Bob Crantz wrote:
I don't think that is a flywheel with all that stuff in the middle. It is
the end of the housing frame for the generator/alternator.

The notched wheel at the outboard end looks like it might be
a row of magnets for some type of generator, but it doesn't
make sense to power a generator with a single-cylinder steam
piston... unless these things are pre-1915 which they don't
look.

But it's still going to function as a flywheel with all that
rotating mass, no matter what else is going on. And a single
cylinder engine needs a little something too.

.... If it was a
flywheel, why is the outer circumference unpainted?

Because it's cheaper that way? Because it was also used as a
PTO by belt or friction wheel at some point? Because it used
to be painted but wore off?

Some things man was not meant to know... and some things you
just can't tell from pictures.

... It looks like some type
of variable reluctance mechanism.


Dunno. Could be. Looks like an interesting piece of
machinery anyway. And you're right, Scott does have a nice
truck!

Regards
Doug King