Autopsy of De Dion Bouton engine that inspired the first Harley

[Eric]

Here the patient engine numbered 8985. Born around year 1900.


Matching numbers on crankcase

[Eric]

Head removed

On De Dion the head is separate from cylinder.

[koanes]

What a beautiful survivor. I am confused by the intake/exhaust system. The carb is atached to the elbow at the intake tower? I don't understand the two nipples on the carb or the two for exhaust.

[Eric]

Intake Exhaust

On exhaust side the upper if for sparkplug and under exhaust pipe.
For carb upper is for connect to intake pipe and other is for take heat around cylinder with another pipe

[Eric]

Cylinder and piston

[exeric]

You can plainly see why H-D and many other fledgling companies copied the DeDion Bouton motor. Beautiful design.

[pem]

Maybe that history of HD from the 1914 Atlanta Constitution newspaper article had some truth to it but it is so hard to tell with HD. Quote from the article; "There came to Milwaukee one day a Frenchman who was given employment in one of the departments then in charge of William Harley. During the noon rests this Frenchman told Mr. Harley of the wonderful gas engine being built by Count De Dion in whose employ the Frenchman had formerly been engaged."

Kinda makes you wonder though.

Dick

[Eric]

Crankcase and camshaft

[jurassic]

thanks for this ,it looks like a nice piece,really nice.aside from a curtiss the de dion is the one i want before i die.

[c.o.]

Thank-you Eric for sharing such a great piece of history! The early inventors on this side of the pond must have been ecstatic when their powerplant was figured out for them! Awesome!!!

[Eric]

Left crankcase

[Eric]

Finally the Flywheels

[Eric]

The two brother



Dad and son

[23JDCA 808]

Why do some of these early motors look the same?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Cycle_Co_Ltd
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