Author Topic: Who made this engine. (Read 3969 times)

Brian King · « **on:** January 08, 2010, 03:24:28 PM »

I have this control line or free flight engine that was given to me about 20 years ago and I have no idea who makes it and what size it is. It has the impression of and Indian chief on the side of it just below the cylinder head. The cylinder head is held on with two allen head screws. There was a small aluminum tank that screwed to the back of the block to hold gas for free flight. Here are afew pictures of it.

Jim Thomerson · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2010, 03:57:51 PM »

Herkimer OK Mohawk Chief 29. Same company that made the small size OK Cub engines.

Elwyn Aud · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2010, 03:58:34 PM »

Never mind.

Robert McHam · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2010, 05:34:00 PM »

Now that is a really mice looking engine!

Robert

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2010, 05:45:41 PM »

Quote from: Jim Thomerson on January 08, 2010, 03:57:51 PM

Herkimer OK Mohawk Chief 29. Same company that made the small size OK Cub engines.

When?

I'm guessing late 40's, early '50's from the layout of the cylinder and the lack of any obvious remnants of an ignition system.

Garf · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2010, 06:20:12 PM »

Also it has a Fox NVA and an OK plug.

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2010, 09:14:21 PM »

Interestingly enough I saw 2 of those Mohawks launch their cylinder into orbit. Those 2 screws wern't that long and they vibrated and ,well you get the picture.
Dennis

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2010, 11:38:04 AM »

Don't let any Super Tigre's get near that mice looking engine. Sorry Robert, I couldn't resist.

Brian King · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2010, 11:53:16 AM »

Now that I know what I have is this engine just a wall hanger or should I even try to mount it and fly it. Does it have any collector value? If the screws come out can't you lock tight them in with the blue lock tight so they don't back out?

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2010, 05:26:57 PM »

Quote from: Brian King on January 09, 2010, 11:53:16 AM

Now that I know what I have is this engine just a wall hanger or should I even try to mount it and fly it. Does it have any collector value? If the screws come out can't you lock tight them in with the blue lock tight so they don't back out?

I'd use it if it has compression and feels allright. I was young when I saw those 2 go and have no idea of the condition of the engines . engines are only as good as the person who takes care of his stuff.
dennis

Marvin Denny · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2010, 08:15:53 PM »

Quote from: dennis lipsett on January 09, 2010, 05:26:57 PM

I'd use it if it has compression and feels allright. I was young when I saw those 2 go and have no idea of the condition of the engines . engines are only as good as the person who takes care of his stuff.
dennis

I never put Loc-Tite on mine, and it never came loose. but it surely wouldn't hurt , just to be on the safe side. Mine was on a Sterling Waco bipe and was a great sport setup
I have one now that I am going to put on a Sterling PT 17.

Bigiron

Dave Adamisin · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2010, 08:38:54 PM »

I had the pleasure of putting one of these very cool engines in the air at VSC last year. Here are a couple links:

The pilot is Jim Lee and the Ringmaster is a full 50 years old... The engine is 61 years old but like new condition.....

Brian King · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2010, 10:58:07 PM »

I would like to thank all of you for the help. I've been flying control line off and on sense about 1958 when I got my first Cox airplane which my dad drove right into the ground and its second flight.

Elwyn Aud · « **Reply #13 on:** January 10, 2010, 12:22:39 AM »

Quote from: Dave Adamisin on January 09, 2010, 08:38:54 PM

I had the pleasure of putting one of these very cool engines in the air at VSC last year. Here are a couple links:

Oh man. That looks so green and warm!!!!

Andrew Tinsley · « **Reply #14 on:** January 10, 2010, 05:55:01 AM »

Hallo Brian,
I have a Mohawk Chief, for some reason, OK did not want to market the Mohawk Chief as an OK engine. They devised a sham company with a different address. Does anyone know the story behind this strange behaviour?
The one I have is definitely a spark ignition motor, maybe they made a glow version too? I am sure Tim Dannell's (spelling?) encyclopedia will tell you if there was a glow and ignition version.
Mine was brand new, never been run. The compression was very poor and when persuaded to run, it leaked more fuel from the front of the crankshaft than it used to actually run! This was in the day when my machining ability was not too good. I made a complete new cylinder rather than make a piston (how about that for stupidity!) I also fettled the leaking shaft and crankcase.
The result of all this labour was a reasonable engine. Not overly powerful, but easy to handle. It finished its flying days when the crankshaft broke. I have since heard from other people, that the QC was awful on these engines, my motor was fairly typical. Could this be why OK set up Mohawk? Maybe they wanted to sell into the cheap engine market, without the OK reputation suffering? The Chief seems to be a poor specimen when compared to the OK Super 60. The latter, with a heavy Bolly prop, is a first class motor, much neglected by the SAM competition types.

Regards,

Andrew.

Robert McHam · « **Reply #15 on:** January 10, 2010, 09:48:20 AM »

I happened to find an interesting picture of this engine here: http://www.rojobcn.com/technic/avion/low/lo_DSCO3898mod.jpg

Robert

Garf · « **Reply #16 on:** January 10, 2010, 12:38:04 PM »

The engine pictured at the beginning of the thread is the glow version. Here is the spark version.

Garf · « **Reply #17 on:** January 10, 2010, 12:44:42 PM »

Most people don't know the range of engines Herkimer made over a lot of years.

James Lee · « **Reply #18 on:** January 11, 2010, 01:36:18 PM »

Dave
Thanks again for the pleasure of flying your Ringmaster with the OK 29. The motor is not too powerful... Oddly enough, it has about the power of an average 29 from the late 40's early 50's.... But it ran like a clock!! I still think Big Art had a hand in that!!

Thanks

Jim

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2010, 03:08:13 PM »

The Mohawk is basically an OK 29 with a few corners cut to keep the price down. The biggest difference is the Mohawk doesn't have a bushing for the crankshaft. Also the ignition version had a much simpler timer. Beyond that the fit and finish is hit and miss, some have nice fits others don't. The real weak link of the engine is the connecting rod... They've got a deep saw kerf in both ends for oiling that weakens the rod. I've got a couple in my collection with broken rods, the rest look like they've never been run.

Andrew Tinsley · « **Reply #20 on:** January 11, 2010, 03:25:17 PM »

Andrew!

Thanks for reminding me about the connecting rod! Couldn't agree more, I made a decent one when I saw the sawcut lubriction system! It was the first time I bushed a rod and I had all sorts of problems before I learnt to do it properly!

Regards,

Andrew.