Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

[David Price]

Tribe,
Have recently aquirred a 12KW Westinghouse Generator w/ a Hercules engine, control panel, storage batteries and many parts and tools for the unit. Also all log books and manuals.
I am told, that they were used at the military air fields as a back up station.
Does anyone know or have more info on this unit. All is in fine condition.

[ROllerton]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

I have a few manuals and a tiny bit of info for the 4 cyl herc engine, if its of the same vintage...
Whats the model # of the engine?

[stormman]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

Watch the cycle's . NO not the motorcycle. the electric cycle. Some of them were not 60 per second. some were in the hundreds per second , called high cycle generators. Hell on TVs

[David Price]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

Hercules, Model JXA, 6- cylinder, 3-3/8" bore, 4-1/4" stroke 228 cu. in. displacement
Have original operators and parts manual, but would like to have another to use, and keep the original safe, as it has seen better days, and a few of the pages are........bonded to one another quite well!

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC PLANT
SPEC. C.A.A.-268
12.5 KVA 240 VOLT 60 CYCLE
SINGLE PHASE

CONTRACT CCA 16226
Serial Nos. 10-81-42 thru 10-166-42


CONTRACT CAA 19139
Serial Nos. 10-167-42 thru 10-223-43

Manufactured For

CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINSTRATION
Washington D.C.

By DUPLEX

[ROllerton]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

David, I looked and what I have is a op/main manual for the yx-rx, tdx, and RXL 6cyl engines.

I have been able to get parts (rings, gaskets) from Egge Machine in L.A.

bob.

[David Price]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

Thank you, Bob.
The wife is a watin' in the shower, .....so I gotta go! and secure fuel money!
Thanks again

David

[Tom Eggert]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

It's neat to see one of these show up. I have a mint military generator too - it is only 2.5 kW, and puts out both 400 cycle and 60 cycle current. It is powered by a Hercules ZXB (a tiny water cooled 4 cyl of about 10 hp). This same engine can be found in the tiny Avery model V tractor.

The generator has a wonderful control panel with hour meter, cycle meter volt meter and breakers.

[David Price]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

Tom,
It nice to know that they are still working and on the job.
Wonder how many are still out there?
Would like to see this one go to an air museum.

"LOVE AIR"

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

I have one of the 4 cylinder engines, a 4 A 084-3. It makes about 57 H.P. after you change the carb., the VERY restrictive exhaust, and and replace the mag with a LeBerg electronic ignition. They are very popular with some ultralight owners, (I'm putting one on my Avenger), most pilots put them on Minimaxes, Percepter Pups, and Airbikes.
Saturn Surplus has all the parts for the A 084, (it costs 601 dollars to replace everything except the block on the 084). You may be able to get spare parts for the 6 cylinder engine at Saturn Surplus also.

[Tom Eggert]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

Tom,
It nice to know that they are still working and on the job.
Wonder how many are still out there?
Would like to see this one go to an air museum.

"LOVE AIR"

Well, after a long wait, we had power out for 4 days in MO, and we ran the old military gen for many hours. Ran great! The little Herc is very smooth. We pulled off the 60 cycle side to run a few space heaters and keep the house above 32 degrees.

[1938BF50]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

Small world....I just brought home a 1946 Kohler 5kva generator powered by a Waukesha FC flathead four of about 18hp. After about 2 weeks of nightly tinkering, I now have it starting(automatic starting as soon as 150w load is sensed), running and generating like a champ! I will get a better pic if anyone is interested. THE generator info site is this link to HARRY"S OLD ENGINE site.

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=6

This plant will power my cabin(to be) in the U.P. soon.

[ROllerton]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

Its a thing of beauty. A work of art. You should put in an observation window!

I keep looking for one of those in working condition, so far no luck.

bob.

[mulwyk]

Re: Hercules / Westinghouse 12KW

Yes, she's a beauty alright. My grandfather had one of those at his cabin in northern Minnesota. He kept her in a little shack 50 yards out behind the cabin. The engine made a delightful, jolly putt-putt sound. He'd somehow converted her to run on propane and she never failed to start.

I think my grandfather loved that generator more than his own children. Every day in summer, you could find him out there wiping her down with a rag and whispering to her. That was one happy machine.