[SEL] Headless Witte Mixer Question

[George & Norma Armstrong]

Arne,
    Regarding your needle valve set-up on the Witte, remember all is not
gold that glitters and all is not tit that titters.   Got our 4Hp Bessemer
running thanks to the booklet you sent me.  Probably the firs time the old
gal has run in 30 years.            Geo.
-----Original Message-----
From: Arnie Fero <fero_ah at city-net.com>
To: Stationary Engine List <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>; Old Engine
<stationary-engine at oldengine.org>
Date: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:00 PM
Subject: [SEL] Headless Witte Mixer Question


>Hi Folks,
>
>I was just doing some work on the mixer of my 4 hp headless Witte (circa
>1926) and noticed that the needle valve setup is "odd."
>
>The "needle" valve is flat-bottomed with a small tit at the center.
>Sitting in a hole below where the needle valve goes is a short
>rectangular floating needle that sits on the seat.  The top of this
>floating needle has a small depression that aligns with the tit on the
>adjustable part.
>
>It appears that the needle valve functions as a vertical travel limiter
>rather than as a fixed adjustment.  The engine runs fine, but it looks
>odd inside.
>
>Would those of you with headless Witte engines please take a look at your
>needle valves and let me know if they have the same setup or if they have
>a more conventional "needle" valve?  I'd like to know if this setup is
>original or some sort of kludge repair done in the engine's past.
>
>Thanks!!
>
>See ya,  Arnie
>
>PS - Also solved a nagging problem with my Bamford today.  On the last day
>of the Cotton Ginning Days show the engine just wouldn't run.  It was
>getting fuel, was timed correctly, and had a nice fat spark.  It just
>wouldn't hit!  Today in the shed I was cranking it over and noticed a nice
>fat blue spark between the plug lead and the water hopper!!  Turns out
>there was a flaw in the lead near where it clamps to the hopper!  When we
>were checking the spark the flawed part of the lead was well away from the
>hopper!  Put a new lead on and she runs sweetly again.  In the bright
>sun with background noise at the show, that side-spark just wasn't
>noticed.  In the darker, quiet shed however....  8-)))  Life is good!
>
>Arnie Fero
>Pittsburgh, PA
>fero_ah at city-net.com
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