Monitor 1 1/4 HP

[AZ GARY]

I recently purchased a 1 1/4 Little Monitor Gas Engine SN #12781 Type VJ Speed 500. It has a pump jack with an attachment to pressurize the water pumped so it will supply an attched drinking fountain. It has an oiler mounted on the side of the engine and drips down into the crankcase. I can't see anyway to determine where to keep the oil level. How do you determine what level to keep the oil? I was told this is a 1916 model does the serial number prove that? Thamks for any information you can furnsh me.
 

[Arnold Layne]

The oil level needs to be high enough that the rod dipper/slinger/cap can reach it and not much more. There is a round door on a hinge on one side of the engine, on the inside of the door is a small cup. When in service, you would fill the small cup with oil, shut the door and run one tank of fuel, then repeat. The early VJ's did not have a cylinder oiler. They about all leak oil out of the main bearings. My first hit and miss engine was a VJ.
 

[AZ GARY]

Do you have any way to determine what year SN# 12781 Monitor 1 1/4 engine was built.
 

[Arnold Layne]

No, I do not. I see you found the smokstak, that is your best shot.
 

[Deron Thatcher]

You were told right. It is a 1916.