Waukesha power unit questions

[DirtbikePilot]

Last summer I bought a Waukesha 4 cylinder power unit. It was made in June of 1934 and used at a mine in Nevada to power a mill and generator. I don't have the model at the moment, but the bore and stroke is 4x5. The governed speed is 1600 rpm. It has a bit of wear, but it runs really well and doesn't smoke.

Anyone know anything about this engine like rated hp?

[Bud Tierney]

Wauk 4cyl power units seem to be coming out of the woodwork these days...
My early Wauk lists are sadly incomplete in that I've got a batch of 4cyl with 4" bores but don't have stroke info...
The "V" is a 4cyl of the right period, 4x5 per a 1938 Victor, but a 1930 McCord shows it as both 4x5 and as 41/4x5...
I don't have any HP info on this older stuff, but if you can post the model off the tag someone might have it...

[Bud Tierney]

Sorry: should've added that you may be able to get your HP etc info from the Wauk Eng Hist Soc:
waukeshaenginehistoricalsociety.org (website)
wehs@me.com (email)
They're an all volunteer outfit so you may not get an immediate reply. If they can help you they'll need all the info from your engine tag, especially model with all letters/numbers and the serial #. Good luck.

[DirtbikePilot]

Ok, I finally got back out there and got the model. It's V259P. Does that shed any more light on this thing?
Also, it needs a new exhaust/intake manifold. Anyone have one lying around?

[enginenut2]

Pilot, Maybe I have a little insight ; From a publication called "Motive Power" of October 1930 comes a chart listing industrial gasoline engines, 10-45 HP and your Model V is said to have 38 HP @ 1400 RPM, weighs 840 # unless power unit which weighs 1190#, gear type oil pump,zenith carburator, and "Ricardo" head.My motors truck manual of 1946 lists many stock engines large and small made 1936-1946 from Waukesha but no engines of 4 x 5 dimensions and no model having the "V" in its model number.So it appears this engine was outdated by 1936.sounds like a nice example of an old style engine(probably designed mid teens) from a high class builder.Probably had some applications in the early tractors.

[Bud Tierney]

Enginenut is right on the mark...you have a Wauk "V".
While I'm not a Wauk expert by any means, it's my understanding that the "259P" is the works "variation" number or code designating what the basic engine was furnished with.
Since these were "stock" industrial etc engines different purchasers often ordered different cooling systems, ignitions, clutches, etc. I would guess the "P" stands for Power Unit.
Hopefully the Hist Soc can decode this for you, in case you or later owners need to run down parts; they'll also want the serial#. When you contact them, you'll want to find out if the "V" was actually produced in both 4 and 41/2 bores as that could complicate finding parts (see note re' "VK" below).
The "V" doesn't appear in a 1917 ring catalog (shows "A" thru "T's"); I have nothing between 1917 and 29/30; it does show in a 30 McCord as a truck engine, but these catalogs are seldom complete.
There's what appears to be a variation, the "VK", 41/2 x 5, that shares a lot of gaskets, which was later used in Huber tractors and combines 1931-37 or so.