Barn find!

[Johnny4428]

I have been distracted severely over the last few days but slowly getting over it. The distraction in question is an engine that belonged to my father who passed away in the early eighties. Remarkably it was still in the loft of the barn where it was used and the place I was born. I am not into old stationary engines in anyway but this had sentimental value. It is all seized up bet that is understandable since it has sat for the last 60 or maybe even 70 years without running. It is a Fairbanks Morse Z type 3 1/2hp. I’m quite sure it will run. It just doesn’t know it yet!🤣 But first major soaking in oil, WD40, parrafin, diesel etc. This is a true “barn find”! 😜

[SumpMagnet]

Looks like a really interesting project!

[MCTID]

if a bloke built it.....a bloke can fix it !

Best of luck and if you reach a point where you get stuck, sit down, pour yourself a beer, whisky, brandy or whatever your tipple is and ask your Dad what he'd do.................and he answer WILL be forthcoming.

[ozzybud]

That is very cool. Nice find. Would love to hear it run,, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

[Athame57]

You got me reading all about it!  Introduced in the first world war so very old perhaps, I wondered if it was coal fired but it runs on petrol, a few seem to have been set up to run on gas. You could use it to power a trike or narrow boat, or do you have other plans for it? Good luck with your project. 

[paul G]

Great find love to see it progress good luck.

[Laverda Dave]

Henry Cole would be proud to have found that during one of his shed and buried's.
Good luck with the rebuild, post some progress reports please Johnny as it will make for an interesting read. I've seen these running but never anything about how they were made.

[K2-K6]

Cool project Johnny, and nice family connection too.

I'm also interested in watching your progress with it.

Of the same ilk, not sure if same combustion arrangement too, this https://youtu.be/kCoOTbhapnk?si=vKJBiVSjSxkiEIWR is a nice video of a working engine, quite charismatic sound with them.

[Orcade-Ian]

Wow Johnny,
That's a real find and you just HAVE to bring that one back to life.  As you well know better than anyone, there is a big following for small stationary engines here in Orkney and probably spare parts buried in sheds. I'm sure Donnie, John (at Handest) and our new OVC chairman will know something about it.  Shout if you need any bits machining.  Looking closely at the second pic down on the lower right hand side - I'm sure you were wearing that shirt last time I saw you 🤡

Ian

[Johnny4428]

Great to get the AF spanner’s out for a change! I don’t want to get too distracted this time of year, maybe just constant soaking over the summer and start dismantling in winter. As far as I know at the moment and going by what I’ve read this is probably a 1929 model. There is a serial number on the top of the cooling tank but been unable to read so far. These were designed to run on kerosene, but started and warmed up on petrol. There’s probably not much kick left in the magneto so that might be an expensive refurb which is beyond my skills. There is main and big end bearings available still if required also piston rings, valves and valve springs if any required. But I will be using as much as possible of the original engine.

[Bryanj]

AF you are hopefull, it will be Whitworth

[Johnny4428]

Wow Johnny,
That's a real find and you just HAVE to bring that one back to life.  As you well know better than anyone, there is a big following for small stationary engines here in Orkney and probably spare parts buried in sheds. I'm sure Donnie, John (at Handest) and our new OVC chairman will know something about it.  Shout if you need any bits machining.  Looking closely at the second pic down on the lower right hand side - I'm sure you were wearing that shirt last time I saw you 🤡

Ian

Annual trip to Primark due soon Ian! 😂😂

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

You will enjoy doing a restoration job on that Johnny especially with the family history.

[Matt_Harrington]

Thinking of your magneto, I'm sure young Mr Millward tested an old magneto by putting a strong magnet on the outside of a magneto casing to see if it would spark when turned over. I've never tried that myself but worth a go when you get there!
Is that tub full of debris from the engine?

[Orcade-Ian]

Bryan will be right Johnny, BSF and Whit - my big Britool set (A/F as well) is at Leslie A's after the AJS work - you are welcome to use those when he's done - probably already.  Not sure what happened to that big box of magnetos we cleared from the Watts shed in Stromness after he passed away.  We shifted over 30 engines from there - some really rare ones.

Ian

Forgot to say, I have BSF and Whit taps and dies upto 5/8 if you need them Plus just a few CEI.