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Speeder Questions

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Post subject: Speeder Questions Posted: Sat May 30, 2020 11:43 pm

So I have some questions about a Fairmont speeder. Here is the video I made https://youtu.be/NWlhmwE6eFA I am also wondering what kind of gas it uses. And if there's any kind of alternator or will we just run out the 6 volt lantern battery we are using when running it?

Post subject: Re: Speeder Questions Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 4:35 am

With an RO-C engine, I'm guessing this is an M14-series car. These engines run on a mix of 2-cycle oil and gasoline. Do not run on straight gas! See this article on fuel:

Here is a link to a manual for this type of car.

Generators were an option on these cars, mostly to run accessories. But the basic ignition only requires a battery and a spark coil.

I hope this helps!

Post subject: Re: Speeder Questions Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 9:08 am

The Martin County Historical Society https://fairmont.org/mchs/rwmotors.htm has all of the Fairmont records. If you know the number of your car they can provide a copy of it's birth certificate.

Post subject: Re: Speeder Questions Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 9:54 am

Couple things about fuel:

As far as I know, MTBE has been completely phased out in all states in favor of ethanol. MTBE is persistent in the environment and contaminates ground water.

Ethanol can also be a concern if your fuel system has rubber or synthetic components that are not compatible.

All automotive gasoline in Ohio has ethanol all year round - up to 10% if I recall. In our motor cars, we use what we call “ag gas” which has no ethanol. Around here, it’s sold primarily for agricultural machinery and landscapers/blow & mow guys use it, too. It’s more expensive and hard to find in some areas but it doesn’t eat up your equipment. I’ve had to rebuild the carbs in a couple weed whackers because of ethanol - they were supposed to be compatible but not necessarily to 10% or higher ethanol.

_________________
Eric Schlentner
Turner of Wrenches, Drawer of Things

Post subject: Re: Speeder Questions Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 11:32 am
Macowiec wrote:

Generators were an option on these cars, mostly to run accessories. But the basic ignition only requires a battery and a spark coil.

I hope this helps!

So once started the battery is no longer needed? Also I saw people selling new and improved coils for speeders for around $100, while ours works what about useing a dirt cheap ebay high voltage generator like seen here https://youtu.be/xISAQZSWU0I

Post subject: Re: Speeder Questions Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 1:55 pm

Once started, you still need the battery to run the coil, but the coil uses very little battery power, so you can run a long time on the lantern battery. Any use of horn or lights will run the battery down pretty fast without an auxiliary generator.

_________________
Steamcerely,
David Dewey
Hoping for the return to the American Rivers of the last overnight steamboat, Delta Queen!

Post subject: Re: Speeder Questions Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:13 am

If you are on Facebook, look up the railroad motorcar groups. They will help and maybe someone close to you that can lend a hand..

You do have an M-14.

I do not know what that hook would be for on the bottom of the engine cover.

The ROC engine uses a 16:1 mix of two cycle oil.

Agreed on limiting fuel with ethanol but I have been using fuel with limited ethanol for 20 years on an ROC with no impact that I have seen.

I would NOT use that high voltage device you linked from Youtube. I would stick with the existing wooden coil (if you have one). The things are near bulletproof. The newer device being offered to speeder owners is great too.

If the engine has oil cups for the throttle or bearings, start filling them now to get the engine lubed prior to its first start. A shot of oil or two in the spark plug hole is also helpful.

And watch when cranking. It will break your hand if the engine fires and you don't pull the crank out immediately.

_________________
cv the civil E in NJ