Honda-SOHC

Other Stuff => Misc / Open => Topic started by: Johnny4428 on March 20, 2024, 09:57:51 PM

Title: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on March 20, 2024, 09:57:51 PM
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”! 😜
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: SumpMagnet on March 20, 2024, 10:16:06 PM
Looks like a really interesting project!
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: MCTID on March 20, 2024, 10:38:53 PM
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.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: ozzybud on March 21, 2024, 12:18:06 AM
That is very cool. Nice find. Would love to hear it run,, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Athame57 on March 21, 2024, 05:28:26 AM
You got me reading all about it!  ;D 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.  8)
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: paul G on March 21, 2024, 07:37:47 AM
Great find love to see it progress good luck.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Laverda Dave on March 21, 2024, 10:44:17 AM
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.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: K2-K6 on March 21, 2024, 11:02:24 AM
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.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Orcade-Ian on March 21, 2024, 11:05:22 AM
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
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on March 21, 2024, 11:31:42 AM
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.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Bryanj on March 21, 2024, 11:33:18 AM
AF you are hopefull, it will be Whitworth
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on March 21, 2024, 11:33:47 AM
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! 😂😂
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on March 21, 2024, 11:55:15 AM
You will enjoy doing a restoration job on that Johnny especially with the family history.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Matt_Harrington on March 21, 2024, 12:03:31 PM
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?
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Orcade-Ian on March 21, 2024, 12:49:01 PM
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.

Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on March 21, 2024, 05:16:13 PM
Bryan will be right indeed I’ve just used the AF on it so far must have just been lucky! Either that or maybe just the rusted down sizes? Thanks very much for the offer of tools Ian! Yes that bucket of rubbish is just out of the crank / con rod tunnel.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on March 22, 2024, 07:17:19 AM
AF you are hopefull, it will be Whitworth

After a bit of more serious checking, and making a rare appearance, my whitworth spanner’s are out. Seems to fit most I’ve checked so far. Thanks Bryan.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on April 12, 2024, 10:56:38 AM
For anybody that is interested. I fully intended to leave this old lump till winter but because the weather has been quite crap recently I just can’t walk past this thing without doing something. She is fully stripped down with cam and exhaust valve rocker and governor mech taking a bath in a bucket of diesel. Haven’t found anything drastic as yet.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on April 12, 2024, 12:16:40 PM
Great photos - they used to build things to last when that was made. 👍👍👍
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on April 12, 2024, 12:25:23 PM
For sure Ted! This one is approaching 100 year old.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Bryanj on April 12, 2024, 03:34:10 PM
Dont know why you took it apart, would have run as it was!
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on April 12, 2024, 06:10:37 PM
Dont know why you took it apart, would have run as it was!
😂😂 ye if everything wasn’t seized.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Bryanj on April 12, 2024, 06:24:12 PM
Eggcup full of parafin wouldve sortrd that! But seriously well done, we just need to hear the running
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on April 13, 2024, 10:31:26 PM
Well one step forward today and two back! Was freeing or trying to free the piston rings from their grooves, managed the bottom and middle one but unfortunately broke the top ring. I’ll get a new set from the states just $33 plus costs, at least they are available. Will probably order a new fuel tank too which I’m sure I’m going to need. It is fitted within the bottom plinth/base.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Laverda Dave on April 14, 2024, 09:27:10 AM
Good progress though Johnny and working on it is obviously now getting under your skin👍.
Amazing to think you can still get piston rings for something nearly 100 years old and considering Jag owners struggle to find replacement parts for cars 10 years old!
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on April 15, 2024, 10:31:13 AM
Just not meant to last Dave!😡 ordered some parts yesterday from the states thought it wasn’t too bad until the postage was added! 😡 Do hope it’s an error!
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on April 15, 2024, 10:53:10 AM
I would be chasing that up as it might be accurate!
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: magpie114 on April 15, 2024, 11:32:04 AM
Can’t see how that’s justified, surely an error.


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Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on April 15, 2024, 11:37:17 AM
I tried to buy some parts for a Nissan r3mR from a seller in the USA they were about $50 but carriage was about $150 extra so I found some elswhere.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Bryanj on April 15, 2024, 03:47:26 PM
Dont forget usps only do air mail and as soon as you say "fuel" its a special item, even if new and never had any in it
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on April 15, 2024, 05:21:35 PM
That figures indeed Bryan, I made contact with the sellers and they told me they will send it with the Post office.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Johnny4428 on April 15, 2024, 06:02:07 PM
Just got a notification it’s down to $100 dollars for postage about £80, that is shipped with USPS.
Title: Re: Barn find!
Post by: Bryanj on April 15, 2024, 07:26:24 PM
Thats a good price, i have a freing in nashville and a medium box is $30
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