The Ford Barn

1955Buick · 10-27-2023, 12:05 AM

Just bought a spare engine and it has an additional item on the passenger side. It looks like a second generator or maybe a clutch. Not sure what it is. It has a DELCO name plate on it which I thought is usually GM

Anyone know what this is used for?

Bruce of MN · 10-27-2023, 04:41 AM

Kind of looks like a generator. Does it have brushes or a commutator where those slots in the body are at the drive end?

nkaminar · 10-27-2023, 04:49 AM

Could be a home made governor. I seem to remember an article about how to modify an old generator to turn it into a governor. From the photos it looks like the lever moves back and forth. Can you see something inside that looks like flyball weights?

NH-A · 10-27-2023, 06:17 AM

Seconded on a governor. I had a T engine that had the same looking thing installed, and it was used as a log splitter.

Gold Digger · 10-27-2023, 10:41 AM

Could be a welder generator. When I was a kid my dad had a similar looking generator on an old engine that he used to electric weld with. I always thought it was an airplane generator. It wasn't a very good set up.

ModelA29 · 10-27-2023, 11:26 AM

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With the lever it makes me think an in/out clutch of some type that activated whatever was bolted to the back of it. Welding generator, hydraulic pump, etc.

Als48 · 10-31-2023, 01:09 PM

I don't remember ever seeing one, but as a kid in the 50's I remember hearing of Delco generator sets that people used for indoor lighting before public power systems began. I think they may have used the old hit/miss well pump type motors. The lever could be a disengage to reduce the load on the engine for starting.
(Just thinking out loud, Ha ha)
Al Hook

Gene F · 10-31-2023, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Als48

I don't remember ever seeing one, but as a kid in the 50's I remember hearing of Delco generator sets that people used for indoor lighting before public power systems began. I think they may have used the old hit/miss well pump type motors. The lever could be a disengage to reduce the load on the engine for starting.
(Just thinking out loud, Ha ha)
Al Hook

To power one of them newfangled radios, so they could listen to The Grand Old Opry on Saturday nights.

That lever....hmmm.

10-27-2023, 04:41 AM	#2
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 1,410	Re: Model A Delco Accessory Kind of looks like a generator. Does it have brushes or a commutator where those slots in the body are at the drive end?

10-27-2023, 04:49 AM	#3
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Model A Delco Accessory Could be a home made governor. I seem to remember an article about how to modify an old generator to turn it into a governor. From the photos it looks like the lever moves back and forth. Can you see something inside that looks like flyball weights? __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

10-27-2023, 06:17 AM	#4
NH-A Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 37	Re: Model A Delco Accessory Seconded on a governor. I had a T engine that had the same looking thing installed, and it was used as a log splitter.

10-27-2023, 10:41 AM	#5
Gold Digger Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arkansas & Alaska Posts: 645	Re: Model A Delco Accessory Could be a welder generator. When I was a kid my dad had a similar looking generator on an old engine that he used to electric weld with. I always thought it was an airplane generator. It wasn't a very good set up.

10-27-2023, 11:26 AM	#6
ModelA29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: SoCal Posts: 591	Re: Model A Delco Accessory Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) With the lever it makes me think an in/out clutch of some type that activated whatever was bolted to the back of it. Welding generator, hydraulic pump, etc.

10-31-2023, 01:09 PM	#7
Als48 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Paducah Ky Posts: 279	Re: Model A Delco Accessory I don't remember ever seeing one, but as a kid in the 50's I remember hearing of Delco generator sets that people used for indoor lighting before public power systems began. I think they may have used the old hit/miss well pump type motors. The lever could be a disengage to reduce the load on the engine for starting. (Just thinking out loud, Ha ha) Al Hook