CNew

Yep, the foil worked great! The manifold is the original. It has a few little spots that are permanent but overall it cleaned up pretty well. Had to put heat shrink on all the coil wires since they were so stiff and brittle and cracked at the bends.

Got it all back together after a complete tear down and rebuild. This thing has some serious compression now. Maybe I’ll have some time this week to fire it up for a few minutes.

Wow John, that is really nice! I thought that might what you’ve been up to lately and I’ve been anxious to see the progress. Very impressive, especially for just a bunch of eye-balling! Cant wait to see the final post with a video of you riding it around!

I’m definitely getting faster with these unless there’s something a little unusual or tedious like the re-wire job on the Tiny Tiger. You’re absolutely right though, I got just enough stuff removed that it was better just to go all the way. Plus, it’s always nice to know what condition everything is in everything and to know it’s all put back together correctly. I may try to run it for a couple minutes when I’m done. Now that I’ve got it all apart I don’t think this one has seen a whole lot of use, insides look actually look pretty nice with very little carbonization. Probably ran just long enough and without water to ruin the pump and then off to the shelf...

And just like David and John are always cautioning - this is exactly why it’s so important to remove all the old crumbly air filter...

It started as just a surface cleaning and then all the sudden there’s this big pile of parts The unit had a really strong smell of cigarette smoke, it’s amazing that even metal soaks that in. I should have this all apart today and will give everything a good clean and lube. Not sure if I’ll try to start the engine when I’m done, probably not. This one has the plastic bearings so no need to risk it. There’s just something satisfying about knowing the engine will run though, even though it’s mainly eye candy for display. It also looks like it was exposed to something slightly corrosive so the paint is’t going to clean up to pristine when it’s done but it’ll still look nice.

I tried reaching out to this seller a few times as well, it’s too bad really - it look so like a decent unit to start from for a conversion to O&R powered. There is another one on there now but it has the cart and everything. Shipping is crazy... https://www.ebay.com/itm/174286225983?ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F0%2Fe11051.m43.l1123%2F7%3Feuid%3D66c1eb155ec340a6871f7abf21156df2%26bu%3D43151388737%26segname%3D11051%26crd%3D20200524073215%26osub%3D-1%7E1%26ch%3Dosgood%26loc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fulk%252Fitm%252F174286225983%26sojTags%3Dbu%3Dbu%2Cch%3Dch%2Csegname%3Dsegname%2Ccrd%3Dcrd%2Curl%3Dloc%2Cosub%3Dosub%26srcrot%3De11051.m43.l1123%26rvr_id%3D0%26rvr_ts%3D473905761720ad319b2526aafffc5710&ul_noapp=true

Found one of these compressors for sale here locally. It has the original electric motor but I’m debating on maybe getting it and doing a similar O&R conversion.

Nice progress David! I like the use of the terminal block as a vice spacer for the tube... glad the cylinder finally screwed back on.

That’s awesome, just about fell out of my chair laughing!

Im in a similar boat with the Drillgine. I have an early model in red but I don’t know if it was technically part of the Comet group.

Cant wait to see more pics of the Nichols and hear how it runs!

I realized after it was too late that I forgot to take a picture of the wiring before it went back together, just got carried away in the moment trying to get it all done.

I’ve only seen photos on this forum of the Power Pole that has the outboard, tiller and snowblower attachments, unfortunately I don’t have one...

Very cool! That specific model of Bolens is one of my all time favorites. I missed out on a nice one while I was in Minnesota. Great to see it running so well and getting out to use!

Finally got it all back together. I haven’t tried to run it yet but compression feels good and it has spark.

I like those Tarpen tools, never seen one in this side of the pond. The chainsaw attachment is pretty neat! Is there also an outboard attachment?

Very nice, love the way you’re displaying all these great O&Rs!

Haven’t counted, it’s finally looking like a collection though. I desperately need to build some shelves and start displaying them. I bet you’re right about the pump, doesn’t take much to mess up one of those little impellers. I’d like to try your aluminum foil technique for the rust on the handle, what is the mixture you soak it in first?

The Comet pump arrived today. Unfortunately it’s missing the ignition coil cover and the actual pump mechanism but it’s still great to be able to add this to the collection and round out the Comet tools.

Like weed eaters today - you’re probably right, as soon as the O&R Groomers crapped out they got tossed to the garbage.

Very cool, look so good! I think I remember seeing this one on eBay, nice grab! That’s quite the improvement on the chain and bar!

David, I really like the technique, thank you for sharing the details. I finally got the wires prepped with shrink tubing.

I know of one but the guy won’t sell it...

Very nice David! Do you have parts to complete a trimmer?