Vintage US Sparkies.

[Andrew Tinsley]

Hello,
I have an unhealthy interest in old US spark ignition engines. Sometimes I get an engine that is missing bits and pieces or just needs a good overhaul. Sometimes I get stuck with certain oddities which are not described in the little literature that exists.
So is there any sort of forum that discusses technical details and that might help me in my varying quests. MECA should be a good start, but they seem to be just collectors with not a lot of technical knowledge.
Anyone out there that knows their way around old US sparkers?

Thanks,

Andrew.

[Randy Ryan]

Hello,
I have an unhealthy interest in old US spark ignition engines. Sometimes I get an engine that is missing bits and pieces or just needs a good overhaul. Sometimes I get stuck with certain oddities which are not described in the little literature that exists.
So is there any sort of forum that discusses technical details and that might help me in my varying quests. MECA should be a good start, but they seem to be just collectors with not a lot of technical knowledge.
Anyone out there that knows their way around old US sparkers?

Thanks,

Andrew.

Andrew,

You can send inquiries to me and I will forward them to the Motor Boyz. We identify allot of uncommon engines from around the world.

http://modelenginenews.org/    Tim Dannels is about the best authority there is, you'll find him in "Motor Boys"

[Don Hutchinson AMA5402]

Woody Bartelt would be a good starting place, he has parts for many old engines. Reproduction parts catalog #9 is now available. www.woodysengines.com is his web site and aeroelectric@charter.net for e-mail.

[Randy Ryan]

Woody Bartelt would be a good starting place, he has parts for many old engines. Reproduction parts catalog #9 is now available. www.woodysengines.com is his web site and aeroelectric@charter.net for e-mail.

He also wants to charge for everything!!!! His stuff covers mostly common engines and a very few others.

[Andrew Tinsley]

Hello Randy,
I am an avid follower of the Ron Chernich site and hence the Motor Boys exploits. So I will take up your offer when I get frustrated! it is silly things that usually get me! I like to restore back to original if possible, although I intend to run and fly the engines I have. As an example. I have a model B Brown Junior from 1938. It has a choke nut on the end of the intake (now what use or ornament are they?). It also has a soft solder patch where the screw on tank lid should be (missing). However the 1938 model didn't have the screw on tank , but a pot tank. So has this engine had a different crankcase fitted or has some one tried to update the 1938 engine with a later tank? You see the sort of problems that you run into when you want both functionality and a little authenticity!

Hello Don,
I got as far as paying for a catalogue which never turned up. Paid for another which arrived. This was years ago and I was impressed by the prices, although as Randy says, it could encompass a wider range of engine types. I am sure the well heeled collector can afford Woody's prices, but unfortunately I cannot. If I just needed the odd spare once in a while, then fine. I am retired so I would rather make stuff for peanuts and consider my time well spent in improving my machining and casting skills. But thanks for the suggestion (Your 110% Madman is a real cracker on Orwick 64 power. Thanks for the plan!)

Regards,

Andrew.

[Randy Ryan]

Hello Randy,
I am an avid follower of the Ron Chernich site and hence the Motor Boys exploits. So I will take up your offer when I get frustrated! it is silly things that usually get me! I like to restore back to original if possible, although I intend to run and fly the engines I have. As an example. I have a model B Brown Junior from 1938. It has a choke nut on the end of the intake (now what use or ornament are they?). It also has a soft solder patch where the screw on tank lid should be (missing). However the 1938 model didn't have the screw on tank , but a pot tank. So has this engine had a different crankcase fitted or has some one tried to update the 1938 engine with a later tank? You see the sort of problems that you run into when you want both functionality and a little authenticity!

Hello Don,
I got as far as paying for a catalogue which never turned up. Paid for another which arrived. This was years ago and I was impressed by the prices, although as Randy says, it could encompass a wider range of engine types. I am sure the well heeled collector can afford Woody's prices, but unfortunately I cannot. If I just needed the odd spare once in a while, then fine. I am retired so I would rather make stuff for peanuts and consider my time well spent in improving my machining and casting skills. But thanks for the suggestion (Your 110% Madman is a real cracker on Orwick 64 power. Thanks for the plan!)

Regards,

Andrew.


Hi Andrew,

As I've discovered and had verified to me, engine "models" are not necessarily hard and fast, coming out of the factories many times were transitional engines to use up remaining stores of parts or some in stream improvements made and included. Many times the owner made "updates" to suit his own use, we still do this with our engines. I'm guessing that your Brown falls in the latter category and the owner either liked this tank better or when it needed replacement the earlier tank was no longer available. I have a very nice Ohlsson Gold Seal that had the proper tank but the second model NVA, I am leaving it as is because it likely falls into the former category. So its still a matter of judgement and personal preference and unless there is an obvious modification, allot of these discrepancies could be completely legitimate. I use some of my engines as well, but the Gold Seal will forever be a keeper not a runner.

Oh yes, the choke I always thought was a good idea, it allowed you to put the intake right up close to the firewall and still choke it, it wasn't very efficient though, the airflow was restricted.

Also, I've known Woody for many years and I mean no personal affront to him, he does provide very high quality repro parts and engines. I, like you, prefer to do my own stuff if possible, but sometimes you just need to buy something.

[Andrew Tinsley]

Hello Randy,
Just to put the record straight, I wasn't knocking Woody. Looking at the real costs of making small run quantities of parts, then the prices charged are not  bad. It is just I can't afford them if it comes to buying more than the odd one now and again.
Ah The dread chokenut. Well the one on this particular Brown is a puzzle. The venturi is brass and so is the choke nut. The nut has a reduced sized hole in it and can either be screwed in place or unscrewed completely. I note some photos show holes in the side of the venturi tube. So if the choke nut sealed the end of the venturi then you could use the secondary holes to finger choke. But the chokenut I have (nicely knurled too, not an amateur bodge), doesn't seal the venturi end and neither does it have secondary holes in the venturi.
This is the sort of thing that puzzles me and hence the request of "where to find the knowledge"? I appreciate that there are likely to be manufacturer or end user upgrades, in these cases what is perhaps the most likely set up. All my engines are or will be runners and I also like to fly them when I can. Your AHC diesel has been well used and fears of the crankshaft giving up are unfounded. A great little diesel. A pity they were not made to that standard back in the day. Who knows there may have been more diesel men in the US!

Thanks,

Andrew.

[Randy Ryan]

Hello Randy,
Just to put the record straight, I wasn't knocking Woody. Looking at the real costs of making small run quantities of parts, then the prices charged are not  bad. It is just I can't afford them if it comes to buying more than the odd one now and again.
Ah The dread chokenut. Well the one on this particular Brown is a puzzle. The venturi is brass and so is the choke nut. The nut has a reduced sized hole in it and can either be screwed in place or unscrewed completely. I note some photos show holes in the side of the venturi tube. So if the choke nut sealed the end of the venturi then you could use the secondary holes to finger choke. But the chokenut I have (nicely knurled too, not an amateur bodge), doesn't seal the venturi end and neither does it have secondary holes in the venturi.
This is the sort of thing that puzzles me and hence the request of "where to find the knowledge"? I appreciate that there are likely to be manufacturer or end user upgrades, in these cases what is perhaps the most likely set up. All my engines are or will be runners and I also like to fly them when I can. Your AHC diesel has been well used and fears of the crankshaft giving up are unfounded. A great little diesel. A pity they were not made to that standard back in the day. Who knows there may have been more diesel men in the US!

Thanks,

Andrew.

Hi Andrew,

Could you post a picture of your Brown? Especially the choke arrangement. They used quite a number of variations of that little device and now you have me vary curious!!!

I am so glad you're happy with the AHC, of those I've sold you are the only one that has given any feedback at all and its most welcome. I really enjoy building and restoring engines and nice comments like that are most welcome!!!

[Andrew Tinsley]

Hi Randy,
Apologies for not reporting back on the AHC. Very remiss of me and I do apologise. I have an unhealthy interest in diesels too. But most of them are European and I don't have too many problems there! The AHC was run in gently and I have had absolutely zero problems with it. An easy strter and it just purrs around in a 48 inch cabin design from the very early 1950s. The only problem is that it is very frugal on fuel and if you are not careful, you find the 5 minute flip turns into 15! Must put a fuel cutoff on the plane (R/C assist of course. I don't walk too good these days!
  I seem to have difficulty with photos but I will try to sort out how to do it! May need a little time to work it out!

Regards,

Andrew.

[Andrew Tinsley]

Hello Randy,
I got bogged down omn compressing the pics so I set you an email with them attatched. Blowed if I know what the screw in restrictor is for on the end of the brass venturi. Oh I took a closer look at where you would expect the venturi and needle valve to go through the venturi. There is only a hole on one side of the venturi tube and that is mighty small in diameter! The whole thing is a bit of a mysterry to me!

Regards,

Andrew.

[Randy Ryan]

Hello Randy,
I got bogged down omn compressing the pics so I set you an email with them attatched. Blowed if I know what the screw in restrictor is for on the end of the brass venturi. Oh I took a closer look at where you would expect the venturi and needle valve to go through the venturi. There is only a hole on one side of the venturi tube and that is mighty small in diameter! The whole thing is a bit of a mysterry to me!

Regards,

Andrew.

Andrew, check your Email, we've solved the mystery