The Elkhart low-tension magneto was also offered on the larger CX engines. The CX had a newly designed water-cooled head, a spring-loaded intake valve latch, a newly designed side rod and a new blade-type igniter trip. The Model CX started showing up in mid-1912 at about serial number 25000. The raised lip was removed and replaced with a flat top with removable “hopper ring.” About 4,800 Model B engines were produced falling in serial numbers around 1200 to 6000. Probably the biggest change from the Model A to B was in regard to the water hopper. These were followed by the Model B, which had a simplified fuel system rather than the earlier Waterloo fuel system. About 1,500 of these were produced and 26 of them are known to exist among collectors today. The first Economy engine built at the factory was the Model A engine. Through mail order the engines were shipped directly to customers. It was owned and operated by Sears, Roebuck & Co., the nation’s largest mail order merchant.ĭuring a time when many engine designs were somewhat complicated, Sears sought to build simple to maintain engines suitable for the common folk. Of Sparta, Mich., offered a new line of gas engines.

In the spring of 1909 the Holm Machine Mfg.

To correspond with other Hercules/Economy etc.Įngine enthusiasts, join the Hercules Engines e-mail list. If you have a better date he recommends that you use it. These are approximate dates compiled by research done by Glenn Karch. Year For all Models Except X and J Series 1914 Model D engines SN located on the end of the crankshaft. Mixer data such as size, configuration and mixer serial number was attached at the Jaeger factory.

The typical oval Jaeger tag added at the Hercules factory can be seen on the engine base in Photo #3. Diesel™ Tech Tip #204: How to Identify the Hercules G1600 Engine, an earlier Tech Tip about Hercules engine serial numbers.