20,175 Cubic Inch Single Cylinder Engine - Running

The De La Vergne Engine Works built this 125 HP, 40 ton engine in 1903. It is believed to be the largest running single cylinder four-cycle open crankcase engine in existence.
It is rated at 125 HP and 4100 ft-lbs. of torque at 160 RPM
Runs on Oil.
Bore and stroke: 26" x 38"
Displacement: 20,175 Cubic Inches.(330 Liters)
The base and cylinder weigh 20 tons.
The dual 9 foot flywheels and crankshaft together weigh 15 tons.
The main bearing caps weigh 700 Lbs.

It was on display at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.

After the 1904 World's Fair, it was installed in the W.F. Norman Sheet Metal Works in Nevada, Mo. where it was used for fifty years.

It was purchased in 1976 by the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion and moved to their show grounds in Rollag, MN, where it can be viewed every Labor Day Weekend.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• De
• La
• Vergne
• DeLaVergne
• oil
• engine
• wmstr
• rollag
• giant
• antique
• single
• cylinder
• hit
• or
• miss
• big
• horsepower
• torque
• hp

[strikeronetuber]

Wonderfull engine, beautifull piece of machinery.

I have to disagree though, I counted the exhaust cam pulses, and being a 4 stroke cycle engine, that corresponds to an exhaust event every two revolutions. As such, the actual rpm on this video is around 102rpm.

Still, a number correct for this type of engine, as these have always been very low rpm engines.

Thank you for the video ;)

[EnponAlbeno]

@strikeronetuber.

You are totally right, I counted the clanks and forgot to divide by two. I'm going to delete this video when I get a chance to re-render it ...Thanks.

[sciencemansandera]

This is cool but would like more info on what and how it was used for etc Thanks for sharing

[TheSpazModic]

@dougspair The actual crankshaft counterweights themselves, from 2:00-2:2:10. They are enormous

[dougspair]

@strikeronetuber Yes, I'd agree with you, seems 100-110 is about right, still quite impressive. And, 'runs on oil', a diesel then, I assume?

[dougspair]

@TheSpazModic Flywheels?

[dougspair]

@TremontMC Dang, I was going to say that...

[BillyRosinet]

It's got a certain kind of beat to it...almost like a modern dance rhythm.

[mushroomman123456789]

One would think that a gigantor engine like that would be a lot louder than this...

[tremer88]

now thats a thumper

[stevenmiller279]

@ thamastersniper @1motoxkid, this engine is not a pneumatic starter, yes you have to crank it but not by hand, they use a 30hp tractor engine that sits to the left of the screen at 1:06, this engine sits at rollag minnesota and demonstrates primarily at the west minnesota steam threshers reunion, ive seen it many a times cuz ive blacksmithed at the show with my uncle many a times.

[TremontMC]

@26yearstoorion Yes, Harley still make their machines out of metal, not plastic like the other guys..