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Removed the decal today, I was hopping the surface underneath would be almost perfect and mean that it only wanted a scotch clothing,- No such luck! Underneath I discovered in the faded paint that this machine at one time belonged to Chislett Hire, ( a large company still trading today). I have now started the long laborious task of stripping the nylon coating off the frame, as before this will take a long time due to the rheumatism/ arthritis in my hands. I just wish I could find an easier way to get it off, Ive tried seemingly everything, a grit blaster, paint stripper, acid, fire, yet nothing seems to shift it!

The chasis has finally hardened enough to re rub down. I still cant figure out what caused the reaction, but to try and counter act it happening again I will put the first couple of coats of primer on a lot drier. One of the biggest problems Ive been encountering is with sourcing the obsolete parts is trying to find out the proper names. After a lot of searching Ive found a new set of mounts that are called Shear Mounts, and clips to hold the wheels in place called star clips.

Had a bit of a disaster with the chasis. The other day I sprayed it up and it looked great,so I left it to dry. When I went to the unit today to take some shots, to my horror I saw that the paint had reacted badly with something! As I've used enamel I'm going to have to let it set for a few weeks before rubbing it down. Doing some research I've discovered that the Solite was a machine that jcb purchased the design rights to. The same chap who designed it apparently designed the panther 101 pack(after selling jcb the rights then competing agaisnt them) that I've got. Having a close look at them today I can see the similarities. A lot of the parts used would simply interchange.

Managed to make a bit of progress with the engine.Still a long way to go with the rest of the pack.

I was quite relived to turn one up as I can't believe how near extinct the earlier Hondas have become. It was only a couple of years ago that I was throwing engines like this in the skip, guess everyone else must of done the same, hence why I couldn't find one.I've allready stripped all the outer parts off in readiness to clean the crankcase up, surprise surprise though that the pulley is seized to the crank. To be honest the working starter was what motivated me to bid on this engine as mine was beyond repair.

Finally! After nearly a month of searching the country Ive managed to purchase another identical engine off ebay. The best news is the starter works perfect and the exhaust is much better than what Ive got. I had to pay strong money for it but it ticks over so smoothly.

Well, for once all the rust was a blessing, it meant all the paint stripped off the chasis fairly easily. I just hope the top frame is as quick to do.

Ive been slowly plodding on with the chasis of this unit. Due to the rheumatism in my hands I can only use the grinder for a few minutes at a time, but am slowly getting there. On stripping the hydraulics off it ive found yet more proof it used to be yellow and ive also found that the pump is dated 1983, so this ties in with the serial number. I still haven't got hold of a replacement engine, but this very nice brochure turned up from Australia.

Have now made a bit more progress with these 2 units. Got a bit of touching in to do, the axles(have found 2/3 of a new one in my spares) and feet to sort out and wire-in the switch on the beaver, but they are finally starting to look like power packs again.

Fames both painted, just got to let it set before fitting the decals.

Refitted the starters today, and I also managed to get the paint on the 2 frames today(and my van, and the grass and...) Photos will have to wait till tomorrow as the battery went in my camera.

Ive not had the best of days. After checking the forecast I went into work just gone 5am to get the frame for this beaver and the Compact sprayed up. The Primmer went on great, but for some reason the top coat must of had a contamination in it because it reacted badly, so I had to strip all the paint off including the primmer. Some new top coat has now been ordered. Next I started stripping down one of the hammers. The diaphragm that apparently never fails has started to brake up (nearly £100 on its own!) and Ive discovered that there is 3 different sizes of piston, and I had the seal kit for the other 2. However wanting something to go right I applied the decals to the fuel tops and the recoils along with new starter cords and handles on the 2 I hadn't yet changed.

Got to get the paint on the frames first.

Bit of a mojo lift, finally got the decals for this long winded project.

Well the decals are ready, even if the engine isn't.

Got a call late last night to say my decals are ready.

As I'm still searching for a engine for the solite I thought id make some progress with the beaver II. This morning Ive got the engine almost ready to trial run, the only major component that ive changed so far is the fuel tank (on ebay they are only 20 quid brand new so not even worth straightening and repainting), the rest of the engine is just cleaned up and repainted. The fan came off with a bit of persuasion by heat and is now refitted in the correct position. Just got to sort a key out for it and I can give the unit a run up. Ive also received in the post today some genuine Honda decals for the choke and throttle lever.

Managed to get a couple of shots of the chewed up crank, also have now received the gasket set ( only non genuine was available) and the battery.

I've got a lot of contacts in the trade, however like me most of them threw away engines like this many years ago as they were just old worthless junk. I'm sure I'll turn one up eventually, it's just very frustrating that it could of been avoided if somebody had only thought through their actions.

I've managed to get a lead on a recoil only start engine, will have to see if I can agree a price and if it will have the same crank in it.

Ever had one of those days when you wish you'd stayed in bed?I got to work just gone 6 am this morning. First thing to go wrong is that in the past some pillock had forced the wrong nut onto the end of the crank holding the flywheel on, therefore when I removed it, most of the crank came with it, result? New crankshaft is now needed. I thought I'd test the starter motor out, but apart from the solenoid it's totally dead. Next I started to remove the pulley off the drive end of the crank, it's moved about an inch but even after plenty of heat applied it still refuses to budge anymore. I also noticed that the cooling fins on the flywheel are broken in places. Now the search is on for another g400 that uses the same crank as new ones are obsolete.

Tried to remove the exhaust today, why is there allways one nut that won't come undone? At least it's the top one so I should be able to get the grinder in and split it off.

Usually with an air cooled engine you can often reuse the head gasket with a smear or blue hylomar or similar. It's rare that they snap on removal of the head.

Valves are easy, there's quite a few how to guides on you tube, most the small engines can be done without valve spring compressors, but even if they are needed are very cheap to buy, I think my briggs one(that also does techy and others from memory)was about £2. If you're ever Hereford way outside of business hours I'll happily assist you to do it. In my experience 99% of problems with small engines can be tied down to the exhaust valve not seating properly.

I don't know what is fitted to the ones you've got but short term see if either have a similar looking end that screws into the head. Make sure as well the valves have been reground particuarly the exhaust one as if pitted it will give fuel supply symptoms as the engine can't suck its fuel properly.