The Engine

As I mentioned before, the engine has been open to the elements with the rocker cover off for many years. Even so it came apart without too much effort. Externally the cases are white with alloy corrosion and the cylinder and head are very rusty.

 

Externally the head has one broken fin and the exhaust threads are badly eroded. It was soaked in diesel and the inlet rocker removed. The exhaust rocker spindle is seized immovably in the rocker. The rocker is badly pitted and it would be unsafe to reuse it in its weakened state as even good ones are prone to break if the exhaust valve nips up. Another job for the angle grinder although you would need to be hard pressed to use a head in this condition.

 

 

 

The cylinder is rusty with some paint still adhering but  as it is cast iron the rust is not deep. The bore looks ok and came with a +40 slipper piston, the normal type of piston for a 1951 engine. The cylinder and piston could be reused.

 

The crankcase has clearly been full of water for a long time as there are tide marks on both halves and on the flywheels. The timing case was full of sludge and the half compression parts are rusted solid. The cam is a bit pitted although the timing gears look reusable. The pushrod tube appears to have a home-made lower half with the tappets running in a block pressed into the crankcase. Again this looks home-made.

Internals

The drive side crankcase is split across the front and down the side just above the row of bolts, presumably the result of water freezing in the crankcase. The flywheels and conrod are very rusty and the bigend is solid. The main bearings are a roller race on the timing side and two ball races on the drive side. This is the arrangement listed for a 1951 engine although in this case they are heavily rusted.

Timing case full of crud

Home-made tappet block

Drive side tide mark

Split drive side crankscase.

Rusty flywheels.

Bigend has seen better days.

            I do not plan to reuse this engine as there are too many parts such as the head and crankcase which are probably beyond repair. I have a 600 engine at the back of the shed which was running when it was replaced as it was using oil. I think this was because the conrod is slightly bent so I shall need to have a look at that.
            Out of interest I dismantled the big end, it took a two-leg puller to get it apart as it was solidly corroded.

Corroded conrod and big end.