https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lmXpN3eDpW4
The cast-iron, air cooled Wisconsin engines were simply workhorses. They would run forever if you prevented them from overheating. Chaff and dust were the enemy. Also, if you shut them off, or killed one when it was hot, good luck getting it to start until it had cooled down completely. They got a bad rap as being hard to start. Grandpa's old baler had a magneto and crank start. It was notorious for being impossible to start when it was warm. Grandpa's friend, Morris, LOVED Wisconsin engines. LOVED them. Thought they were a gift from the Almighty. He also "had them figured out". He found that the valves wouldn't seat properly when the engine was warm. Two reasons for this. One, cheap, crappy valves that would expand when they got hot and, two, the recommended valve lash was too tight. Morris used Stellite valve seats with exhaust valve rotators. Then he set the valve lash so loose, you could hear the valves tick when it idled. He converted grandpa's baler from mag to 12-volt distributor ignition, used a hot Mallory coil, opened the plug gap, spun the 6-volt starter on 12 volts, then put an electric "pusher" fuel pump to help overcome vapor lock. It had more power and started almost instantly, hot or cold. I loved hearing a V-4 Wisconsin in full song, about 2400 rpm. Great little engines. 18 horses out of 107 cubic inches.....
