By William Pearce
In 1823, Thaddeus Fairbanks and his brother Erastus founded the E & T Fairbanks Company, which operated an iron foundry. In June 1832, Thaddeus patented the platform scale which quickly became the mainstay of the company. Back then, scales were integral to business as marine and railway shippers charged by weight. The E & T Fairbanks Company became the leading scale manufacturer in the United States and sold thousands of scales in the US, Europe, South America, and China.
Four-cylinder Fairbanks Morse 32E-14 engine.
In the 1870s, Charles Morse, an E & T Fairbanks Company distributor, was responsible for adding Eclipse Windmills and pumps to the E & T Fairbanks Company product list. Morse’s successful sales abilities enabled to him becoming a partner, and the company was eventually renamed Fairbanks Morse & Company.
In the late nineteenth century, Fairbanks Morse & Company continued to expand its now very diverse product line. The Company began producing oil and naptha engines in the 1890s. The Fairbanks Morse gas engine became a success providing power for irrigation, electricity generation, and oilfield work. Small power plants built by Fairbanks Morse were popular and evolved by burning kerosene in 1893, coal gas in 1905, and semi-diesel in 1913.
After the expiration of Rudolf Diesel’s American license in 1912, Fairbanks Morse entered the large engine business. Introduced in 1914, the company’s large Model Y semi-diesel stationary engine became a standard workhorse used by sugar, rice, and timber mills; mines, and other applications. The Model Y was available in sizes from one through six-cylinders, or 30 to 200 horsepower (22 to 149 kW).
Sectional view of a Fairbanks Morse 32E-14 engine illustrating the induction and exhaust.
Successor to the Model Y, the Y-VA engine was developed in Beloit, Wisconsin and introduced in 1924. It was the first high compression, cold start, full diesel developed by Fairbanks Morse without the acquisition of any foreign patent. The Y and Y-VA engines were made to run for long periods without stopping. By 1925 there were over 1,000 American cities generating electricity with Fairbanks Morse engines.
Around 1925 the Y-VA diesel was improved and renamed the Model 32 engine. The Model 32 was the culmination of many years of improvement upon the initial Model Y design. The improvements included various cylinder head designs, increased compression, and the eventual adoption of high-pressure injection and differential fuel injectors. To differentiate various cylinder heads and methods of induction on the Model 32 engine series, letter designations A thru E were used.
The crankshaft and lower base for a four-cylinder 32E engine. The base for the individual cylinders mounted directly to the lower base.
The Model 32 was available in two cylinder sizes: 12 in (305 mm) bore with a 15 in (381 mm) stroke and 14 in (356 mm) bore with 17 in (432 mm) stroke. The 12×15 engine, known as -12, was available in one- through three-cylinder versions with each cylinder displacing 1,696 cu in (27.8 L) and producing about 40–50 hp (30–37 kW). The 14×17 engine, known as -14, was available in one- through six-cylinder versions with each cylinder displacing 2,617 cu in (42.9 L) and producing 60–75 hp (45–56 kW). Normal operating speed ranged from 257 to 360 rpm.
The two-stroke, water-cooled diesel of all cast iron construction was air started with 250 psi (17.2 bar). The only moving parts in the Model 32 were the pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, oil pumps, fuel pumps, flywheel, and governor. The engine had no intake or exhaust valves. Air was drawn through the crankcase and into the cylinder when the piston uncovered an induction port. The air was then compressed by the piston as fuel was injected into the cylinder at 2,000 psi (137.9 bar) and ignited by the heat of the 500 psi (34.5 bar) compression. As the piston moved down on the power stroke, it uncovered the exhaust port, allowing the burnt gases to be expelled. Fuel consumption was around 0.39 lb/hp/hr (237 g/kW/h).
Fairbanks Morse Model 32E piston sectional, piston, and connecting rod assembly.
The Model 32 engines were in service for years in power stations, manufacturing plants, ice plants, flour mills, rock crushing plants, cotton gins, seed oil mills, textile mills, irrigation and drainage pumping stations, and many other locations. To give some idea of the service life of the engine, at 10,000 hours of operation the needle rollers on the piston pin should be replaced. At 20,000 hours the needle rollers should be replaced again and the piston pin should be rotated 180 degrees. At 40,000 hours, or 4.57 years of continuous operation, the piston pin and bushing should be replaced. The Model 32 was built at least into the 1940s. A number of engines were still in regular service at various locations into the 1970s, with at least one being run until 1991. The Indian Grave Drainage District in Quincy, Illinois still has three operational Model 32 engines, and three engines are on standby as back-up power generators in Delta, Colorado.
Today, stationary diesels are still used for power generation, pumping, and other purposes. Fairbanks Morse still exists in this field and also manufactures marine and locomotive diesels. As far as the Model 32 is concerned, some still exist in abandoned factories and power stations, while others have been saved and preserved. A few Model 32s are run for special events, enabling them to shake the ground once again.
Here is a video of 1936 four-cylinder Fairbanks Morse 32D-14 by accessgainer8. This engine is owned and occasionally operated by the Pottsville Historical Museum near Grant’s Pass, Oregon. The engine weighs around 60,000 lb (27,216 kg), and the flywheel alone weighs about 12,000 lb (5,443 kg).
Sources:
– Fairbanks Morse: 100 Years of Engine Technology by C. H. Wendel (1993)
– https://old.oldtacomamarine.com/fairbanks/manual.html
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks-Morse
– http://www.oldtacomamarine.com/engines/fairbanks/index.html
Old Machine Press 
This article is very well written and accurate. I have two of these engines (both 2 cylinders, one a 1920 100 hp YV generator plant and the other a 1929 120 hp 32B14) and have researched this line fairly extensively. Everything written here is accurate as far as I can tell, with one possible exception being the date at which the model Y-VA was renamed the 32A series. I’ve read conflicting information regarding this, but only know that it was 1925 or possibly later.
Hello Chris – I am glad you liked the article and found it accurate. I have updated it to say “Around 1925 the Y-VA diesel was improved and renamed the Model 32 engine.” I do remember finding a few different opinions as to when the name change occurred. Thank you for saving two of these engines from the scrapper!
Hi William, I am in north Florida and know where 3 complete 32E-14 engines sit along with a smaller 2 piston set up, also made by fairbanks morse, could you be so kind as to help me find someone interested in them as the place where they are located is scheduled to be demolished and they will be scraped.
Hello Ray,
Off the top of my head, I’m sorry to say that I do not know anyone who would be interested in saving these engines. They are cool but heavy and huge. However, if anyone who reads this is interested in these engines, please contact me, and I’ll put you in contact with Ray.
Thank you,
William Pearce
Dear Mr. Pearce
Thank you for a wonderfully informative piece on the Model 32 Engine. I am currently researching a couple of generators at Roche Harbor, San Juan Island, WA. One I assume is 3 cylinder and the other 2 cylinder, both apparently purchased in the 1930s. is there any way of identifying the model numbers (A-E) and cylinder sizes (-12 or -14)? Allegedly the smaller, 2-cylinder one provided 150 hp and the larger, 3 cylinder one 225hp. I can send you photos if there is some means of doing so.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this!
Boyd Pratt
Hello Boyd,
I am not an expert about these things, and I do not know of any specific characteristics on the outside of the engine to determine what it is. However, it is my understanding that the -12 produced around 50 hp per cylinder while the -14 produced around 75 hp per cylinder. The hp ratings you provided would make these -14 engines. The letter designations were for different cylinder induction and scavenging. Some of these differences would probably be visible, but again, I do not know how to identify them.
But, Old Tacoma Marine identifies these engines as 32E-14s, and I’m sure they would know.
Roche Harbor, WA two-cylinder
http://www.oldtacomamarine.com/engines/fairbanks/rocheharbor2.html
Roche Harbor, WA three-cylinder
http://www.oldtacomamarine.com/engines/fairbanks/rocheharbor3.html
I’m glad you liked the article and wish you the best of luck.
Thank you,
William Pearce
hi can any body help me with a fairbanks morse z approx 1948 overhaul manual? thanks gavin
Hello Gavin,
I’m not exactly sure these will be helpful but have a look. Fairbanks Morse 1 1/2 hp Z gas manual from oldengine.org. Engine info from old-engine.com. Various FM Z manuals on ebay. From oldtacomamarine.com, various FM manuals (11 MB download) including Z oil engines: 3hp and 6 hp on page 28; 10 hp on page 36; 1 1/2 hp on page 50; 1 1/2, 3 and 6 hp on page 69; and instructions of the Sumter Plugoscillator used on the 10 and 15 hp Z on page 93.
I hope one will work.
Regards,
William Pearce
HI THANKS FOR THE INFO ITS REALLY APPRECIATED ALL THE BEST GAVIN
Hi Bill, I am a volunteer at the Koreshan Historic Site in Estero, FL. We have a 1925 2cyl. Fairbanks Morse engine. It operated their power generating plant from 1925 to 1946. The unit includes a 1 1/2 hp Z gas engine to run the air compressor for the air start. Also a 3X5 Water Pump ser. #T15731. We are trying to rebuild the pump and need any information available on it. Thanks, Curt Harris
Hello Curt,
I’m sorry to say that I do not have, nor can I find, any info on that pump, other than it may have been called a Typhoon pump by Fairbanks Morse. There are a few items on ebay (including a complete pump) that may interest you. Search for “Fairbanks Morse Typhoon.” In addition, I recommend you join the Smokstak Forum (http://www.smokstak.com/forum/). There are a number of people on the forum that have a FM Typhoon pump. Do a search for “Typhoon” and you will get a number of hits, including a post with this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg0BKL6ksPg (pump and engine). I’m sure one of the proud pump owners could help you out.
Best of luck,
William Pearce
Are those engines in Florida still looking for a home?
Hello Peter,
I don’t know. I’ve tried to connect interested parties, but I don’t know if anything came of it or if the engines are still there.
Regards,
William Pearce
I am looking for a fairbank Morse 32e or d if anyone knows of amy
How large are the pistons in this behemoth?
Hello Graham,
There were two different piston sizes. The 12 in (305 mm) bore piston was about 29.5 in (749 mm) long and the 14 in (356 mm) bore piston was about 34.5 in (876 mm) long. The pistons were long to reduce the side pressure on the cylinder wall.
When i was 19, i worked on tug john roen 111 . The engine was a 6 cyl 32 . What an experience
I would love to find and preserve one of these engines. I’m interested in a model y or 32d 50 to 80 horse power if anyone knows of one within a few hundred miles of Virginia I would greatly appreciate any information on where I could locate one