Tiny Tim generator

mudeng · #1 04-10-06, 14:06

The small , portable auxilliary generators used on allied vehicles.

I have come across one at the Cobbaton museum in North Devon. Unfortunately it had no exhaust pipe.

I believe the exhuast terminated in something similar to a watering can "rose" fitting.

Does any body have a photo of what the exhaust looked like?

I do have a number of photo's of the one in the museum.

Thanks.

George Moore

tankbarrell · #2 05-10-06, 08:38

Are you sure you mean a Tiny Tim? The charging set that used the flexible exhaust with a small silencer at the end had an inclined engine and is known as a Chorehorse. The Tiny Tim is specifically a Tank aux gen and has a vertical cylinder. Its exhaust is very long and wanders across the tank floor and out of the side.
I have originals of both.

Adrian

mudeng · #3 05-10-06, 10:04

Sorry, you are correct, I should have said chore horse.

George

tankbarrell · #4 05-10-06, 13:04

Yep, that's a Chorehorse. I thought I had a complete exhaust but I can only find the muffler.

Adrian

mudeng · #5 05-10-06, 18:20

Thanks Adrian,
I see from an earlier thread, the exhaust may have been flexible metal tubing, do you have a picture of the muffler?

I remember from an MG T series I once owned that it had a coiled metal exhaust from the manifold to the main exhaust. I think this may have been the same. If, as I remember, it rusted at an alarming rate, I doubt if many have survived.

George.

Richard Farrant · #6 05-10-06, 22:17

George,

From your photo the charging set looks like a post war BSA 300 watt, they were either 15 or 30 volts, (marked on the plate). I repaired a good number of these in REME workshops and from memory there was no silencer, just a flexy pipe about 5 or 6 foot long. ( I can recall the pipe coiled up and strapped to the frame)

It was fitted to the engine by a sleeve on the pipe slipping over the end of the exhaust and a large split pin on a chain secured it through a hole in sleeve and exhaust manifold stub.

To be correct, the name Chorehorse applied to the Canadian sets built by OMC during WW2.

Richard

mudeng · #7 05-10-06, 23:44

Thanks,
It's quite likely that it is a post war version, but from stowage digrams of carriers, it "appears" to be very similar to those shown, right down to the frame. It is possible I guess that war time patterns were continued into post war use.

I have enlarged the data plate as much as possible, but it gets very fuzzy, I can make out charging set WD serial ???????
300 watt
Plus what could be BSA.

From an earlier post, there were some shots of a radio cabin, with two sets mounted one on top of another. These definately show a flexible type of exhaust pipe.

I am definately of the opinion that surviving examples would lack the original exhaust.

Thanks again for the help.

George.

Mike Kelly · #8 07-10-06, 05:22

hi George ,

Quite a few of the original C/horse exhaust pipes have survived here , in new condition .

Many WW2 sets were surplused unused here . Drew's, a truck yard in Melbourne , had tons of NOS Canadian chorehores spares . I wish I had bought more of it , when it was there , its all gone now .

The BSA variant is unknown of here , we got the Canadian Outboard and Marine version . There are two models shown in the manual , the British version is different , both types were made by Can. Out. Mar. during WW2 .

Many of the WW2 vintage sets here , were converted to 24 V, probably when the larkspur radios ( 24V ) came into service , late 50's . The army here used em right into the 70's , I would think .

Mike .

listerdiesel · #9 14-09-08, 13:54

Just joined the forum, this thread is what hooked me in!

The BSA variant is quite widespread, we came across one in Portland IN, USA at the gas engine and tractor show in August, and have just picked up a pair yesterday to play with.

Pictures of the Portland unit are here:

http://www.stationary-engine.co.uk/P...tland08467.htm
http://www.stationary-engine.co.uk/P...tland08468.htm

That seems to carry a 1960 date tag after the 'BSA' on the label, I have a close-up shot of the label but didn't put it on the website.

We will be looking out for documentation over the next few months, and I'll get some pictures onto the website as we proceed with the restoration. Both look good enough to be repaired and got running.

Peter

David DeWeese · #10 18-09-08, 16:04

I have this unit that I picked up in Montana. From earlier responses in this thread, I guess this OMC of Canada generator would be considered a "Chorehorse". Tag shows it to be a 24-volt unit. Was this a WW2-era unit that was modified, or is this just post war?
The second one was in the shed with the one I have here, but was too heavy for me to pick up, so I guess it got scrapped along with everthing else.
Looking at the photo of the second one, I now see there was also what appears to be a flexible exhaust pipe laying to the left of the unit that I should have picked up also!

cletrac (RIP) · #11 18-09-08, 18:31

Here's a page out of the manual. The manual has several variants with minor differences.

David DeWeese · #12 21-09-08, 06:22

Thanks David for the photo and the reply!
Got the OMC generator running today. Had a stuck valve, but worked it loose and got it to fire and run.
Do you think this a WW2-era generator that was modified for post-war use, or was it built post war? Would like to see more of your manual!
Thanks, David