New Way Stationary Engines

Aim - To serve and support the New Way Stationary Engine restoration community.
There was a New Way Stationary Motor inclined to Hit and Miss. It was designed that way but intermittently it would missfire and this in the confines of the beekeepers shed fired my imagination, grabbing my senses. I just loved the sound of the New Way 3.5Hp working - likely fuelled by a too rich mixture.
With each missfire came the tell tale puff of blue smoke and via the old sawbench, the beekeeping manufacturing business was underway, alive and well. Alf was in his element. Romance, nah, hard work but Hoots the New Way went a long way in firing the imagination of times past running in the present. The present, after all, that's where life is, it's not in the past, but romancing the past, that's the present if you're living it.
The priveledge of life. Present and past is now!!! - alive.

Ye Olde Sawbench & New Way Motor kept company by Howard Rotary Hoes

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

NEW WAY - Consumables and Accessories

New Way  promoted quality and no doubt they had a reputation they wanted to promote and protect. Advertising was one way to promote a quality product by appealing to the logic of low maintance and benefits of the usage of quality consumables.
Consumables
New Way  branded consumables included spark plugs and dry cell batteries [see image- click to enlarge] promoted as using or being the best. Documentation as supplied to buyers were generally designated "Book of Instruction and Repair Price List". This provided the New Way Owner with a comprehensive list of available spares and prices in a tabulated format along with ordering requirements to ensure accurate supply.

Accessories
New Way  specified accessories included
  • Friction Clutch Pullies - A range was available dependant on the H.P of the motor
  • Plain Pullies -  A range was available dependant on the H.P of the motor
  • Governor Pully (owner could set speed)  - Customer defined shaft fitting to suit machinery.
  • "New Way " Ammeter - Sold essentially as an ongoing cost saving measure for the testing of dry cells to eliminate the wastage of cells as used on many of the early model motors.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

NEW WAY - Periodic Maintenance

Regular Basic  Maintenance
  • Ensure lubrication points and oil levels are operationally correct. [include oil misting check at oil line "T" plug at the fan shaft connection point once motor is started - oil line valve sticks]{eg. Type "C" motors}
  • Ensure motor cylinder casting is clean and not covered in oil thereby inhibiting air cooling.
  • Ensuring the cooling fins and ribs aren't partially choked (eg sawdust, straw etc) causing overheating.
  • Motor is tight on its bed or carriage.
  • Dry Cell Battery ignition systems are prone to failure as cells and coil contacts have a limited life. Use meter to check cell condition - replace as necessary. (suspect a cell if the motor will start and soon stops and can be restarted after standing for some time. ie it has signs of a weak fading spark)
Periodic Basic Maintenance
  • New Way recommended that the combustion chambers of their early motors be cleaned at very regular intervals [eg 6 monthly] because of a build-up of gum and carbon deposits. Rings were also included in this regimen. {carbon deposits by glowing can cause preignition}
  • Hinged crankcases on many models facilitated easy access to undertake this servicing.
  • Change oil.
New Way operated in a day where fuels were of variable standard and carried impurities that necessitated this recommendation for regular cleaning. With modern day fuels it is expected that this close periodic regimen is not required and would no longer be recommended by New Way as the cause lay not with the motors so much as with impure fuels.
NOTE, even today, a motor running rich will still build carbon deposits that can cause preignition - Not primarily through impure fuel but through incomplete combustion. In restoration, failure to clean old deposits etc. from the combustion chamber can also result in preignition - be thorough.

Trouble with preignition, [motor will try to run even when you disconnect the spark plug] then inspect and clean the combustion chamber. (look for deposits or sharp casting points etc that could glow when the motor gets hot - it could simply be a deposit on the plug)
  • Quick Remedy ? - Impure fuels would be prone to produce deposits just as they would generate rectification processes that might save dismantling a motor. A remedy of the day was to pour a dose of kerosene or Turpentine into the spark plug hole. [I don't know how much but take it that it would need to be done soon after the problem arose and left there long enough to soften the deposit so that once the motor was started the deposit (wafer?) causing preignition would be expelled]

Monday, November 29, 2010

NEW WAY - Fuel to Fire

The New Way Motor Company motors were advertised as being capable of running on many fuels. As a  frontier motor they probably had few or no equals especially in freezing winter conditions of the likes of parts of US and Canada. With no water hopper to freeze they made their stamp with virtually no daily maintenance demands.
FUELS to BURN (advertised) :-
  • Gasoline
  • Petrol 
  • Gas
  • Naptha
  • Alcohol
  • Benzine
  • Distillate (Kerosene)
To run on kerosene a New Way (eg Type "C") generally needed to adopt a two tank fuel storage and switching process. Motors  started on petrol/gasoline and once warmed up were switched over and run on kerosene. The process requires that at the end of running all kerosene is used up so that the new start could be done with the carburettor refuelled fully with Petrol. Mixture adjustment at the changeover point was likely required for the motor to run efficiently. Running on kerosene was conditionally qualified by New Way and though promoted, not fully recommended for continuous service (performance etc.) without  a modification kit.

Later motor models eg some series "M" outfits had carburetors specially designed for kerosene. To overcome the problem of kerosene atomisation, where it condenses in cool conditions, in this case, the exhaust was fed to directly heat the carburettor. (petrol start still required)
For further detail see photo by clicking this link to the photo information page.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

NEW WAY JEWEL - Decorative Detail

New Way Jewel Open Crank Decoration 
New Way Jewel was supplied in both open and enclosed crank. Some open crank engines have a decorated metal cover with the New Way virtual trademark flowers painted proudly and clearly.
New Way Motor Company philosophy virtually dictated (advertised) that their motors should not only be good but that they should also look good. 

To the right (much appreciated and thanks to Neil H) is an accurate tracing of the painting done on the curved metal cover on a 1½ Hp Jewel Open Crank engine. These covers were simply a wide metal band and did not provide any real dust protection like the enclosed crank engines but rather would have stopped oil and grease from splattering around the motor. The flower is 3¼ inch high and the base colours are green and yellow and white.

Click the image to get an expanded view.  

Friday, November 19, 2010

REGISTRY - NEW WAY ENGINES

The New Way  Engine REGISTRY can be accessed on this site at it's own page. Owners, be included on the registry, simply email the following New Way Motor details for inclusion on the record.

MOTOR INFORMATION REQUIRED by Email for the New Way Motor Registry. {NOTE:- the motor can be in any condition}
  • Series/Model/Type (as little or much as you know) 
  • Photo

REGISTRY UPDATES!!
Expect an email response to your Registry email within three days and that your motor information will be added to the registry within a week. You will also be notified by email as soon as the New Way Motor Registry is updated with your data.

GOALS - In a nut shell - Service
  • Encourage Owners to recognise the benefits of a wide ranging registry
  • Build a promptly updated extensive International New Way Motor Registry inclusive of photos.
  • Collate and compare data, including Serial Numbers, ID Platesavailable sales records, manuals and dated documentation with the view to expanding the accuracy of a nominal manufacturing date for motors. (refer Identification Table) [volume is necessary in the absence of New Way Motor Company official serial number documentation]
We would love to hear from all of you New Way Owners out there. Use the registry for Then and Now photos (up to 3) for each motor project. The Email address to send your information is geo.covey@gmail.com Look foward to hearing from you.
Click REGISTRY to have a look at all the models on the registry plus view the photos. Countries represented as of 04/Feb/2011 include Scotland, England, New Zealand, USA , South Africa and Australia.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

New Way Flywheel Fan Engines

FLYWHEEL FAN AIR COOLED ENGINES - precursor to the Modern Air Cooled Motor.
New Way promoted it's products as being light weight, compact and reliable. These concepts were displayed throughout production.
Competition - It wasn't a foreign concept to the New Way Motor Company but the advance of time along with mechanical and technological advances in the workplace spelt out it's demise. Vision probably wasn't the lack but direction likely was, in an age where the capability of machines moved at a hectic pace and in many cases set aside the requirement for the stand alone motor. (eg. PTO and electric power etc.)
Innovation - By 1917 New Way had introduced the Flywheel Fan into it's motor range. Simple but effective the essential concept continues to be used in todays air cooled engines.
Advancement - The New Way Motor Company and it's successor the New Way Engine and Machine Company produced models of varying Hp using the Flywheel Fan concept. Along with throttle governing, clutch pulley and optioning without a heavy base, these were to be the last really significant advances adopted in their range. Flywheel mounted Fan Series/Models included:-
  • F Series in a likely Hp range of 4 to 7.5.
  • CH(A) - 5 Hp Single (initially 4 Hp ?)
  • CHA - 6 Hp Single Cylinder.
  • BH(A) - 3 Hp Single Cylinder (base incorporated)
  • FH(A) - 5 Hp Single Cylinder (base incorporated)
  • EHA - 8 Hp Twin Cylinder Vertical    (c1930s)
  • GHA - 10 Hp Twin Cylinder Vertical  (c1930s)
SALES
Generally from a Sales perspective, following standard New Way practice, a purchaser would order an Outfit Number. In other words the Outfit No. (eg "C-2" ) used by the dealer, defined how the particular motor was to be optioned for the purchaser. The motor was the same but options chosen defined which Outfit No was used in ordering. Optioning could relate to the fitting or otherwise of combinations of:-
  • Sub Base
  • Plain Pully
  • Clutch Pully
  • Power Take off (PTO)
  • Sprockets (dependant on plant attached eg. make)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

NEW WAY MOTOR - Information Photo Gallery

NEW WAY PHOTO GALLERY (Model/Type Information)

JUST PUBLISHED - A new page that provides guidance photos for fitting out of New Way  motors with componentry true to model/type. New Way  spares/accessory examples are also shown eg New Way Spark Plugs {the best of course}. I recognise that few of us will ever have a motor fitted with the likes of original spark plugs.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

NEW WAY ENGINE - MOTOR IDENTIFICATION

The New Way  Engine Identification Table has been published on its own page.

Purpose
To allow New Way Enthusiasts to identify their motor by some of the classic indicators in the different Series/Model/Type.
Achievement
The Identification table is an incomplete work requiring input from New Way Enthusiasts. You will note there are cells without data or a ?. This is a best effort with data available from American and Australian enthusiasts I know to this time.
Aim
Ultimately to provide a complete and accurate table of all New Way Motors for enthusiasts to use as a ready reconer in determining what New Way motor they have even if it exists in a bare bones state.
Your Help
If you own a New Way  Motor and it's data is incomplete in the table or not listed at all, I desperately need your help so as to provide a fully comprehensive reference table for any New Way   enthusiast. All help appreciated.
In the interests of quickly building an accurate reference service, let me know if:-
  • A New Way motor isn't listed and you have details you can accurately supply.
  • You can supply missing data or you think some I have shown is incorrect.
  • If you have a photo of a motor where presently there is none or it is incomplete/unrestored etc., I would really appreciate if you could email me a photo so I can add it to the table. (last Column) NOTE:- Most photos are achieved simply by a link to the correct photo on WEB sites.
My email is geo.covey@Gmail.com else press the comments button to leave details to allow me to update the table.

Direct LINK to table is - http://newwaystation.blogspot.com/p/new-way-engine-identification-table.html else click the page button at top of the right hand column.

Remember, for me to get this right I really do need the help of other enthusiasts - there are gaps to fill, photo's to find. Thanks in advance for Table Update Information in comments or emails as a service to other New Way owners.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

New Way Motor Company - Slogans, Selling and Sales

New Way Motor Company literally worked in a New Age of promotion, promotion, promotion and advertising.

"New Way " Engines were supported by a company that obviously :-
  • Valued good slogans
  • Pitched their sales campaign for the market
  • Valued good product communication - supported by punchy slogans and quotes with claims of superiority, simplicity and excellence
  • Had Motor's that carried names with strong implications and inferences of quality and innovation with names like "New Way", Jewel, Little Giant and Standard. 
Some slogans /sales pitches are classics - lets look at a few QUOTES !!
 
The "New Way " is the most simple and perfect engine made 
"It is not what you pay but what you get that counts."
The "New Way " Engine "Goes and Goes Right"
"  Quality   Counts  "

The " New Way "engine is built for hard rugged work. It is dependable in all emergencies.
Power with Economy, Simplicity and Durability are obtained by "New Way " users
Learn the "New Way " and do quantity business
It is not wise to sell cheap engines.

"New Way " - "A line in a class by itself - All specialities beyond reach of competition - We invite correspondence."
{ Now that's "New Way " confidence! }
The "New Way " Twin Cylinder Air Cooled Engine is in a class by itself.
"Carburettor - The simplest made, once set rarely needs adjustment"
The "New Way " furnishes Power with Economy

"New Way " is warranted to deliver it's full rated power in summer or winter for any length of time without overheating.
The "New Way " Air Cooled Engines for Gas, Gasoline, Alcohol, Benzine, Distillate, Petrol, Naptha and Kerosene
"New Way " - No Water - Water .... is a constant source of danger and trouble.
The Air Cooled - Multi-purpose "New Way 5 Engines in One
We liken the "New Way " Little Giant to a stick of dynamite -
"because the hidden force in the little engine is truely wonderful"
   
OK! What of the facility that made the New Way  equipment. Of course as quoted - the best!! 
THE  " New Way  "  FACTORY
 MODERN THROUGHOUT - THE BEST EQUIPPED PLANT IN THE WORLD
 DEVOTED    TO     MAKING     HIGH     CLASS    STATIONARY      ENGINES

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

New Way Engine Manuals and Documentation

New Way engine manuals and documentation is available from various sources. These are generally reprints or photocopies, some of excellent quality.

Click on the following links to go to the required site to check out what's available.

Rallybadges carry New Way manuals, 3" Dia decals (New Way Flywheel etc), advertisments and documentation.
Plough Book Sales carry New Way engine manuals {type C,series J,M and model CH}, 3½Hp shroud and Mixer scale drawings, 2¼" Dia (New way Flywheel etc) decals, sales catalogues and advertisments. [eg search new way]
Jensales carry what they call a New Way Air cooled Engines Full Line Catalog.  Essentially it is the D-11 sales catalogue plus about 9 pages on the later motors mainly produced by New Way Machine and Engine Company.
Farmerlink carry an item 1386303  NW  NEW WAY AIR COOL CATALOG (do a CTR F to bring up the find cell and enter New Way and it will take you to the item for ordering)
EBay - Gim54 carries a sales catalogue reprint New Way Air Cooled Engines Catalog D - 11
Hit N Miss Enterprises carries a small apx. 8 page sales catalogue NEW WAY "BH-FH-3" 3-5HP, Air-Cooled, Sales featuring later engines and "New Way " Engine and Machine Company.
Rustic Spares carry a couple of good size decals, a 4" Dia (New Way flywheel etc) and an 11"x9" "Goes and Goes Right"
Smokstak carries many New Way enthusiast articles (threads), photos and advice etc.

GOOD READS for Restorers to build your general engine knowledge base, repair and maintance skills here are some books I would recommend. These were originally written in the early 1900s but have been reprinted so should be available with a bit of chasing eg Ebay or Amazon etc. The books are very authoratitive and cover areas very relevant to Air Cooled Engines and were written for their time and cover issues for the motors of their day.
  • Gas Engine Troubles and Installation - by J.B Rathbun
  • Gas Engine Ignition - by Norris, Winning and Weaver
  • Internal Combustion Engines - by Robert L Streeter (1915) - available as a print on demand book for about $25.
UPDATE  July 9th 2012 - We have recently added a library of New Way Documentation to the site. This includes Instructions and Catalogs and other hard to find New Way Literature. Most are watermarked but all are cleaned up and of excellent quality. ENJOY!!
Here is the library address. It is free to download. Have a browse and we hope you find something to treasure.
http://newwaystation.blogspot.com/p/documentation.html

If you know of other sources where New Way documentation or New Way Instruction manuals can be purchased please let me know by clicking this COMMENTS tag or at geo.covey@gmail.com so I can add to let other New Way enthusiasts know.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

New Way Engine - Pitfalls

New - Way's wonderfull "GOES AND GOES RIGHT" advertising slogan no doubt sold many an engine and probably well deserved to say the least. That said, it is not all plain sailing for the uninitiated.

New - Way Owners Pitfalls !!!
  • Don't set the Oil drip feed too fast - eventually the crank case will over fill and your New Way aircooled engine will likely start spewing oil everywhere.
  • Rich Mixture / Too much oil in cylinder- Carbon deposits in the combustion chamber may occur that glow and result in preignition. Indicated if motor continues running when you've shut the ignition down. May be treated temporarily with kerosene to remove deposits but you need to  identify cause and permanently correct.
  • Weak batteries with Buzz ignition - Motor will likely start. Symptoms -slowly loose power (or stop) and likely misfire from weak spark. Always disconnect batteries to prolong battery life - even overnight.
  • Flick the drip feeder off when motor shut down - Failure will also eventually overfill the crankcase etc.
  • Fan oil line check valve sticks - Cylinder mounted fans have an in line valve that can stick closed. Tap valve to free it up ensuring oil mist is feeding the fan shaft. Remove gummy oil deposits from valve and oil line if necessary. NOTE:- Oiling mist in line to fan is reliant on adequate crank case pressure.
  • Don't push the piston in too far - Rings may catch on a rebate at the top of the cylinder when restoring and assembling . It's best to connect the rod to the crank early to stop the nightmare this action may give.
  • Oil Mud on Cylinder Fins and Overheating - Don't let your New - Way's  propensity to be an oily machine to build a thick coating of oil mud on the cylinder cooling fins. It has the potential to insulate the cylinder from air cooling and overheat your motor which can be disasterous for ring tensions and bore.
  • Don't forget to always tighten the Sparkplug - Some New - Way's  have high intake lift and you may be inclined to give it a snort of fuel to start it more readily. Forget to tighten and you may find you have launched a very powerful and dangerous missile after an extended period of running. Be assured it has happened - be careful.
  • Joint sealing is critical on high lift air intakes -New - Way uses press fit sealing on their intake pipe at mixer and cylinder on some models. With high lift intakes, a good seal is essential for correct mix and power - ensure air isn't being sucked in. (put fluid on the joints to detect leaks with motor running)
  • 4 Gear Drive Ignition and Exhaust Valve Timing  - Don't fiddle unless you know what you are doing New - Way even suggests you don't disturb. If you must, ensure you mark gears (pin punch) and restore.
  • Don't know what you are doing? - Welcome to the club, you aren't the first - You've had a go - call on another enthusiast they are usually only too happy to help you out, in fact they have probably been there before. (Though they mightn't admit it!)

Saturday, September 25, 2010

New Way Sales - Outfits by Design, Excellence and Function

ENVIRONMENT and a rapidly evolving WORKPLACE provided the challenge of the day.

New Way Motor Company determines to meet the challenge of their day with excellence and innovation. Prepared to ride the wave of demand and to tailor their machines to match a harsh climate and the climate of fast procedural change in the fields of a national progress they expand to the point where it is said they operated the largest manufacturing facility for Air Cooled Engines in the world.
From the fields of maize, to the wells of black gold, word is out that New Way Engine is the machine and that the New Way Motor Company has an ear to the ground. Their advertising campaign is aimed, targeted and focused across a wide gamut of workplace related literature. Ready to respond to the farmer, trade, drill rig operator or industrialist they offer a range of options to outfit their engines for many facets of industry.
They match their machines with claims of reliability, excellence of workmanship and a minimalist maintenance regeim to allow even the most mechanically challenged to operate and maintain their Outfits.
Outfit they did, and listen they did and so New Way produced not just motors but tailored outfits to slot into many a workplace or farm. Promoting a penchant for productivity they march in a short 35 year time slot in time commencing in 1905.
You look at your hard work, look at a New Way Outfit and you immediately have visions of enhanced productivity. You're a farmer, a tradesman an industrialist and productivity is the name of your game. The advertising is done, the seed is planted and the workplace idea has jelled. It is time to employ the local grape vine and to make a move on your workplace. The grapevine is reliable as it is good, you choose New Way as the source to Outfit your workplace.
It's time to call the Dealer, in all likelihood the John Deere Plough Company or Moffat Virtue to make sure the detail matches the claim. Of course like all salesmen, they can be relied upon for an unbiased opinion. That aside there was a New Way Motor Company guarantee and generous warranty provisions for the buyer that made the New Way a very low risk investment no matter what New Way Outfit Number you chose.
So you've made the deal and headed to base with the latest in mechanical marvel ready to do wonders in your workplace. What did you buy? Why of course nothing but the ultimate New Way Outfit to suit your workplace in any Engine colour you like so long as it was the New Way flagship colors.

Outfits optioned (Detailed in The "New Way" Air Cooled Engines Catalogue D11) to match the Workplace included:-
  • New Way Engine from 1 to 12 HP  mounted on skid or hand truck.
  • New Way Engine on towable mobile steel truck for portability to facilitate multifunctional use.
  • New Way Portable Saw Rig on towable mobile steel truck
  • New Way 21/2 and 31/2 HP Force Pumper mounted on skid or hand truck
  • New Way "Success" Power Spray Pump/Sprayers - Farm spray outfits with or without Tank
  • New Way "Special" Power Spray Pump/Sprayers - Farm spray outfits with or without Tank

You found that variants in Outfits was possible to suit your workplace further illustrating New Way's intention of service to the customer. Your workplace was to be equipped with the most up to date New Way Motor Company product designed for simplicity, portability and likely, most of all reliability.
THE NEW WAY ENGINE - "GOES AND GOES RIGHT" -  QUALITY COUNTS


Sometimes though, New Way had a mis-strike in their quality control as illustrated in the spelling of company on this flywheel. (Click photo for expanded view)


Refer to Identification Table (click for page) for basic motor specs of many new way Motors.



Sunday, September 19, 2010

New Way Motor Company - Engine Outfits - "Motor Order Options"

New Way Motor Company produced Motors that were generally defined by Series/Model/Type. Outfit Numbers were used for sales in dealerships to define optioning of their motors for ordering and used in the field of ignition, means of lubrication and "New Way" engine attachments.(eg Saw, Mixer, Pump, Spray Pump etc)
In other words the New Way Outfit Number (alpha numeric code) was related to the optioning of a total sales package of which the motor HP was just a part. Ref table below for examples of Outfit Number usage.
1st digit
  • "K" Outfit indicates Dry Cell battery Ignition fitted
  • "L" Outfit indicates a combination of "New Way" friction magneto and dry cells
  • "M" Outfit indicates Bosch High Tension Ignition
2nd Digit - HP of outfit - eg 2 =2½Hp 
3rd Digit - Skid mounted outfit "0"  or  Wheeled Hand Truck mounted outfit "1"
Further Digits (if used) - Relate to the outfit attachment if fitted (eg Saw)

Please note the use of outfit "M" should in no way be confused with Series "M" New Way motors. They are separate entities.
Further details are obtainable in the New Way D-11 Catalogue, available for purchase on the internet etc..

    Wednesday, September 15, 2010

    Finding your New Way Engine Serial Number and AGE

    New Way Engines did not always have an ID plate that readily identified a particular engine's SERIAL No., MODEL or TYPE. The following should allow you to locate the Serial No. for your particular engine.
    • New Way Type D Vertical - Brass I.D. plate on crankcase on the carburettor side with serial number stamping.
    • New Way Type C Vertical - Brass I.D. plate on crankcase on the carburettor side with serial number stamping.
    • New Way Series J Horizontal (Jewel) - No I.D Plate. A Serial No. stamping is located on a ground flat on the top side of the cylinder flange where it bolts to the Crank housing.
    • New Way Series M Vertical - No I.D Plate. The Serial No. stamping is similar to the Jewel, located on the cylinder flange where it bolts to the Crank housing.
    • New Way Series S Twin horizontal - Brass I.D. plate on crankcase cover moulding facing upwards practically in the centre of the motor has the serial number stamping.
    • New Way Series S Standard horizontal  - Brass ID plate is mounted on the top of the crankcase cover between the flywheels.
    • New Way Series F Vertical - Brass I.D. plate on crankcase on the carburettor side should show a serial number stamping.
    • New Way Series A Vertical Model CH - aluminium plate on shroud has serial on top left hand corner or if plate badly corroded may also be found stamped on flywheel near timing marks on the flat outer flywheel face.
      NOTE- S/N 5598 was fitted to a Feb 1923 Centaur Tractor
    • New Way Series A Vertical Model DH - aluminium plate on shroud under decompression lever.
    • New Way Series A Vertical TWIN Model EH - Brass plate on front top of shroud or stamped on the end of cylinder flange where it bolts to C/Case. 
    • New Way Series A Vertical TWIN Model GH - Brass plate on front top of shroud
    • New Way Series A Vertical Model JH - Brass plate on front of shroud 
    AGE:- New Way Motor Company does not have a straight forward method of allocating serial numbers tied to year of manufacture. Consequently use of serial number alone is not a means of determining age.
    • A particular model motor with a serial number and a dated sales invoice provides a dating reference that others can use to date their motors of the same model.
    • Like cars today, New Way introduced changes within models that give pointed guidance to age. eg use of flat or round fan belts. Knowing dates of changes allows some reasonable age determinations. This is particularly applicasble to the CH model ( promoted as 5 engines in 1) which was produced for around 10 years.
    • Use of patent dates provides a very rough guide to age at best
    • Knowing when a Series / Model was introduced allows you to determine its earliest possible date.
    Can you help your fellow New Way Enthusiasts?
    If you have a motor with an invoice date, Please contact me via my email as these definite datings can be used to reference other enthusiasts motors to give a close to accurate age. I am in the process of building a reference table to accomodate this data.
    My email  is geo.covey@gmail.com
    I will need the following to provide meaningfull data for others to use:
    • Model and Type
    • Serial Number
    • Invoice Date
    Cheers

    Thursday, September 9, 2010

    A NEW WAY Hit and Miss Engine - How it works

    My very considered opinion on the operation and workings of the New Way Hit Miss Engine.
    NOTE:- Understanding this is important for tuning your engine.
    • 1st - Manual labour - A crank at the crank. Hand hard pressed on the intake valve spring - revs OK. Hand off, you wait for that first choof!! Keep cranking!!
    • First the engine takes a gulp of fresh air (hopefully without dust from the sawbench or corn thresher)
    • The air passes into the mixer (dinosaur carburettor) past a single jet or if you are into the inovative model you may also find a fuel needle involved. (What complexity the ultimate in ensuring the correct fuel mix.)
    • Then you may ask how does this fuel/air mixture get into the cylinder? Well, of course it uses the New Way Automatic Intake Valve. How does this work? Well it's complexity and simplicity all wrapped together.
    • The piston goes down and this of course sucks hard and the only thing that can move is the spring loaded intake valve. Of course this needs to be timed in accordance with your motors compression/wear. Intake Valve Timing - well you just adjust the spring tension so the valve opens to let in the correct amount of the mixture. Less compression? Of course you are right - you need less tension on the intake spring.
    • So the gulp of fresh air is mixed and makes it into the cylinder and gets compressed. Lo and behold along comes a spark around the time the piston reached the top of the cylinder (TDC). To get this spark New Way Motor Company either used Low Tension Battery/Magneto with a coil or on the high faluting versions a High Tension Magneto. Timing of this HT magneto spark is fixed with a chain or gears - regular and reliable as clockwork.
    • Your timing's right? So the mixture explodes, the New Way shudders, the flywheel evens out the pulse of POWER and the engine starts to spin up toward its governed revs. A few more gulps, more sparks and next thing we are at governed revs. Mechanical genius and technology to the rescue - we have got to stop this thing.
    • Flywheel spinning, beware! Fingers away, its govenor weights let loose, centrifically thrown, a lever actuates and slams into the path of the exhaust valve. The MISS.
    • Exhaust Valve held open - no piston suction on the intake valve - spring holds intake closed. No fuel, no gulp of mixture, no power and the New way starts to slow toward governed speed. (be warned though, if your intake spring is set to light and fuel makes it's way in then backfire may be the order of the day - your neighbors may not be in the mood for a wake!!)
    • Flywheel slows, governor weights return, exhaust lever restores and the exhaust valve closes - POWER is returning to the awakening giant of the New Way, it's The HIT bursting into life.
    • The cycle of New Way life - and so, as the New Way Motor Company says, it Goes and Goes Right.
    • New Way - would you have it any other way!!
    • Understand? NO! Simply read it again - there is no other New Way - it just Goes and Goes Right.
    • POINT of NOTE:- Timing can be tricky around here with up to four cogs. The crank cog is timed to the exhaust valve cog's cam so as to open when the piston is ready to evacuate the cylinder. (around 2/3 down before BDC) With the exhaust valve timing set, if yours is a HT magneto then you may have 2 more cogs called on then to time that spark to fire a few degrees before TDC. Timing! Timing! It's all timing! Like the ballet, your mechanical sequences must be precisely ordered and timed.

      Further Questions: Email me at  Geo.Covey@gmail.com

    Tuesday, September 7, 2010

    New Way Motor Company History in Brief

    New Way Motor Company Concise History-
    • Born out of the Clarkemobile Company (Auto), the New Way Motor Company commencing operations in 1905. http://www.american-automobiles.com/Clarkmobile.html
    • William Newbrough as treasurer and Charles Way engineer, were the prime movers of the company with Charles Way as the prime ideas man for the Air Cooled Engines produced by the company.
    • Automobiles continued to be produced using New Way engines till 1907.
    • The New Way Motor Company main manufacturing facility was at 706 Sheridan with documentation generally referring to Lansing, Michigan.
      • Fire played an important part in the company early history. Production actually commenced in a combined facility little more than a simple shed 100 feet long.
      • By 1910 with product demand and expansion the company was operating from a massive well serviced factory. 
    • The Motor company was instrumental in the establishment of the New Way Mutual Benefit Association to see to the welfare of staff in times of sickness etc. 
      • Indicative of a company with a forward thinking social conscience
    • New Way manufactured 1 and 2 cylinder Air Cooled engines  up to 12 Hp in horizontal and vertical cylinder format
    • Vertical single cylinder 3.5 Hp and 6Hp horizontal twin cylinder Type C aircooled "Hit Miss" vertical engines were among the first productions. These were quickly followed by a 2.5Hp single cylinder version of the same Type C 
    • Engines were said to have good power to weight ratio for their time of production. Attributed mainly to the fact that no water tank for cooling was required.
    • Peak of production saw engines sent off by train in wagon loads. The New Way Motor Company manufacturing facility was well serviced by rail track right to factory dispatch.
    • Some of the last model innovations introduced in 1928 involved innovative cooling principles and methods still in use on modern day air cooled engines. 
      • Their Patents were ground breaking. Patents of today still refer back to the innovative early patents of the New Way Motor Company such was their importance in design and principle in combustion engines.
        • Heat radiation
        • Cooling
        • Air Ducting
        • Carburation
        • Mixed Carburation [petroleum start, kerosene/distillate run]
        • High Pressure pumps
        • Governors [Hit Miss]
        • Governors [Throttle Governed] - including adjustment while running similar to modern day air cooled engines
        • Enclosed bearing lubrication - grooved and "drilled" shaft for assured supply.
    • Advances
      • Engine design advancement or enhancement was generally indicated by an alpha progression of engine "TYPE"
        • First commercial production was of the "Type C" which was used in all the VERY early vertical and horizontal engines.
          • These engines utilized a rudimentary fuel mixer and a vacuum operated atmospheric intake valve that was directly above the cam operated exhaust valve.
          • All were Hit and Miss Engines 
            • Governed by centrifugal weights mounted in one flywheel that actuated a lever to hold the exhaust valve open when the desired revolutions had been reached. This prevented further fuel being drawn in via the intake valve as there was no longer sufficient vacuum for it to operate.
            • When revolutions dropped again the exhaust valve was de-latched so fuel could again be drawn via the intake valve.   
          • Earlier "Type's" of valve layout were designed and also patented and so likely were called either "Type A" or "Type B"
            • No commercial record of production of these A and B types has been found
        • By the mid teens significant advances had been made by the New Way Motor Company in technology and design. In particular the company introduces their range of throttle governed or "Type F" engines. Type F throttle governed engines were introduced into new ranges as well as into the early Type C engines such as the large 12 HP horizontal twin engines. 
        • Only on their very largest BORE engines New Way Motor Company adopted a design using an auxiliary exhaust port patented in 1904 by F Hardenbrook and W Rice. Utilizing 2 holes in the cylinder, exposed when the piston was near the end of it's stroke and allowing hot gas escape before the usual expulsion via the exhaust valve. Consequently with less heat exposure a cooler running engine resulted. Being working and low reving engines this would have been very effective.
      • By the time the New Way Motor company went into receivership in the early 1930s "Type H" engines were in production.
      • Advances seen over time as generally indicated by Type included
        • Timed intake valve
        • Throttle governed Engines
        • Carburetor fueled Engines
        • Light Single flywheel engines
        • Air Governors
        • Modern Design light weight single and twin cylinder engines utilizing features still found today in modern engines.
    • New Way motors continued to be produced to the 1930s when the company went into receivership, though another company was formed, New Way Engine and Machine Company, which continued manufacturing until c1940. 
    The following extract from The Engines of Lansing, by Dave Pfaff, copyright Feb. 2004 is used with permission. (Historian R.E. Olds Transportation Museum)

    Thursday, August 19, 2010

    New Way Engine Ignition Systems

    The New Way Motor Company optioned the ignition systems on many of their motors. Like todays vehicles prices varied according to the option selected.
    Options Included:
    • Battery ignition and utilising Buzz Coil
    • Friction Magneto - A low voltage magneto that may be set up in leiu of or in addition to batteries to feed the coil for the high tension spark.
    • Bosch High Tension Magneto
    • National high tension magneto
    Magneto drive trains included use of
    • Chain and Sprocket drive
    • Gear Drive
    Slotted holes in the drive Gear/Sprocket mounted on the magneto (if fitted) will allow a fine timing adjustment once the correct gear meshing or correct chain and sprocket relationship has been established.

    Monday, August 16, 2010

    New Way Engine - Identification?

    Determining your New Way Model!
    Obviously most New Way Motors out there waiting to be restored aren't in pristine condition. At times they aren't readily identified and require hours of enjoyable but painstaking devotion to detail to bring them back to their former glory. Knowledge is priceless in this process.

    New Way Motor identification
    • The New Way Motor Company generally used two letters to define the model and type of air cooled motor (eg AC).
    • The Model letter defines Hp rating within a Type (generally dictated by cylinder design) in any series of motors. ( eg. both vertical and horizontal models may be a Type C) An AC is one of the 3.5 Hp. Vertical models.
    • Many New Way motors have a brass ID plate on the crankcase. The plate should show Model / Type / Hp / Serial No. along with patent and advertising detail.
    • In the event the brass ID plate is missing or severely mutilated - the number and orientation of cylinders, number and size of flywheels are key guides you can use for full identification.
    • New Way Jewel motors having no ID plate can be identified by the cylinder part number located on the top side of the cylinder at the crank end. The letters are indicative of the Model / Type and therefore the Hp rating.
    • Knowing original use may help indictate Model / Type eg Marine.
    • Carburettor location (if original) on Vertical cylinder motors  is also indicative model / type.
    • Does your motor have a hinged crankcase?
    • Is it a Hit Miss model? For hit miss New Ways the Exhaust valve was held open by a lever activated by govenor weights usually mounted in the flywheel. This caused the motor to miss power cycles till it slowed below govenor speed.
    NOTE: I have posted a New Way Engine table (click for it's page) defining much of the basic engine identification  information. It'll be incomplete but I trust with feedback from other collectors I can expand it to ultimately become a fully comprehensive table for owners to reference for all New Ways.

    Monday, August 9, 2010

    New Way Engine Design

    Stationary engines manufactured by The New Way Motor Company were advertised as suited to a multiplicity of applications including - industrial, rural, agricultural and marine. Reliability and simplicity through good design were touted as strong points for cold, harsh environmental conditions and promoted to the discerning buyer.
    They were air cooled and built using one of 4 basic designs in various sizes and Hp ratings.
    • Horizontal Cylinder Open Crankshaft
    • Horizontal Cylinder Enclosed Crankshaft
    • Horizontal Cylinders Enclosed Crankshaft Twin Opposed
    • Vertical Single Cylinder Enclosed Crankshaft
    • Vertical Twin Cylinder Enclosed crankshaft
    Like the "T Ford", for the New Way Motor Co. colour was apparently standardised across the range of New Way Motor Company motors with decorative detail used quite extensively in a yellow/gold/white for letter highlighting or for purely decorative effect (eg flowers on the crank case housing).

    For those seeking color authenticity, the following apparently are New Way  Motor color approximations you should be able to purchase:
    • Cylinder casting (Cooling fins) & Flywheels/Pulleys/Shaft faces - Aluminium color
    • Cooling shroud and flywheel body - red/maroon - Dulux 93-30420-H
    • Base, Crank housing and non cooling section of cylinder - Olive Green - Dulux 93-29609-H
    • Brass fittings maintained their Brass finish

    Saturday, August 7, 2010

    New Way Engine - Owners

    Hi, I'm an enthusiast of the New Way air cooled stationary engines. These were manufactured in the early last century in Lansing Michigan USA. It is apparent there was a close association and cooperation with the John Deere Plough Company in both sales and field area of application/research. I am from Australia and recently returned from an interstate road collection trip to Victoria and South Australia. I am looking foward to the task of restoration - one is seized. I don't know how badly. I am using transmission fluid to try to free the piston.