can anyone identify this engine

[journeyman23]

Hi can anyone identify this engine as far as I know it came from a birchwood boat it is a petrol 4 cylinder marine engine It has a pull start on the fly wheel and a starter it has no engine marks it might be an engine they used it may be a replacement about 1960a it has Lucas distributor.

I am not sure how to add pictures so describing it is difficult help thanks

[Roadsteam]

A picture is worth a thousand words they say and from your description it could be anything.

[Tony Brooks]

Pull start? I very much doubt it unless its something like a Dolphin two stroke but thats only a twin.

 

Usual suspects would be a Ford 105 E type of thing or a BMC 998 or 1500, I think all had the option of a raised hand start but that was a crank handle.

 

What shape id the rocker cover, how many screws hold it down and where are they located? Just possible colour may help. Its not certain but the Fords tended to be blue while the BMCs tended to be green.

 

I fear we need a photo and if we get one you will get your answer within half an hour.

[journeyman23]

How do you upload pictures it a funny engine made me laugh

There are two large brass screw thumb on rocker cover the oil

 

 

is a aluminium shaped casting with a wingnut it turns to cover

[Tony Brooks]

You put the image on something like photobucket and then use the little icon that looks like a TV thats above the "editing/input" panel to link to it.

 

Yes, the engine does sound odd although cast aluminium rocker covers are not that rare.

[cereal tiller]

Hi can anyone identify this engine as far as I know it came from a birchwood boat it is a petrol 4 cylinder marine engine It has a pull start on the fly wheel and a starter it has no engine marks it might be an engine they used it may be a replacement about 1960a it has Lucas distributor.

I am not sure how to add pictures so describing it is difficult help thanks

 

Random guesses

 

BMC vedette

 

Watermota FORD conversion,105e as Tony said,or its predecessor,the side valve 100e

 

The "pull start" is perplexing though.

[bizzard]

Aluminium valve covers were available for all those engines except the 1172 100E or the E93A s/v engines which had no valve cover on top, just tappet side plates.

[Sir Nibble]

Rocketdyn R1?

[cereal tiller]

 

Random guesses

 

BMC vedette

 

Watermota FORD conversion,105e as Tony said,or its predecessor,the side valve 100e

 

The "pull start" is perplexing though.

 

By "pull start",does the OP mean Manual Choke that pulls out for cold start?

[journeyman23]

Hi thanks for the info and your responded I will upload pictures asap

the pull start works with a lever that engages the pull cord into the fly wheel at 90 degree to the starter motor the engine and gear box turns great idea.the engine has been stood for years but I recon it would start first time.thanks for the feedback pictures

[Timleech]

Hi thanks for the info and your responded I will upload pictures asap

the pull start works with a lever that engages the pull cord into the fly wheel at 90 degree to the starter motor the engine and gear box turns great idea.the engine has been stood for years but I recon it would start first time.thanks for the feedback pictures

I'm still confused by that pull start description.

It's not a pull cord on the starter motor itself, by any chance? (Manually pre-engaged starter) Probably not, with a smallish petrol engine, but you never know.

 

Tim

[Tony Brooks]

Could it be the wind up mechanism for a spring starter?

[cereal tiller]

The only Wind up starters i can recall where the ones that came with ex-military engines.

 

But they came with a crank that could be placed on the starter housing,then removed when the starter was engaged with an integral lever

 

the one that is described here may be a one-off designed and made by some one with considerable engineering experience?

[journeyman23]

<a href=http://s780.photobucket.com/albums/yy90/journeyman23a/?action=view&current=2013-12-01143941_zps1407d48d.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy90/journeyman23a/2013-12-01143941_zps1407d48d.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

Picture

[RLWP]

 

 

 

Richard

Is that last photo the same engine? It looks like a magneto drive

 

Richard

Edited December 6, 2013 by RLWP

[cereal tiller]

 

 

 

Richard

Is that last photo the same engine? It looks like a magneto drive

 

Richard

 

 

Looks like a Dynastart at the "front end",and conventional starter at the other.

 

Still no idea what it is,guess scandinavian?

[Albion]

 

 

 

Richard

Is that last photo the same engine? It looks like a magneto drive

 

Richard

That does indeed have the appearance of a magneto and the maker's name appears to be Lucas. The fact that the engine has an SU carb and Lucas accessories surely suggests that it is more likely to be a British manufacturer than a continental one who might have been expected to use some Bosch equipment? Just a thought.

Roger

[RLWP]

That does indeed have the appearance of a magneto and the maker's name appears to be Lucas. The fact that the engine has an SU carb and Lucas accessories surely suggests that it is more likely to be a British manufacturer than a continental one who might have been expected to use some Bosch equipment? Just a thought.

Roger

 

I would agree with that

 

Richard

[Timleech]

Certainly unusual. Dynamo apparently driven from the flywheel. Starter motor of some sort at the front, engaging with, maybe, timing gears? Or a second flywheel? It does look dynastart-ish, but they are usually belt driven and run continuously, this one has what is probably arrangement for a Bendix or similar temporary gear drive. Some sort of clutch arrangement on the front, so probably made for the fishing boat market.

I still don't see the pull start?

 

Tim

[Geoff Taylor]

It resembles a type 4ED 1911 Meadows 4cyl 18 HP unit possibly a newer version but identifiable by the rocker cover characteristics and double dynamo/dynostart arrangement. Meadows made marine versions of their engines and some pretty impressive looking power units that were badged Lagonda, Fraser Nash, Lea Francis and others.

Most of their engines were carburated by SU and Lucas magnetos etc and I guess were pretty good quality,they made a flat 12 cylinder engine for churchil tanks and also manufactured diesel engines with connections to Rolls Royce. Hope this helps.

[journeyman23]

All you say makes sense I thought that might be a pump on the gearbox the pull start is operator the starter you can just see the handle

[Timleech]

All you say makes sense I thought that might be a pump on the gearbox the pull start is operator the starter you can just see the handle

 

OK, it's what I thought was some sort of clutch on the front.

 

Tim

[journeyman23]

Just been looking. At Hermy Meadows engines does look like that checking thanks

[cereal tiller]

1922advert.gif

 

Sorry don't know how to post the image

 

the un-pictured engine is a meadows 18 hp at 2000 rpm looks similar to the mystery one

Edited December 6, 2013 by cereal tiller

[Albion]

It resembles a type 4ED 1911 Meadows 4cyl 18 HP unit possibly a newer version but identifiable by the rocker cover characteristics and double dynamo/dynostart arrangement. Meadows made marine versions of their engines and some pretty impressive looking power units that were badged Lagonda, Fraser Nash, Lea Francis and others.

Most of their engines were carburated by SU and Lucas magnetos etc and I guess were pretty good quality,they made a flat 12 cylinder engine for churchil tanks and also manufactured diesel engines with connections to Rolls Royce. Hope this helps.

Wow, I do believe that you may be correct in that it is a Meadows. If you look at the first few picture on this site the engines bear a very close resemblance to the pictures above http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/Engineering/Meadows/HenryMeadows.htm

Roger