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Make and break - how does it work?

Old Marine Engine » One and Two Cylinder Gas Inboards » Make and break - how does it work? « Previous Next »

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heritagefoundationnewfoundland
New member
Username: heritagefoundationnewfoundland

Post Number: 2
Registered: 05-2012
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 08:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello everyone!

My name is Joelle Carey and I'm a folklore Masters student from Memorial University of Newfoundland. I'm currently completing a work term which is based around make and break engines. I'm going to be looking into stories about the make and breaks as well as trying to make contacts with people who have working engines in Newfoundland. But right now I'm just trying to figure out how these engines work!!

I haven't been able to find a place online or in any of my research that gives me a good idea about how the engine actually works so I'm turning to all of you! What I'm looking for is a basic run down (even point form would be fine) of the process the engine goes through to work! You can include technical terms that I would easily find with google but explain anything that I might not be able to find!

If anyone would like to help me out it would be very much appreciated! Thank you for your time and hopefully I'll be talking to some of you soon!

Joelle
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matt_morehouse
Senior Member
Username: matt_morehouse

Post Number: 126
Registered: 12-2009
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 09:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

!!&!
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tom
Member
Username: tom

Post Number: 16
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 10:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Joelle, http://www.nlclassifieds.com/classifieds/Marine/Engines/860186

one for sale with manuals in Springdale, Newfoundland

There are some videos on u-tube of these engines running.
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puttputtputt
Member
Username: puttputtputt

Post Number: 16
Registered: 02-2009
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 10:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Joelle:
Make'n'break is the simplest ignition system. A set of contact points inside the cylinder opens and closes, operated by the linkages that you can see on the front of the cylinder. When the contact points snap open, they make a spark that explodes the fuel mixture.

Why does that work? Start with the first law of thermodynamics, which says energy is never created or lost; it just changes from one form to another. When the points close briefly, an electric current flows from the battery into a coil and through the points. This sets up a electro-magnetic field in the coil. The field is a form of stored energy. When the points snap open, the current stops and the field collapses, but its energy content has to go somewhere. It converts to electricity and leaps across the gap in the open points. Spark!
The system is very simple; the coil has only a single winding and the internal points are protected from water. Not able to function at high speeds, the make'n'break system has no place in modern engines.


puttputtputt
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heritagefoundationnewfoundland
New member
Username: heritagefoundationnewfoundland

Post Number: 3
Registered: 05-2012
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 11:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Excellent! Thanks for your replies!! If anyone is based in Newfoundland, has a running engine, and would like to get involved please email me! We're hoping to document restored working engines and engines that are in the process of being restored!

I'm really excited to be working on the project and learning more about these iconic engines!

Joelle
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tom
Member
Username: tom

Post Number: 17
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 11:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Joelle,
I haven't started any in 4/5 years, but have several that turn over. 5 hp Knox from around 1910 (seized), 5 hp Palmer partially disassembled (now have the piston moving), 3 hp Laptrot, 5 hp Barnes. some Acadia and Atlantic. Loclated on Burin Peninsula.

There has been some discussion and pics on facebook.
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heritagefoundationnewfoundland
Member
Username: heritagefoundationnewfoundland

Post Number: 4
Registered: 05-2012
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 12:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Great Tom!

I have put your information in my contact list and hopefully I'll be in touch within the next couple of weeks! Thanks for your support!

Joelle
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ernie
Senior Member
Username: ernie

Post Number: 1499
Registered: 01-2002


Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 02:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

More info for you here
http://www.old-engine.com/magign.htm
If you are doing this for a paper make sure to refer to what most of us call "spark" as an arc which is the correct electrical term. An arc can be created with low voltage and a spark requires high voltage. You can hold onto the lead to the ignitor when one of these engines is running with out getting a shock.
Hope this helps
Ernie
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heritagefoundationnewfoundland
Member
Username: heritagefoundationnewfoundland

Post Number: 5
Registered: 05-2012
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2012 - 03:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks Ernie:

We are actually co-ordinating a Make and Break Festival in Bonavista, Newfoundland during the first weekend of August! We're hoping to get some working engines that have been installed into boats to do a floatilla of sorts in Bonavista Bay! I will be writing a paper later the fall on the topic though, so thank you for your input!

Joelle
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miro
Senior Member
Username: miro

Post Number: 630
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 11:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here are some make and break engines in peration

You can see the levers moving up and down as they make and break the contact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxGw4d2NFMo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nL35LkC9nw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRQb6EdMDao

miro

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