Leaderboard

British Engineering at its best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx6hmSclbRE&feature=player_detailpage#t=2

Homelite tools from the 60's. These were all based using the same 2 stroke engine from the XL-12 chainsaw. XL-12 Chainsaw, XL-100 Circular saw, XL-A115 Generator, Drill Attachment, XL-SG1 Water pump, XLMB Military Blower. ( I have the XLBC Brush Cutter, but can't find the pics) Still searching for the earth auger, the Harvester, a better example of the water pump and any other applications

Howdo all, I thought it was about time I posted up something about my small herd of Wheel Horses, so let's start with my GT-14+2 I bought this beast from Neil as a non runner last year back in the days of warmth, blue sky's and some green on the trees. Here she is shortly after delivery.. No she wasn't delivered by Wheel Horse, but it was a handy way of getting the non running GT from the van around to my shack. A big thank you to this chap Paul for collecting the GT from Neils place and bringing it all the way to Kent. The GT at home in the shack. The first job on the list was to get the GT's engine running. As it was producing no spark my first port of call was the points.. I got a bit of a shock to find new points that hadn't been set up! I should point out that Neil had bought it for spares for his other GT and other than unloading it at his place hadn't touched it at all. I'm just so Glad Neil offered to sell it to me.. I love the GT With the engine now running she could be driven about and tested out.. The hydro trans works well as did the hydraulic side of things. Here's Mark (Meadowfield) a fellow GT owner giving my GT a test drive round the garden. Although the GT's engine ran it was showing signs of it's age which after almost 43 years it has every right to.. Burning oil was one problem but the one that worried me the most was the engine was getting very hot very fast! It was getting so hot that my 1st planned long drive only lasted about 3 min's before I decided to turn back.. At least it was a nice day for it Some quick thinking was needed to get the GT in usable condition again, which resulted in a bid on Fleabay and I became the proud owner of this Wheel Horse Raider 10 that had been fitted with a big Kohler Magnum 16hp engine So out came the GT's original 14hp engine.. And and in went the 16hp Kohler Magnum lump. One slight problem as you can see was the bonnet wouldn't close due the size of the engine.. Not a problem Filling the hole. Now the bonnet closes

A tale of two Lister Autotrucks My son is on the organising team for the Isle of Wight Steam Show and spends a week over there helping to set up the show and camping. Back in 2012 and with some time to spare he dragged an autotruck out of the brambles where it had been left outside for several years to see if he could get it going. Having managed to get it to run it was given a good clean up, a bit of paint here and there, and put in the show. That's me having a go - great fun but a bit scary on eneven ground! Turned out it was owned jointly by several guys associated with the railway where the show is held but they wouldn't sell it even though it had been left outside to rot. Anyway, my son had to have one and here it is. Not a diesel like the example above but JAP petrol engine powered. Bought as a non-runner that used to run it was soon running again but it does burn oil as you can see. Over the winter it was dismantled, shot blasted etc and emerged in Royal Navy livery as both my son and I collect and restore military vehicles. It made it to a couple of shows last year (Overlord military show and Netley Marsh) but still needs some bits and bobs finishing. Things like the toolbox, foot gong (we've been told it was probably originally a railway's autotruck based on having one) and some RN markings still need to be done. We haven't touched the engine yet, having had no experience of rebuilding a 600cc JAP or knowing what the availabilty of parts is like but it will need doing as if you run it long enough the plug oils up. Any info from those with any experience out there in MOM land welcome. Andy

Hello all. This is a great place you folks have here! Richard suggested I put up a few pics of some of my old engines, and I love talking old Briggs engines, so here we go. Thanks Matt Pics 1-4 are of a 1941 Briggs Model U. They are unique for their vacuum assisted fuel system, which was Briggs fix for the lean condition that these old engines were plagued with when they started getting low on fuel. If you take the gas cap off when the engine is running, it dies. Pics 5-8 are of a 1943 Briggs Model N Lever Start, that was a Military issue engine. While lever starts were more common on some of the old Briggs WI, and other models, they aren't seen very often on the Model N. Pics 9-12 are of a 1944 Briggs Model N. This was the first old Briggs engine that I restored, and the one that really got me hooked on this hobby, and the Model N line of engine in particular. Pics 13-16 are a 45 Model N kick start, military engine. It has a kick starter, and is equipped with radio suppression (shielded spark plug, and wire). Its fuel shut off is a long rod that goes all the way thru the gas tank.

heres a bolens 750 that i added a fork lift too i had to lengthen it to stop the front wheels coming of the ground it worked ok it would lift three adults without problems

That Secret Nuclear Bunker is soooo top secret that knowone knows it exists Sounds like some Essex Blonde put that sign up

Thanks Andy, what it's actually crying out for is a vise on one end

They don't make quality anything any more because there's not enough money in it. It's easier and more profitable to build things cheap and sell as many as they can, then sell you another one every time the cheapo POS breaks down. I'm not sure how many variations were made with these engines and no one really seems to know. I saw an ad for the XL-HAV Harvester a while back before I was really collecting them and wish I bought it. The harvester used a long remote handle for engine control with a long belt connected. Used to shake nut trees, I believe. Since that application is so specialized, there could be almost anything out there. There are also a few military generator applications and I stumbled across this blower which I had no idea existed until I saw it so I'm sure there are others as well. The hunt is half the fun of collecting!

With the original engine pulley being very firmly stuck on the original engine I had to find another pulley.. The closest I had was on a very dead Kohler KT-17 engine.. Slightly smaller in size but not by much. This pulley was also firmly stuck on the crankshaft but as the engine was already dead (dead in a busted con rod that punched three holes in the engine case kind of way) I had no problems being a little less gentle with it Pulley off. The exhaust that came with the engine needed a little tweak to make it fit.. I've no idea what the exhaust originally came from, but I think it looks good. The original pulley on the trans was found to be very loose due to wear and a badly done bodge with a previous owner, so it was replaced with a pulley of the correct size from a Raider 10 with the added bonus of a built in cooling fan. Quite often you will see GT-14's with non original fuel tanks where heat from the exhaust has melted the plastic tank away! I didn't want this to happen to my fuel tank so I made this ally heat shield.. Very well it works too My Wheel Horse 312-8 was used for many years as a my main work horse, fitted with big and wide rear tyres and a home made roll bar. But this year it has been put on gentler grass cutting duties only. so the roll bar was removed and bolted onto the GT I think the grin on Pete's face says it all As well as being the star of a few videos (see my YouTube channel link at the bottom of my posts) the GT has been put to work moving logs.. And moving pallets. That will do for now, more of the GT story coming later.

Her are a couple of Gravely machine ads

And we continue again. Pics 1-4 are of a 48 model N, with a mechanical governor, which is unusual. Most all Model N engines were equipped with an air vain governor. This engine was originally on a David Bradley walk behind garden tractor, and is also equipped with the aluminum sheet metal. Pics 5-7 are a Briggs NP. The NP is different from a regular Model N, because it has a bearing, rather than a bushing on the PTO side of the crankshaft, and it also has mounting holes to bolt equipment directly to the engine. Pics 8-11 are a 52 NPR6. It has the 6:1 gear reduction, and is a very late production model N. The model N line of engine ended in early 53, and they only made just a very few in 53. Pics 12-14 are of a 52 Briggs Model 8 that I restored, and put in my son Nathans mini bike. He loves it! I guess I'm going to have to become a supporter, as I managed to max out my allowed MB's of pictures in one thread! Wow.

And we continue. Pics 1-3 are of a 46 Briggs NPR6. This engines originally came on a Bolen Power Ho walk behind garden tractor. It has a 6:1 gear reduction. Pics 4-7 are of a 47 Briggs NS Kick Start engine. These engines use a suction feed carburetor, which is what the "S" stands for. This particular engine was used on wash machines. This one is not restored, as it was just a nice original, good running engine. I don't have the gas tank, or exhaust on it in these pics, but it does have them now. Pics 8-11 are of a 48 Model N. 1948 was the only year Briggs ever used aluminum sheet metal on the model N. (shroud, cylinder shield, and rope cup). Briggs originally painted them all black, but I chose to just clear the aluminum parts, as this is what makes them different. Pics 12-15 are of a 48 Model NS. This one has the suction feed carburetor.