Ferris Wheel turned by power unit

B

Bob McCarty

Moderator
Staff member
The January issue of Farm Collector has a short article about a 1917 ferris wheel in Sharptown, MD that is powered (now) by a Cub power unit. The reader who submitted the article thought that the engine was originally used on a tractor. The picture clearly shows that it is a power unit. http://www.farmcollector.com/tractors/c ... jzbea.aspx
The link doesn't show the picture of the ferris wheel that is in the article.

Bob
 
Looks like a power unit, from a combine. The hay baler units had a right angle drive and belt pulley. This one appears to have a straight shaft, out the rear,and a clutch. Ed
 
It also looks to me like they have the wrong decals on it. It appears to be an engine from an A tractor, with the step up on the bead on the side of the hood/radiator cowl.
 
Cub%20Power%20Unit%20-%20Ferris%20Wheel.jpg

pic courtesy: Farl Collector and Farm Collector reader Richard H. Lehr
 
Looks to me like it is probably an actual stand-alone U-1 Power Unit, rather than one off of a baler or combine.
 
That is like mine. The model A grill is correct. It has probably been repainted from the original yellow, and originally was tagged as an "International" on the hood and UC-60 on the supports. I don't think there were any industrial units tagged "Farmall" (like this one). Its a nice one, collectors item. This style is more like a 1955-1957 vintage not 1947, although it does have the older style oil breather :?


Hey i thought you were going to be in Arizona this week Bob? :)
 
I have seen a number of gas engine powered Ferris Wheels at local fairs and carnivals locally, but most of them have been powered by the same size Continental Engine. The engine looks just like a cub unit, but the exhaust comes out the opposite side. They sound a lot like Cub engines, though...

Mike in La Crosse, WI
 
A carnival that was in our area about 55 years ago used several of the Allis B engines. Some powered generators to light the sideshows and some directly powered rides. The carnival could set up in farm fields without electric service. But operating expense would be great as would noise.
 
What's your opinion about this generator head for the UC60 power unit :?: ?? I've been working on mine with this in mind. Its about finished now, and am doing serious shopping for the gen head.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-KW-ST-Genera ... 6032wt_660

These are made in China, and are made to run at 1800 rpm :) . My UC60 is capable of 2600rpm but cruises at 1800. Its been my goal to turn my power unit into the most powerful generator that i can, have the ability to go "off grid", and sell power back to the local electric co-op.

The generator head and power unit would be both mounted on a trailer with the gen head on sliding motor mounts lined up to mate the drive shafts.

What do you guys think?
 
The CUB engine should power it for about 5KW output. Greater loads will probably stall the engine. I would consider it only for emergency or convenience use. Suppose that the Cub would produce 5KW and would use only one gallon of gasoline per hour while doing so ( it will use more with that kind of load) , the 5KW for one hour is 5KWH. To buy that much energy from the POCO would be about $.50 to $1.00 depending on where you live. At my house, it would be about $.60. But the gasoline alone will be over $3.00 to produce what the POCO sells for $1.00 or less. Not a really good deal.
 
Thank you Bus Driver. You are correct sir, as usual. :) Great calculation :)

My home figures a little better, but also used .65 gal/hr. :)

I need to put the unit to some productive use and this is all i came up with. I can get the 5K head delivered here for under five hundred. I have the trailer axel, and trailer designed. (in my head). It will be a two wheel with high speed radials for interstate travel to power Cubarama and CubFest Night Lighting, power a small ice maker and electric ice cream churns :D.

It might be still worthwhile to finish it this way for mobile emergency power use. I would rather keep the power unit fresh. I will post some pictures of it. My unit is all reconditioned and has new domed pistons.

Assuming proper maintenance, how many years do you think it could run 24/7/365 :?: :?: :D

or should i just get me a "BIG ELI" YEA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wzaZmi7 ... creen&NR=1
 
Engine life? It is only a guess and any other guess deserves as much respect as does mine. Two factors in the Cub favor are the slow speed and the low power output. 1800 RPM and about .17 HP per cubic inch. Some newer cars are rated at more than 1 HP per cubic inch and will turn at least 6000 RPM. Engine life is short if operated at full speed and full load. It has been stated that connecting rod bearings are seriously affected by high engine speed.
I have an old import car with 99 cubic inches (1.6L), rated 80 hp, redline at 6000. It runs about 2800 RPM at 65 MPH. It now has about 2460 hours equivalent of operating time. It might make it to 3000 hours.
Larger farm tractors in my area often go 4000 hours on an engine, but some do not. Some claim over 10,000 hours.
But the Cub engine is not built like those big tractor engines.
While I could be very wrong, I think the average Cub engine would need some repairs at 2000 hours or sooner. 83 days at 24 per.
Just my opinion.
 
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