I picked up this cool unit yesterday. The guy I bought it from said he made a weed eater with it back in the 1970s. He said the handle was a simple 1/2” conduit that threads onto the base. After looking it over more the engine has some features that I don’t think I’ve seen before. The carburetor is kind of unusual and doesn’t have the little hole where the usual threaded hook screw attaches for the air cleaner. I’m not actually sure how an air cleaner would connect. It also has different style “fins” on the bottom. It’s marked Type 110. Let me know if anyone has more info that can help date the engine.
It’s a little hard to make out because the heat shield is painted but it looks like it’s stamped: 13B - 406 ; 8030206. The original owners manual that came with it has a printed date of 1978.
I didn’t realize the Pony Express was so hard to come by, I feel even better about it now. I like the donut award I saw another one earlier this summer while at a tractor show Andrew it was mounted on a bicycle. The guy wanted Way too much money. I of course had to pass at his price and I’m glad I did as the one I just got is in much better condition.
Yes, I noticed the little Nelson muffler right off the bat as well - it’s deffinitely a higher quality. It indeed has the original paint. I’ve seen a couple of these Pony Express variants and they’re all a deep brown mahogany color with the tan. It’s also interesting that they painted everything. I always thought that was a little odd but all the ones I’ve seen all have everything painted. I was also pretty jazzed that it had the original manual.
Here is my latest addition, a Pony Express bicycle engine with original manual. The exhaust pipe and muffler don’t really have any carbon residue. The tank is also clean inside. Some paint chips and general wear from age but overall a nice unit.
I’m sure this has happened to all of us but I thought I’d share my most recent O&R miss. I was poking around on Craigslist this morning and saw a yard sale add that had some old looking fishing gear and stuff so I decided to click on it just for grins. Low and behold there was an O&R Ice Auger (Herter’s Model) tucked away in a pile of stuff and it looked in really good shape. Of course the yard sale was on its last day but I pinged the listing anyway and sure enough it had already sold. At $20 someone should be very happy while I’m bummed... all part of the hunt I guess.
I wonder how well that one model survived having the grip handle mounted to the gas tank. Those gas tanks are pretty thin and flimsy, seems they would have been crushed with the weight of the saw being jerked around by that handle/knob. It’s super cool looking though!
Finally put the final coat of paint on the little stand today. I ended up countersinking the bolt holes for the rubber feet. I think it will have a cleaner look. Once it’s cured in a couple days I’ll add a couple photos.
I saw another one earlier this summer while at a tractor show Andrew it was mounted on a bicycle. The guy wanted Way too much money. I of course had to pass at his price and I’m glad I did as the one I just got is in much better condition.
Thanks Webhead- I’m thoroughly enjoying this forum and interacting with you all in this hobby. I’m learning a ton and having fun!
Ohlsson & Rice: Home Made Weed Whipper
in Ohlsson and Rice
Posted
I picked up this cool unit yesterday. The guy I bought it from said he made a weed eater with it back in the 1970s. He said the handle was a simple 1/2” conduit that threads onto the base. After looking it over more the engine has some features that I don’t think I’ve seen before. The carburetor is kind of unusual and doesn’t have the little hole where the usual threaded hook screw attaches for the air cleaner. I’m not actually sure how an air cleaner would connect. It also has different style “fins” on the bottom. It’s marked Type 110. Let me know if anyone has more info that can help date the engine.