[f-AA] What is a popping john/johnny?

[Hunter Heath]

Regarding "Ok, I will bite,  what is a Popping Johnny?" as shown at the county & state fairs in Minnesota, a "poppin' john" is an early one-cylinder engine with a huge flywheel, which activates ignition only when the rpm declines to a certain level.  They make a "pop" upon ignition, then coast until the next ignition.  POP pup-pup-pup-pup-POP-pup.... etc.

Hunter

[Steve Lawlor]

Hunter,
Those are called "hit 'n miss" engines with the make and break ignition.
I have a 1919 Sandwith 4hp. and others along with a 1936 John Deere "A"
with a data plate.
Steve Lawlor

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[Plain Carl]

Locally we called those a "hit and miss" motor.  They were used extensively in the oil fields and were also called "distillate motors".  The flywheel governor held the RPM's down to about 500.  Hereabouts the Poppin' Johnny referenced only green tractors.

 

PC

---

From: Hunter Heath <calci...@gmail.com>
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:13:49 PM
Subject: [f-AA] What is a popping john/johnny?

[Scott Johnson]

Hit and miss sounds familiar.  My Grandfather had 3 John Deere’s go in an auction after he passed, two B’s and a G if I recall correctly.  Sure wish I had one of them now. 

 

Scott

---

[Rich Dugger]

We call those "Hit and Miss" engines.

Put 'em under a good load and they hit more than they miss.

 

Rich

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Hunter Heath

To: aer...@westmont.edu

Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:13 PM

Subject: [f-AA] What is a popping john/johnny?

Regarding "Ok, I will bite,  what is a Popping Johnny?" as shown at the county & state fairs in Minnesota, a "poppin' john" is an early one-cylinder engine with a huge flywheel, which activates ignition only when the rpm declines to a certain level.  They make a "pop" upon ignition, then coast until the next ignition.  POP pup-pup-pup-pup-POP-pup.... etc.

Hunter

[Richard Holcombe]

They used to run them in fishing boats in the Canadian Maritimes, and power saw mills all over rural America.

Once you have heard one you know that with progress something special gets lost.

richard

[Roy Johnsen]

they're also called "hit n miss" --- On Tue, 1/20/09, Hunter Heath <calci...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Hunter Heath <calci...@gmail.com> Subject: [f-AA] What is a popping john/johnny?

_______________________________________________ Aeronca mailing list Aer...@westmont.edu http://mail.westmont.edu/mailman/listinfo/aeronca

[Rich Dugger]

Go to youtube.com and search for "hit and miss engine"

 

Rich

[Plain Carl]

Great link.  Brought back memories of my first attempt at sport aviation at about age 9 involving a Waukeshau(sp) washing machine motor. Long story but a miserable failure.  Removed the kick starter and installed a home carved pusher prop.  Mounted it on a back pack and built bamboo and bed sheet wings for my Western Flyer bicicle.  Front fork served as a queen post and a piece of rebar lashed to the handle bar as a king post. 

A lot of clothes lines disappeared in the neighbor hood.  Friend JoJo Colaenetta pushed me off and within 50 feet I was through the bar ditch tangled in barbed wire with the remaining blade on the Waukesha beating me alternately on the head and butt.

 

PC

---

From: Rich Dugger <66l...@verizon.net>
To: aer...@westmont.edu; sevena...@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 5:06:55 PM

Subject: Re: [f-AA] What is a popping john/johnny?

[John Rodkey]

I'm sure that made a lasting impression, in both senses of the word.

--
John (poobah) Rodkey - N9361E 11AC at Goleta

[Spence, Mike]

Got a visual on that Carl - Thanks for the chuckle to start the day <G>

 

MS

-----Original Message-----
From: aeronca...@westmont.edu [mailto:aeronca...@westmont.edu]On Behalf Of Plain Carl

[Joe Preston]

The visual image I received from that still has me chuckling up a storm.

thanks

JP

 

-----Original Message-----
From: aeronca...@westmont.edu [mailto:aeronca...@westmont.edu]On Behalf Of Plain Carl