factory

Thank you, no rush as I guess you're still busy in the shop fixing lawnmowers. David

The trouble is we really need new-old-stock ones to measure, mine will also be compressed between the castings and stretched around the feather valve, the sizes from the compressed seals will be exactly the same as the diameter & thickness of the gap it seals, I also don't want them disintegrate if I try to remove them. I have another early engine in bits which is missing all these seals, maybe it would be easier to measure this and find something just a little bit larger to allow it them compress & seal properly. David

Thanks for adding that Paul, Tarpen must have briefly marketed the Turbair in 1967, as both of my 1968 Turbair Tot 2S sprayers are branded Turbair Ltd (Waltham Abbey/Cross), as is the 1974 Series 13B engine I have from a later Turbair Tot 2S. All the literature I have is from Turbair Ltd too. As for Edwards Bals, there was this Turbair Tot sold a few years ago and another NOS boxed one with the Edwards Bals address on the box (made £245). Of course it would be nice to see a Tarpen branded one too or even a catalogue with it in from Tarpen. David

Mine has a rubber sealing ring for the feather valve to the crankcase seal (it is squashed into the what looks like a square section, I didn't take it off to check), no paper gaskets, they don't have them according to the parts list. The exhaust collector apparently also has a sealing ring, I haven't taken mine apart as I don't want to damage it knowing that no NOS ones exist to copy the sizes from (pre-squashed). You may notice mine doesn't have the fourth hole in the induction housing casting, the crankcase has all four threaded holes but no counterbore for the small o-ring (unlike yours which does). The bronze cages are also used in the later model aeroplane engines, I never took the bearings out of my early Compact, so never found out that they had used them very briefly for these engines, you should notice all the bearing cages (apart from the con-rod) are the half cage versions. Other differences you should notice are the stud & nut for the fourth threaded hole in the base tank and no oil hole in the starter rivet (with no mention on the decal either). David

The information for the older style starters (Compact I, II, III & Series 13A engines) can in the service bulletin in the manuals sticky thread, you need to check the starter spring fitted as well. For the later 13B & 20A use this length. David

Where does this information come from? I haven't seen any literature or information that connects the two companies. As far as I know Tarpen Engineering Co Ltd (part of Lindustries Group when the Mini-Engine was available) were based in London, the assets of Tarpen Eng were later sold to Preci Group becoming Preci-Tarpen Ltd. Edward Bals Sprayers Ltd (sold the Turbair 21 & Turbair Tot) were based at Turbair Works in Bromyard, Herefordshire, Edward Bals Sprayers became Micron Sprayers Ltd then Micron Group, they were a family owned business still based in Bromyard from 1954 to 2018, then sold to Goizper Group of Spain. And Turbair Ltd (sold the Turbair Tot 2S) were based at Britannica House in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire and Britannica Works in Waltham Abbey, Essex, they were also known as Pan Britannica Industries Limited (part of the Tennant Group), they also had the registered trademark "Turbair" in 1972 (filed in 1970). David

Coil it up as shown in the brochure & tie it up if needed, no point in possibly damaging it trying to shorten it, there must be loads of small sized Bowden cable out there if you want to make a shorter throttle cable up. David

That's interesting to know, the guy I bought mine from said he found it in an engineering surplus shop in Birmingham in the early 1970's, rather ironically for this thread he used that engine in a scale model boat. When I collected the boat I mentioned I was more interested in the tools these O&R engines powered, he then mentioned he had keep some of the Tarpen housing parts, which he sent my way for the cost of postage. The Tarpen engine got reassembled minus the clutch and I sold the boat to a collector who was going to restore it & fit an electric power plant. David

I believe it was named "Twist and Scout", an episode where he finds the Indian motorcycle of his dreams. It was on this past Thursday. Thanks Joe, I could have a very very long wait, Quest TV in the UK are currently showing series 5 & 6 at the moment and "Twist and Scout" is from Series 15. David

I was comparing it with this picture, it looks shortened to me and the edges are all rough, someone's modified it just don't know why. The holder in mine could be loose, will need to repair it or replace the lamp holder if the contact spring has rusted through. David

Anyone in Australia looking for an engine? There is one available on ePay Down-Under at the moment. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/133311951910 David

Having looked at the pictures of your Creme Lure, I believe someone has shortened the threaded part for the lamp cover. By the way I did find a lamp cover that is close to the original but not the same thread, in the process I took the lamp out of mine and now can't get it back in, I guess the lamp holder is too badly rusted. David

If anyone has a flatbed scanner and can email high resolution images I can create a pdf from those too. David

Looks like the Tarpen mini-engine to me (another UK only tool), possibly fitted to a hedge trimmer attachment (hard to tell). David

It's a press fit diode, used for the low voltage output to convert the alternating current (AC) generated to direct current (DC) in this case it's half-wave rectification as only one diode is used, the two outputs are for charging 6 or 12 volt car batteries. The alloy casing the press fit diode is fitted in is also being used as a heatsink for the diode. Looks more like small neon glow lamp to me, filled with neon gas not a vacuum. Early plastics are terrible for ageing badly, oil fuel & other chemicals, UV light (the sun) can all degrade it, you may need to reinforce the cracked parts where it's possible to add material inside to overlap these. David

I will see if I have a spare later starter, you will probably need a new carb diaphragm too as has already been mentioned. Also clean out the old crumbly foam from the air cleaner before attempting to run the engine, if the foam dust gets inside it can make a right mess. David

Merged the two threads, it isn't necessary to post requests twice. I was wondering when that saw would reappear, it was advertised on farcebook. The starter pawls for the older flywheels are impossible to find, they aren't held in place like the later ones so often go missing, I've had to fit a later flywheel and make a custom sized flywheel key as the sizes are different too. My Chug-A-Saw has a damaged starter too, the early ones are a bit fragile, a later one could be used, but they need modifying to fit the older magneto coil. I would keep an eye out for another engine myself as what's left looks in very poor condition, they do appear in the UK occasionally. David

Yes some of these early engines do not have a serial number, or the bird decal where the model no. is printed, and I have a parts list that mentions the lack of serial numbers (not scanned in yet). Please do not paint this nice early engine, I know a lot of you like repainting your engines. Also note that these early engines use some completely different seals/gaskets, sadly I haven't found a kit to copy the sizes from yet. David

Without looking at one I would say that the odd & even sections have the holes in different places, I'm certain they changed to a more standard design the later engines. Edit: 122-4 & 122-5 muffler sections are gone from the 1962 parts diagram, it states to use 122-3 for all additional sections, as does the 1971 master price list. David

The full range of accessories available in August 1961, including four different lengths of muffler screw, plus remote mufflers & extension tube (has anyone got an early remote muffler & extension tube?). David

These date from sometime between August 1960 to 1961, gearbox models were not available in August 1960, but were due to go into production soon. Here are some pictures from the first brochure, which show the features of these early engines. David

Did they know much about it or the engine used? Prices could temporarily go up again if they have created more interest. Do you know what episode it was in, as apparently this programme is shown in the UK as well? David

Very nice, I have a couple of these with no serial number, but none have a gearbox, or the throttle cable option. I have a letter that mentions the Model A.B, & C engines & the gearbox models would be available soon, will check for a date later. These engines don't have the O&R bird decal on the starter, the starter also doesn't have the oil hole or decal indicating this. The spark-plug cap was an optional accessory, probably best put on another engine as this has the early stop switch. It might not have a hole for an air cleaner, not all the very early engines do. And yes the condenser looks original to this engine. One of mine was stuck from dried oil in the bearings of the induction section. David

Thanks for adding the manual, I'm sure the information will be very useful to anyone that has the Wards Model 10 digger (earth/ice auger), also nice to see Montgomery Ward couldn't spell Ohlsson & Rice (Ohllson & Rice) either. David

It made approx $233 the first time it sold & $225 from the second seller (a couple of months later), add the shipping costs to that. David