What power equipment did you find your Clinton on?

[dw1973 17]

I would like to expand my search for a Clinton 1200-2000, 498, B1290, A1200 and 1200 motor for my RJ. What power equipment were these engines installed on originally besides an RJ? Please reply with make/model/approximate years for the equipment. Thanks to all who reply.

[CasualObserver 3,410]

That's a question better suited for the Clinton Engines folks in Maquoketa (pronounced Mah-ko-ca-ta) Iowa... Charlie can probably hook you up with the number. I think there's a museum in the old factory or something... they had a huge Clinton show there last summer.

You may also try over at Charlie's Clinton Engines Forum :omg:

[VinsRJ 723]

Clinton was a very sucessful company during the 50's. Almost all smaller variety tractors and power equipment from that time period offered a Clinton as an engine option. Clintons were found on Panzers, Simplicitys, WHs, various roto-tillers, National Reels Mowers, ect..... You have to hunt and hunt some more. Even Charlie posts looking for Clintons.... they are not easy to find in good shape.

The problem with the 1200, A1200, B1290, 498 are the rods.... they're weak and broke very easily. Then add to the problem that Clinton went belly up in some form or another a couple of times, so parts even back in the day were hit or miss. I can't tell you how many Clintons ended up in my dumpster over the years.

I just picked up a 1200 with a waisted rod, I'm lucky in the sense that I have a good used rod in stock and a re-ring kit for a bore hone. But as with so many Clintons with this situation I have to weld up the hole in the block from the rod making a quick exit.

Good luck.

[tgranthamfd 29]

That's a question better suited for the Clinton Engines folks in Maquoketa (pronounced Mah-ko-ca-ta) Iowa... Charlie can probably hook you up with the number. I think there's a museum in the old factory or something... they had a huge Clinton show there last summer.

You may also try over at Charlie's Clinton Engines Forum

There is a museum in Maquoketa? How did I miss that. Wish I had known when I was there. Did the grand opening for our co. distribution center, there in 2001 or so.

[CasualObserver 3,410]

Terry... it just opened two years ago.

http://www.clintonengines.com/html/sp_event.html

[clintonnut 126]

Well,

Clinton MAINLY went bankrupt because of poor management. In the early 60's their problem was people mainly WH were complaining about fussy carb adjustment. There is a letter from wheel horse from 1959 saying that they are no longer using Clintons. It was this and the lawsuit with B&S which Clinton won but spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on lawyers and they didn't meet their budget. Clinton went bankrupt in late 1965 and then reopened in late 1966. After that Clintons manufacturing shrunk by 50% and they hired foreign companies to manufacture Clintons. The most common one was Newton in Singapore. They had quality control problems and that ended it in 1978. Clinton produced outboards and chainsaws until the late 80's then became a parts manufacture with about 20 employees. With a chemical problem 13 of the employes filed suit against clinton and now it is just 3 people running it. Around 1996 they tried to reopen and manufacture and mass quantities but the Jackson county and the city of Maquoketa didn't want to deal with the pollution, traffic, permits, etc. Now there is a meusem of Clintons in the old office building and it is a neat display. My dad and I would like to purchase the rights and name of the company from the current individual who has them.

The rods weren't a concern with customers until VINCE! No, I've seen it to. The 1200-2000 was the only engine with the weak rod then Clinton beefed them up. The beefed up rods aren't meant to run more than 4500 I think so thats why they keep breaking. Gaurenteed the engine was on a go kart if it has a beefy rod that is broken.

I've been to the Clinton meuseum! Pretty cool, tons of neat stuff.

I wouldn't say the show was huge. It was the parking lot. Pretty wimpy turnout because it wasn't advertised well. On my forum there are some pictures of the show.

IF ANYBODY HAS I HARVEY TRACTOR I WILL MAKE AN OFFER!

dw1973, just a little patience is key. There are some up on ebay right now. Just search clinton eng*, newly listed.

Phew that's a lot of words.

Charlie