throttle to an idling position.
Sounds complicated? It was all part of the start-up process for a two-
cylinder, air-cooled, International Harvester Co. Auto Wagon, circa
1911-1915.
The Auto Wagon was a highwheeler, one of those American-made
vehicles that truly looked like a farm wagon with an engine attached. A
two-speed transmission plus two hefty chains drove the rear wheels with
power and determination. IHC was best known among all highwheeler
manufacturers. Little wonder — it built its vehicles to last, to perform
hard work and to be practical enough for just about any owner to repair
or rebuild. That is, as long as parts availability allowed.
Today, those once-plentiful parts are hard to find, so when it comes to
tear-down and rebuild, a collector must sometimes rely on engine
professionals.
The maker offered suggestions — really indicators that the engine was
properly running. A gas-and-air mixture that was too rich would burn
black exhaust. Too lean and backfiring or popping resulted. “A whitish
exhaust denotes a superfluity of oil in crank case,” said the company.
IHC marketed the oil under its own name as “International Air-Cooled
Oil,” more a description than a creative label.
As expected, cylinders were individually cast, but tolerances were