bowtiebutler956 166 #1 Posted May 7, 2015 I thought I'd post another project I'm working on. Most of you already know I have a love for the old cast iron Briggs engines, and especially the Model N lineup. There are so many different variations of the Model N, it can make you dizzy. I've been working for years at trying to get as many good examples of the different variations of the Model N as possible. I have acquired yet another one that I didn't have yet. This is a 45 Briggs NR2, and has a 2:1 gear reduction built into the block. It funny, I purchased this believing it was an NR6, which is visually identical to the NR2, and are more much more common the the NR2. It didn't have an id tag, and the seller had no clue what it was, so I was very surprized when it arrived, and the engine rotated twice for every rotation of the pto. Needless to say I was very pleased, as these are much harder to come by. The engine was in rough shape, but still had lots of potential. Once I opened it up, I found it had a .020 over piston in it, a .010 under crank, and replacement valve guides had been installed. Both the piston, and cylinder looked great, but the rings were wore out. I tried finding .020 piston rings for it, but I never did. Eventually, I found a complete Briggs .020 piston assembly, which came with new rings, so I went that route. The crank, and the .010 undersized rod were in perfect shape, so all was good there. The valve guides were still in decent shape, but the intake valve had already been cut one to many times, so I located a new new valve. I cut both seats, and then lapped the valves back in. I'm currently working on getting it all painted up. This engine should run very well, as it tested at 120 psi on its compression test as you can see in the video below. Thats amazing compression for these old engines! Its magneto is also putting out a very strong spark, as you can see in the video. The OE carb was very corroded, but I had a good rebuildable core on the shelf that I used instead. The original PTO oil seal can no longer be found, but after taking some measurements, I found a modern seal that fit perfectly. I'm very thankful to have other good friends that are Briggs collectors as well. Thanks to Den, a good friend who has a much larger collection than I do, I now have the correct Briggs Type # for this engine, so I can get a new ID tag made. I decided to replace this engines original shroud with an identical one thats in far better shape. Aside from the rust, someone had done some horrible welding to the original shroud! While it could have been repaired, I had one on my spare parts shelf, thats in much better shape, so I took the easy way out! Here are a buch of pics, and a video of where I'm currently at. Thanks Matt 4 Ian, stevek, nigel and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #2 Posted May 7, 2015 Superb job. 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #3 Posted May 7, 2015 Another fine engine job Matt, you certainly go through them and a good report and photos. A lesson to us all and a hard act to follow. Well done mate 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #4 Posted May 7, 2015 Superb job. Another fine engine job Matt, you certainly go through them and a good report and photos. A lesson to us all and a hard act to follow. Well done mate Thanks guys, I appreciate the encouraging words. Continued stripping paint today. Did the gas tank, air filter, rope cup, etc.. The gas tank had several dings in one end, although they didn't show up very well in the pics below. Anyway, I gave it a skim coat of body filler, as well as a dab on a couple other small dings. Once its sanded, you'll never know they were there, except for the fact I just told you they were. Anyway, here are a couple pics from today. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #5 Posted May 8, 2015 Cant beat a bit of bondo mate, lucky they were dings and not holes 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #6 Posted May 8, 2015 Yep, if they were holes, I would have had to use JB Weld, instead of Bondo. Matt 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bankman 17 #7 Posted May 8, 2015 I like the older Briggs engines, so far I have restored a Model A with kickstart and remote fuel supply (no holes drilled for tank brackets) and a Model B which has been fitted with a flywheel and runs lovely and smooth. I also had a Model I but sold that last year, I also sold my A because a chap kept pestering me for it until I gave in, however he only kept it a week or two and sold it on for a profit! Wish that I had kept it myself now, you live and learn! I know of a ZZ with a generator, not sure about taking that on yet though. You are making a good job of your one, it will look great when finished. Pete. 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #8 Posted May 9, 2015 Thanks for the kind words Pete. I really love these old Briggs engines. I have a couple Model I lever start engines that I really like. I'll put a pic below of one of them. Its all original, and runs like a top. Made a bit of progress today. I was working on my most disliked part of any restoration today. Sanding Bondo, prime, san, prime, sand, repeat, repeat, repeat, until smooth! I started off with a coat of (green) self-etching primer, to make sure it sticks to the bare metal. Then followed up with sandable (brown) primer. Everything turned out decent, so I should be able to paint tomorrow. Matt 1 Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #9 Posted May 9, 2015 Well, I got the paint on. It was really to windy to be painting today, but I did anyway. The problem is, even with doing the painting in my shop, dirt is blown around from the wind coming in through the ridge cap at the top of my roof. Needless to say, I have some unwanted debris in my paint, particularly the shroud. Oh well, it still looks decent, and its shiny. Matt 2 Ian and S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #10 Posted May 9, 2015 That is shiny! 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #11 Posted May 11, 2015 My reproduction spark plug wire will be here tomorrow, so its not running yet, but I did assemble it for a few beauty shots today. I still have to get a reproduction ID tag, and one more Briggs decal as well, but its almost done. Hopefully there will be a video tomorrow. Matt 3 Ian, nigel and S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry M 7 #12 Posted May 12, 2015 Very Nice Matt!! Glad to see your still collecting those old briggs" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #13 Posted May 12, 2015 Very Nice Matt!! Glad to see your still collecting those old briggs" Its great to hear from you Terry, and thanks for popping in to say hello. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #14 Posted May 12, 2015 That's very nice. Excellent job. 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #15 Posted May 12, 2015 That's very nice. Excellent job. Thanks Norm, i appreciate it. Hopefully. i'll have a video of it running today. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anglo Traction 1,016 #16 Posted May 12, 2015 Very, Very nice Matt, another fine example of both your work and quality old Briggs Model. Love the Donut Carb Float ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #17 Posted May 12, 2015 Thanks Richard. I have a couple more I'll be working on after this one is done. I acquired an NR6, as well as an early production Sears 500 Model N. I may not restore the Sears as it still has all its original decals, but at the very least it will be given fresh rings, and a thorough going threw. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,876 #18 Posted May 12, 2015 cant wait to see the vidio mat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #19 Posted May 12, 2015 A fantastic job as always Matt, the paint looks nice and deep How many cast Briggs do you have now? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #20 Posted May 12, 2015 cant wait to see the vidio mat The wait is over. A fantastic job as always Matt, the paint looks nice and deep How many cast Briggs do you have now? Thanks Ian, and I've lost count! I know I'm over 40, but would need to take inventory to know just how many. Alright, here is the video from today, and as expected, it fired right up, and ran great. Just need to get a couple more things, and it will be done. Sorry for how shaky the video is. Youtube can fix the shaky, but then its blurry, so I decided to keep the shake. I'll do better next time. Matt 3 the showman, Terry M and S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #21 Posted May 13, 2015 That's just brilliant Matt, what a transformation. Well done mate, whats next ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #22 Posted May 13, 2015 That's just brilliant Matt, what a transformation. Well done mate, whats next ? Thanks, and I just acquired an NR6, which is what I thought this engine was when I bought it. So, the NR6 will probably be next on the list. I'll post pics as soon as I have it in my hands. Matt 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #23 Posted May 14, 2015 The NR2 is now living the good life with my other honored engines that live in my bedroom. Actually its more like a storeroom off the side of my bedroom, but there is no door separating the two. This is where all my restored, and very special engines live. I have a really good wife! There are 20 here in my bedroom, and another 20-30 at my shop. Here are a few pics. Matt 4 C-101plowerpower, Ian, pmackellow and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #24 Posted May 14, 2015 I have a really good wife! Matt You must have to dust and polish that lot. 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #25 Posted May 14, 2015 You must have to dust and polish that lot. Yes indeed, and very regularly. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
