Go-devil

The go-devil was a simple one-horse sled used for hauling trees in logging. Ralph C. Bryant describes it in his pioneering textbook Logging (1913) as follows:

The go-devil is a product of the camp blacksmith shop. It is a rough sled having two unshod hardwood runners, which are preferably of yellow birch, selected from timbers having a natural crook. The usual type of runner is from 6 to 7.5 feet long, 6 inches wide, and from 3 to 5 inches thick. A 6-inch by 6-inch by 4-foot or 5-foot bunk is fastened to each runner by a bolt. The bunk is placed from 2 to 2.5 feet from the rear end of the runners. A ring is attached to the center of this bunk and the logs are bound on the latter by a chain passing around the logs and bunk and through the ring. The curved, forward ends of the runners are connected by a roller which has a short chain at each end that passes through a hole in the forward end of the runner and is fastened several inches back on it.
Since the go-devil has no tongue it can be turned around in a small space. The draft rigging consists of chains fastened to either side of the bunk or to the runners. The chains are brought forward and joined directly in front of the roller by a ring to which the hook on the double-tree is attached.

Willys Go Devil engine

The Willys L134 (nicknamed Go Devil) is a straight-4 automobile engine that was made famous in the Willys MB Jeep produced during World War II. It powered nearly all the Jeep vehicles built for the U.S. and Allies. It was later used in a variety of civilian Jeep vehicles.

History

In 1940, the Willys Quad was built to compete against the Bantam reconnaissance car for evaluation by the U.S. Army. The two prototype Quads were powered by the Willys “Go-Devil” engine that turned out to be automaker's greatest asset. Willys pilot vehicle was overweight compared to the Army's requirements, but the "Go Devil" engine rated at 55 hp (41 kW; 56 PS) included a heavier transmission, a combination that proved to be beneficial in the long-run for use in cross-country travel.

The engine was developed by Willys' Chief Engineer, Delmar "Barney" Roos, and was the most powerful of the three prototype vehicles evaluated by the U.S. Army for production. Roos took the "less than impressive" 48 hp (36 kW; 49 PS) automobile engine and increased its performance and durability. The specifications by the Quartermaster Corps called for only 85 lb·ft (115 N·m) of torque at the rear axle. The extra power made it the engine of choice for the U.S. Army.