Model A Delco Accessory
 

Just bought a spare engine and it has an additional item on the passenger side. It looks like a second generator or maybe a clutch. Not sure what it is. It has a DELCO name plate on it which I thought is usually GM


Anyone know what this is used for?

Re: Model A Delco Accessory
 

Kind of looks like a generator. Does it have brushes or a commutator where those slots in the body are at the drive end?

Re: Model A Delco Accessory
 

Could be a home made governor. I seem to remember an article about how to modify an old generator to turn it into a governor. From the photos it looks like the lever moves back and forth. Can you see something inside that looks like flyball weights?

Re: Model A Delco Accessory
 

Seconded on a governor. I had a T engine that had the same looking thing installed, and it was used as a log splitter.

Re: Model A Delco Accessory
 

Could be a welder generator. When I was a kid my dad had a similar looking generator on an old engine that he used to electric weld with. I always thought it was an airplane generator. It wasn't a very good set up.

Re: Model A Delco Accessory
 

With the lever it makes me think an in/out clutch of some type that activated whatever was bolted to the back of it. Welding generator, hydraulic pump, etc.

Re: Model A Delco Accessory
 

I don't remember ever seeing one, but as a kid in the 50's I remember hearing of Delco generator sets that people used for indoor lighting before public power systems began. I think they may have used the old hit/miss well pump type motors. The lever could be a disengage to reduce the load on the engine for starting.
(Just thinking out loud, Ha ha)
Al Hook

Re: Model A Delco Accessory
 

To power one of them newfangled radios, so they could listen to The Grand Old Opry on Saturday nights.

That lever....hmmm.