911hillclimber Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 Several years ago i bought off ebay a small spark engine very kit/home made status motor but tight and 'free' bar some gumming-up of old fuel (caster oil maybe) but a nice engine. It came with a wood (old) prop, 11" x something, all good. I fancy having a go at getting this engine to run. The engine is complete almost, it has the contact breakers but no coil etc. Being a period looking engine i want to find parts to get it going, but to look period too. The engine won't end up in a plane, but this is just a 'tinkering' project. Can anyone steer me please to a source for parts? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim Taylor Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 You could try these people - don't know them although they live quite local to me. https://minimagneto.co.uk/Products.php You could hide a modern cdi system, but given your recent travails with the Lola, you may be reluctant!! ? I've got a 10cc Nordec sparker in my 'to do' box - used to be my fathers', powered a round the pole racing car. Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 (edited) I have several working vintage ignition engines. 3 Ohlson & Rice 23s, a Herkimer Bantam 19 and a Frog 175. I would doubt that your engine is gummed with castor unless it has been run on glow fuel with a glow plug. Not uncommon for old sparkers once the ignition bits get knackered! A modern mix for "gas" fuel is a light naptha based spirit such as Coleman's lamp fuel and SAE50 oil (used in Harley Davisons IIRC!) mixed at 3:1 ratio. I certainly get good results with that fuel. I can recommend Woody's Engines in the USA as a source for genuine ignition parts such as coils and reproduction replacement spare parts. Still run by Woody Bartelt's family and has a wide range of parts. https://www.woodysengines.com/ One thing I would say is almost a necessity is a transistor based drive circuit for the ignition coil to reduce the amount of current that flows through the ignition points. It makes for much more reliable starting and running. Search Google for TIM 6 ignition circuit. I use an older version of this design. Edited April 15, 2022 by Alan Gorham_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
911hillclimber Posted April 16, 2022 Author Share Posted April 16, 2022 Thank you both, will look into the details. Graham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 I have a Brown Junior. One day I may put it into my Big Guff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted April 16, 2022 Share Posted April 16, 2022 Some pics... First the O&R 23 Next the Herikmer Bantam Finally the Frog 175. Great fun running them and the smell is very nostalgic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 Oh come on Alan that's cruel, photos and no video......? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.