For those interested in antique engines

[Posimoto]

I picked up a McCormick-Deering 3 HP engine from a family that owns a campground in Wellfleet. The family dates back to the 1700 hundreds in Wellfleet as the nearby cemetery headstones indicate. The family opened a campground in 1958 and didn't have electricity until the 70s. The engines were used on the property to pump water as far back as 1920.

Anyways, the engine hasn't ran for several years so I drained and cleaned the fuel tank, went through the electrical system which consist of an ignition magneto, spark plug wire, and spark plug. I greased the bearings and oiled the cylinder, all oiling is done manually. The engine is all cast iron and weighs 500lbs. I haven't pin down a build date, but thinking around 1923-27.

I would think Ian's family had a few open flywheel engines, and it wouldn't surprise me if Tim's family had one as well.
I found it amazing the galvanized fuel tank had no leaks after 90 something years.   

A quick video of the engine starting for the first time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyfMSTfhZKI

[HEYzipupyourfly]

Chuck i get a chub every time i hear those hit miss motors running. they sound even cooler when they are powering something.
good job. and good find. if you come across another one let me know i have a tractor ive been dying to put one of those into.

[HEYzipupyourfly]

you need to get one of these and set that up in your yard.

[Posimoto]

Nice saw attachment!
 
I ask the guy that sold me the engines if he had any water pumps but he sold them awhile ago.
I bought a truck load of engines......well, at 500 lbs each I could only fit 3 in the bed.



The other 2,

1920 vertical Novo 3hp in the day were used for hoisting, conceit mixers, water pumps, saw rigs, just to name a few. This is a true hit or miss and runs off a buzz box and battery. The other two have governors and are not technically hit or miss.   



1921 Ottawa 3.5hp This one was purchased new in 1920 by the sellers grandfather. Ottawa's were mostly used with drag saws. The 2 flywheel ottawa were rare as most only had 1 flywheel.



Ottawa with drag saw attachment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S0DaAXDziA

I'll most likely sell one down the road, but I'm not sure which one yet.

[Bluerocket]

Is it 15 or 30 mins to cut through a log that size

[Posimoto]

I'd say that's a 6-pack worth of cutting.

I was told the McCormick Deering was the 2.5hp model. I measured the flywheel at 21" which tells me it's a 3hp 600lb unit.

[Bluerocket]

Are you planning on bringing these to county fairs for show and such?    Or just keeping them around incase the neighbors annoy you.

[HEYzipupyourfly]

lol well having one of those in my arsenal of engines has always been a goal so if you sell something you think i would be interested in let me know!
My roomate and i sat down a couple weeks ago and counted the amount of things i own with engines it them. We came up with 24 things that had engines on my property that were in running condition, and two that were not running. and one engine that wasn't in anything but running condition haha. we decided i had a problem.

[Posimoto]

Will do Tony,

Bobby, there is a show 2-3 times a year at our local airport but at this time I have no plans to show the engine there. However, I did become interested in the stationary engine from attending the shows so maybe I'll show an engine down the road as a way to give back.

I like the durability, simplicity, and sound of these old engines, and of course bringing them back to life I enjoy most. These engines have many external moving parts which helps in teaching how a combustion engine works. Most weekends my shop door is open and the neighborhood kids always seem to stop by to say hi, and of course have me look over their bikes, oil the chain, air in their tires, stuff like that. I'm sure the antique engine will be a must see for them.

I would like to put the engine to work in a useful way as well. Maybe pumping water for a back yard water display, or to run a belt from the kitchen to the shop so I can have food sent out while I keep working.        

[HEYzipupyourfly]

Chuck i have an old belt driven trash pump that would be really cool to hook to that. I will take some pictures, it may be available but would have to ask the owner.

[Ian]

i asked my dad if there are any motors like that around the farm.  he thought there might be one, but i haven't been able to get to it.  we are cleaning out that building so i should get at it soon.  i don't know how old it would be though.  it the farms "glory days" it was very modern and they didn't keep old stuff around unnecessarily.

[Posimoto]

While I'm waiting for edelbrock to send my intake manifold back I decided to do a few other things.

I rebuilt the fuel pump on the McCormick- Deering after I found one of the two check balls stuck causing a no fuel issue.





The PO purchased a new rocker arm but never installed it (the original one had a repair that didn't hold up).
I noticed the new one didn't have a pin to hold the rocker spring.
 
New on left


I made a pin from the end of a u-bolt strap.



Knocked off the rust

[Posimoto]

Trellis, 40 ft ladder

[Axle]

so creative! I might steal the trellis idea