STUART

To set the ignition timing Jim first set the points gap to 012″-015″.Then set the piston at TDC.With the flywheel “loose” on the crankshaft turn it until the timing mark on the face of the brass flywheel is in line with the timing mark on the alluminium stator plate.Then carefuuly tighten the flywheel nut up but WITHOUT it turning the…[Read more]

16:1 will be fine with that oil.
Yes the engines bottom end is lubricated by the incoming charge of petrol / oil mix from the carburettor first….then this same mixture goes up the transfer ports into the combustion chamber,lubricating the cylinder,piston etc.
Yes the small screws on the LH side of the machine are oil level screws for the front…[Read more]

Engine sounds sweet but as these engines are “forced air cooled” you need to refit the tin engine cowling back on as it directs air from the flywheel fan over the cylinder and head to keep it cool !!.

I havent got a copy 🙁

Any gaskets required you will have to make yourself.
Bearings and seals can be obtained from your local bearing supplier.
The Brockhouse engine uses a strange governor assembly (theres at least 2 slightly different types used depending on engine serial number) located in its own housing.The fibre “weights” will no doubt be rather worn.I had to…[Read more]

I guess that was very expensive Charlie ??.Fortunately its only one of my “spare part” engines that the con rod / bearing issue is with.The original engine in my BMB Hoemate is perfect :).

New parts for the Brockhouse engine are very few and far between !!
I have a BMB Hoemate myself.I have also brought 2 spare engines over the years but they are rather hard to find especially in good condition.One of my “spare” engines wants a new con-rod,roller bearings (steel and bronze) and crankpin but i have never found anyone who is able to…[Read more]

I have 2 identical engines that i would part with.Both are cast iron engines,yellow and came from Wolseley Merry Tiller Professional rotavators.PM me if interested and i could email a few pictures.

OK looked at the manual today and it doesn,t mention anything “special” about fitting the oil seals.Theres a special Honda tool to fit them but it looks like its only a bit of tubing of the correct diameter to go over the wheel shaft (rotor shaft) and drive the seals in squarely.BTW this F400 manual is dated 1976.

Im sure i have a genuine Honda F400 workshop manual at work (in fact theres a big box of various Honda w/s manuals :)).I,ll have a look and see what it says ref fitting replacement rotor shaft seals tomorrow.

Think we have an imposter on the site guys.

The engine is 3hp.I have a complete NOS 3hp engine for a water pump which has the same small “Flo-Jet” carburettor as yours.The crankshaft has an external thread for the water pumps impeller to be screwed on.

Give Standen engineering in Cambridgeshire a call.They purchased all the remaining Dowdeswell (Howard) spare parts around 2001.I have found them very helpful in the past.

Never heard of that make but the engine appears to be a 2-stroke Clinton.

Thats taking shape nicely John 🙂

I would think then that either one or both of the carb bodies are distorted and its leaking because the gasket cannot make a seal.Try a straight edge on the carb bodies and see if you can see daylight anywhere between them.If you can then im sure thats where your trouble lies.
What machine is your engine fitted to Andy as i see it was a JAP 4/3…[Read more]

Is it fuel coming out where the choke butterfly is located ?.Maybe you are giving it too much choke and its just the surplus fuel thats dripping out ?.On my Howard 400 it dont need much choke at all.Have you tried opening the tap on the inlet manifold to “lean” the mixture to see if the engine will at least start and run ?.Is the gasket between…[Read more]

That i did John :).I just hope he dont decide to dig any more “sleepers” out from the back of the shed……i dont really want to get involved in removing any more stubborn keys again for a little while 🙂

The flywheel key was actually prodruding from the inside face of the flywheel hub.The key had been hammered in until it got to the end of the keyway in the crankshaft.The keyway on the crankshaft then curved up at the end (it was just how it was machined at the Lister factory).Whoever refitted this key then kept on hammering until the end of it…[Read more]