5.98 inches.
There are several variations of the engine but none are the original through out as seen from old videos of Ford himself driving. I ma sure Ford made improvements to the engine also.
There is a lot more to be said and I won't be reproducing the engine but rather building a version of the engine of my own design.

I started with a 2" aluminum bar for the cylinders.
View attachment 162702

Over to the lathe for the first end.
View attachment 162703

Flip it around for the other end.
View attachment 162704

The two cylinders before cutting them apart. Doing it this way I only wasted 3/4" of material.
View attachment 162705

Thanks for looking
Ray

Like you, I built the kitchen sink engine () and looked at the Quadracycle as a potential future project, not as a model, but as a full scale repro.

I thought it’d be fun to use in parades and stuff, and as a way to take my hobby up a notch!

I haven’t jumped into that project yet, bug I’m sure going to watch what you get done.

Looks like a fun bit of work, thanks Ray!

John W

 

[Rdean33422]

John that would be a big undertaking to build.
I have seen reproductions of the quadricycle that were factory made with 3hp Briggs engines.
Keep us informed.

Ray

 

[ShopShoe]

FYI:

There was a member on this forum: vascon2196. He was here from 2009 through May 2020 and he and his students were working on a full replica of the quadricycle. It was quite a project and I believe they ended up with a running vehicle.

He is still listed as a member. I am not sure what happened to him as I really was looking forward to more from him.

The posts are still available on search, but I have not been able to quickly find a good starting point to refer to.

You can probably find more information by reading some of his work.

Maybe someone else can add more information to follow this post.

--ShopShoe

 

[Rdean33422]

You can probably find more information by reading some of his work.

I have seen his and several other's builds of this engine. There is some good information on the net it is just a little hard to find.

I drilled and tapped the holes for the spark plugs (1/4x32) and the intake valves (5/16x24).
On this engine the spark plugs are toward the inside and the intake valves are toward the outside. That will give me more options for the intake runners later.


Next on to the water cooling jacket.
This 2 1/2" aluminum tubing should work for that.


I machined it like I did for the cylinders all in one long piece and then cut in two afterwards. That way I only wasted about 3/4" of material and still had a full grip in the jaws.


Cut apart


Next will be the end spacers for the jackets.

Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[Rdean33422]

I made the end sleeves for the water jackets.


I drilled and tapped the water jackets for 1/8" NPT .


The jackets and sleeves were assembled with Loc-Tite 620.






Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[Rdean33422]

This was the easiest crankshaft I have ever made. Just a straight piece of 12mm drill rod 4" long with a 1/8" key slot.
I only need the keys on the outer ends for the bell cranks but I just went all the way across with the slot.


Shaft and the main bearings.


I made these main bearing stands from 1/2" thick aluminum. I wanted them that thick to give more side to side support.
The one with the tab sticking up is where the driven cam gear will go.
Also cut out a couple of bearing caps.


Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[Rdean33422]

I mounted the main bearing caps to the supports and bored them out for the main bearings.


Set up on the rails to see if everything is going to fit.


I got a late Christmas present.
8" round by 3/4" disk of cast iron.


Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[Rdean33422]

I trued up the flywheel and cut a 5 degree taper for the center hole.
Also made an aluminum bushing without changing the compound setting insuring a nice taper fit.


Drilled and tapped the bushing and cut a slot down the middle.


Here it is just sitting on the rails not fastened down.
There isn't much room on the timing gear side. I may have to get creative with the push/pull rod.


Next will be the crank arms and then I will know for sure if I figured everything out correctly.
You never know what might crop up when you build with "That looks about right" plans.

Thanks for looking.
Ray