Build - Ford's First Engine (1893)

[Apr. 28, 2016]

[Apr. 29, 2016 - updated with piston information]

[Apr. 30, 2016 - added references]

[Dec. 1, 2016 - added references]

[June 23, 2019 - relocated references and discussion]

[Feb.4, 2021]

NOTE: This web page is a WORK IN PROGRESS. There will be additions and changes for possibly the next year or two.

See Leon Ridenour's website for more information on this engine, and to purchase plans.

Update - Feb. 4, 2021

Since my last post on this page, I have done considerable research, including visiting the original engine at the Ford Museum (see the references link at the bottom of this page). Based primarily on information gained from that visit, I was able to make some interesting determinations regarding the parts used in the original engine. Initially, I will focus on these three parts :

• flywheel

• combustion chamber

• gears

Based on measurements of photos I took at the museum, I determined the gear tooth counts to be as follows:

• small gear = 48 teeth

• large gear = 96 teeth

Because metric involute gear cutters are cheaper than module type cutters, I decided to make the metric equivalent of these gearsmper the calculations below (note: these calculations come from my Spur Gear Calculations spreadsheet.