Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company

The Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been manufacturing internal combustion engines since 1909. In its early years Wisconsin made a full range of engines for automobiles, trucks, heavy construction machines, and maritime use. After 1930 it focused on small air-cooled engines widely used in agriculture and construction machines.

Wisconsin Engines (previously, Wisconsin Motors) continues to manufacture high quality engines.

History

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  • March 12, 1909 Wisconsin Motor was incorporated by Charles H. John and Arthur F. Milbrath. By 1912 they employed about 300 people.
  • 1937 Wisconsin Motor merged with Continental Motors Company but retained a separate identity.[1]
  • 1940 V series V4 engines introduced
  • 1965 Ryan Aeronautical bought 50 per cent of Continental Motors Corporation[2]
  • 1969 Teledyne Technologies bought Continental Motors Corporation
  • 1971 Fuji Heavy Industries, owner of Subaru, appointed Teledyne Wisconsin Motor US agents for their Robin engines
  • 1992 Teledyne Total Power sold out to Nesco Incorporated[3]
  • 2010 Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. and Wisconsin Motors Sign a Joint Venture[4]
  • September 30, 2017 Subaru Corporation ended production of small engines.[5]

Products

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Small air-cooled engines

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Wisconsin's fame came from its small air-cooled engines, such as AEH (used on generators, garden tractors, skidsteers tractors), AEN, and VF4.[1] In the 1950s they were able to claim they were the world's largest manufacturer of heavy-duty air-cooled engines. All Wisconsin's products were 4-cycle and they had power outputs from 2.4 to 65.9 horsepower (2 to 49 kW). There were single, inline two, V-two, and V-four cylinder models. The engines were designed for outdoor field service in industries including agriculture, construction, marine, oil-field equipment and railway maintenance.[6] There are a wide range of variations in each engine family, including displacement, vertical and horizontal crankshafts, power ratings, and fuel used. Fuels can be gasoline, heating oil, kerosene, LPG, and CNG.

Model Type Power Displacement Years Notes
A1+12 single 2.4 hp (2 kW) 28 cu in (0.5 L) 1930-1934
AA single 2.4 hp (2 kW) 10.9 cu in (0.2 L)
AB single 13.5 cu in (0.2 L)
ABD single
ABS single 13.5 cu in (0.2 L)
ABSD single
ABN single 13.5 cu in (0.2 L)
ABND single
AK single 17.8 cu in (0.3 L)
AKD single
AKS single 17.8 cu in (0.3 L)
AKSD single
AKN single 17.8 cu in (0.3 L)
AKND single
A3 single 5 hp (4 kW) 40 cu in (0.7 L) 1930-1934
A5 single 6 hp (4 kW) 44 cu in (0.7 L) 1930-1934
AGND[7] single 12.5 hp (9 kW) 38.5 cu in (0.6 L) 1957-1991
TE[7] I2 18 hp (13 kW) 45.9 cu in (0.8 L)
TF[7] I2 18 hp (13 kW) 53.9 cu in (0.9 L)
TH[7] I2 18 hp (13 kW) 53.9 cu in (0.9 L)
THD[7] I2 18 hp (13 kW) 53.9 cu in (0.9 L) 1957-1976+ generator
TJD[7] I2 18 hp (13 kW) 53.9 cu in (0.9 L)
VE4[8] V4 0 hp (0 kW) 91.9 cu in (1.5 L)
VE4D (Military Version)[9] V4 0 hp (0 kW) 91.9 cu in (1.5 L)
MVE4D (Military Version)[10] V4 0 hp (0 kW) 91.9 cu in (1.5 L)
VF4[11] V4 0 hp (0 kW) 107.7 cu in (1.8 L)
VF4D (Military Version)[12] V4 0 hp (0 kW) 107.7 cu in (1.8 L)
MVF4D (Military Version)[13] V4 0 hp (0 kW) 107.7 cu in (1.8 L)
MVG4D (Military Version)[14] V4 0 hp (0 kW) 148.5 cu in (2.4 L)
VH4[15] V4 0 hp (0 kW) 107.7 cu in (1.8 L)
VH4D[16] V4 30 hp (22 kW) 107.7 cu in (1.8 L) 70's Case\Bobcat skid-steer, pump
MVH4D (Military Version)[17] V4 0 hp (0 kW) 107.7 cu in (1.8 L)
S-7D[18] Single 0 hp (0 kW) 18.6 cu in (0.3 L)
S-8D[19] Single 0 hp (0 kW) 20.2 cu in (0.3 L)
S-14D[20] single 14.1 hp (11 kW) 33.1 cu in (0.5 L) 1968- yard tractor
W2-1250 V2 30 hp (22 kW) 75 cu in (1.2 L)
V465D[21] V4 65.9 hp (49 kW) 177 cu in (2.9 L) air comp., trencher, swather
W1-080 single
W1-125 single Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-145 single 4 hp (3 kW) 197?-198? Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-185 single 5 hp (4 kW) 197?-199? Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-390v single 7.5 hp (6 kW) Vertical - mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-450v single 10 hp (7 kW) early 1990s Vertical - mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-588 single

Engines for cars and trucks

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New automobile companies bought them for their big cars. The Stutz Bearcat car was available with either Wisconsin's four-cylinder Type A or their six-cylinder engine. Both engines were rated at 60 horsepower. Stutz began to build their own engines in 1917. Pierce-Arrow was among other customers for Wisconsin engines. Wisconsin engines also powered the trucks made by The FWD Corporation.[1] Between 1945 and 1965 King Midget Cars used a Wisconsin AENL single cylinder engine in their micro car.

Model Type Displacement Power Years Used in
Type A Inline 4 389 cu in (6.4 L) 36 hp (27 kW) 1912-1919 FWD Model B 3-5-ton 4x4 trucks

Engines for construction equipment

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Their four and six cylinder engines were used in heavy construction equipment including Bucyrus-Erie and Marion drag-lines and shovels.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Belt Pulley Magazine, September/October 2004. Accessed online September 16, 2018
  2. ^ Leyes, Richard A., and William A. Fleming, The History of *North American Small Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1999: p.143 ISBN 1-56347-332-1
  3. ^ Automobile Quarterly, Volume 40, Issue 1, Page 97. 2000
  4. ^ "Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. and Wisconsin Motors Sign a Joint Venture". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. October 13, 2010. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  5. ^ "Small Engines Pumps Generators | Subaru".
  6. ^ Wisconsin Motor Corporation. New York Herald Tribune (European Edition) (Paris, France), Monday, Feb. 4, 1952
  7. ^ a b c d e f Wisconsin on the Move (sales brocure) (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 1969. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  8. ^ Wisconsin Model VE4 Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  9. ^ Wisconsin Model VE4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  10. ^ Wisconsin Model MVE4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  11. ^ Wisconsin Model VF4 Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  12. ^ Wisconsin Model VF4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  13. ^ Wisconsin Model MVF4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  14. ^ Wisconsin Model MVG4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  15. ^ Wisconsin Model VH4 Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  16. ^ Wisconsin Model VH4D Repair Manual (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 1993. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  17. ^ Wisconsin Model MVH4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  18. ^ Wisconsin Model S-7D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  19. ^ Wisconsin Model S-8D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
  20. ^ Wisconsin Models S-10D, S-12D, S-14D Instruction and Repair Manual (PDF). Wisconsin Motors LLC. 1993. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  21. ^ Wisconsin Models 465D, V460D, V461D Repair Manual (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 2002. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
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