Fuller And Johnson Manuals
Fuller & Johnson Restoration open crank engine 1929 Fuller and Johnson, 2hp NC, a story of the find and restoration. So there I was, sitting by my engine, watching the world go by at The Power of the Past Rally 2002 which was our last full Rally of the season of the year, when I became aware of a guy and his wife, trying to attract my attention. Assuming he wanted to know some info on the Lister Orchard spray set I was exhibiting. I went to the fence to have a chat. “I have got a couple of engines which I want to get rid of” said the guy, “free to a good home, I need the space” he went on to say.
Fuller And Johnson Pump Jack
“Oh I said” thinking, “I don’t really want any more, not got enough room at home as it is” so I asked him what they were. “One of them is a little Stuart Turner “ he said, but as for the other one, I have no idea, but it looks a bit like that” pointing to an open crank hit and miss Amanco, next to me. Well, as you can imagine, I was suddenly all ears, “tell me more” I said, trying not to appear too interested.
He went on to tell me that it was an open crank engine, of unknown manufacturer with one, disc flywheel and he thought was more or less complete, but that was all the info I could get at the time, so I took his name and address and agreed to go over one evening the following week. When I got there, to be honest, I was a little disappointed, as I did not recognize the engine, it seemed as though it should have two flywheels (where the hell was I going to get another?) and had lots of things like oiler, greasers, and the manufacturers plate missing, also the mains had play, as did the big end so I figured this may not be worth pursuing. Still, it was a nice size (1 ½ to 2 hp) I reckoned and the guy just wanted the space so I duly loaded it, the little Stuart and a 24 volt Genny into the back of the Disco and drove home wondering what I had let myself in for. After lugging everything in to the garage, I got out the digital camera, took a few pics and put them on my Internet website with the idea of asking for identification on the Stationary engine newsgroup next day.
Free Johnson Manuals
The newsgroup is a really useful tool on the Internet, as there are a lot of experts out there who regularly post information etc. And true enough, about two hours later, I got an Email from Patrick Knight who many of you will know is an expert at identifying engines telling me that I had a 1928/9 “Fuller and Johnson” model NC 2hp, and confirmed that it should have two flywheels.
A quick search on the Internet found an American site dedicated to the “Fuller and Johnson” marque which gave me loads of useful information and helped me, through looking at various pictures, peg the year at 1929, even though I do not have the serial number, as the shape of the carb, flywheels etc. Can only be that year. I then did some searching through pictures I have taken over the last few years and also other web sites and soon realized that this was in fact quite rare, as I have seen one earlier model N before but no others. Next, a search for a likely parts suppler, and again I found “Hit and Miss.com” on the Internet and Emailed ED Deiss, the Company owner to see if I could get the much needed parts, including the flywheel. Ed mailed me back to say that he could supply a flywheel, and a couple of valves (which had worn stems) and also the incidentals like oiler, greasers, transfers, a reprint of the instruction manual, spark plug etc. After agreeing a price He then agreed to ship them and as I asked him to send them overland which I figured was the cheapest, I waited about a week and got an invoice for the shipping ( I had already paid for the parts by credit card) and got a bit of a shock, £103.00!!! I am not sure what I expected, as the flywheel did weigh about 40 lbs but the deed was done, and less than two weeks later, I got the parts which came air mail, apparently it is cheaper than overland/sea so another lesson learned.
Now I have a background in the Motor trade, and was around when we used to scrape white metal bearings on the old Austin Ruby and the like but as for attempting it now,!!! I don’t think so which means I need to find an engineer willing to take on the job. Stationary Engine Magazine to the rescue, which had an advert for an engineering Company who seemed to fit the bill, and a quick phone call confirmed that they would be prepared to take it on, only trouble was that they were in Leicestershire!!! Oh well, only thing for it is to load up the engine and bits and head up the A1 to deliver it which is where it is at present having the big end, little end, mains, valve guides rings etc. Basically, the engine was in pretty poor mechanical condition and the jobs that they have done for me are as follows:- 1. Hone the bore, order up new thicker rings and machine the piston to take the rings. Line bore the mains, (which someone had re-metalled but not scraped), and shim them up to accept the crank.
Machine and press in new small end bush. Grind the big end and shim up the con rod bearings.
Machine new valve guides, bore the head and fit the guides, re-drill the oil holes. Skim the flywheels and size up the new gib keys to fit. Weld the cast iron exhaust cap which had a lump knocked out of it.
Sand blast the engine and make up a pulley to drive equipment. Next thing is the tank (it did not of course have one), but a phone call to Frank Gelder in Goole, (plus sending him some pictures and dimensions) soon got that organized including the non return valve, and a splash guard for the crank. Next job is the trolley which I have obtained some 4” X 2” oak to make it from and I have a set of wheels that fit the bill. I have now got the engine back from the engineering company, see pictures on the link above. Rubbing down, stopping, priming and painting are well under way, but it will be a longish job to get a reasonable finish. Trolley now finished, and a lot of little engineering type jobs are now done. Engine is now on the trolley flywheels fitted.
Fuller And Johnson Tractor Seat
Might try starting it next week. Watch this space.
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