[SEL] Re: Stover Fuel Saver Arm

[Arnie Fero]

Hi Paul,

I can't really tell from your pictures and description exactly what the
problem is here.

When I think of a "fuel saver" I think of a mechanical gadget that firmly
holds the intake valve closed while the exhaust valve is being held open
by the govenor latch arm.  The engine is free-wheeling with no
compression.  The "fuel savings" results from preventing the intake valve
from opening under a slight pressure differential that might occur on the
intake stroke with the exhaust valve open.

Are we on the same page so far?

On your Stover should the fuel saver arm do its thing by going under the
washer that's above the intake valve spring?  What would move the arm
toward the valve stem; is there a spring we don't see in your pictures?
Or is there some other mechanical actuation?

If there's a spring, what counters the spring force?  Is there a tapered
"finger" on the exhaust valve rocker that would allow the arm to move
toward the valve (under spring tension) when the exhaust valve was open
and would push the arm back away from the intake valve when the exhaust
valve was closed?  Or some other mechanical action entirely?

If your concern is that the arm isn't under the washer, maybe your washer
is just too small or is the wrong shape?

Any elaboration that you (or others) can provide on this Stover setup
would be appreciated.  And, as always, some pictures of a complete setup
in operation would be worth several thousand email words.

See ya,  Arnie

Arnie Fero
Pittsburgh, PA
fero_ah at city-net.com

On Fri, 16 Jul 2004, Paul Maples wrote:

> Folks you all know that I have been trying for years to find the right Fuel
> Saver Arm for my 1905 Vertical Stover.
>
> Also you will not that the arm will have to have a right hand bend in it to
> properly work as now it is as close as it can get the to contact plate on
> the valve. I know that cast iron cannot be bent but I now have the basic
> design of the arm and by having this part I can calculate the amount of bend
> I would need in a correct arm. I have confirmed, by looking at the wear
> pattern on the rocker arm finger that the fuel saver arm did set on the head
> at this exact angle thus also confirming that the arm did originally have a
> bend in it in order to reach the valve contact plate. Here are pictures of
> my head and parts:
>
> http://community.webshots.com/photo/163076625/163077139KGQWJV