Fairbanks Morse 25HP Model Engine resuscitation - Shop'n with Larry #1

Info and video posted for Larry Smith and a new playlist series "Shop'n with Larry" that highlights shop projects from my Dad on this channel. From Larry - The name on the engine in the video is Rick Zaik. He was the Portland Armory facilities manager where we held our GEARS show from 2004-2012. When we learned he was going to retire, collectively the GEARS group, decided it would nice to present Rick with an appreciation gift for all of the special care and accommodations he provided to GEARS during our shows. It was decided to build an engine for his very own enjoyment, so Tom Stuart provided a set of his Fairbanks castings, Richard Williams, Larry Smith and others supplied the rest of the materials and did the machine work. Mark Winlund made the plaque, Larry Derry did the base. More may have been involved, but it’s been years ago now and the memory tends to fade! We also offered that “lifetime warranty”. Rick deeply appreciated getting the engine and usually it was running during the show. Sadly Rick passed away several years ago and his son got the engine. It had been neglected and not been run in a long while. For some reason Rick was oiling it with paper shredder oil the armory had thrown away. I’m not sure what was in that oil, but it totally gummed up the entire engine, even wrinkled the paint. This resulted in a “ no run” status….So fast forward to several weeks ago when his son contacted me about getting it running again…..the lifetime warranty was in effect now!...So after a complete tear down, complete clean up, rust removal, paint job, cylinder honing, new O ring on the piston, valve job, new battery, electrical repairs and tuning, its back to running again. It’s leaving my shop with some 3 in 1 oil, along with running and care instructions. It should run for many more years!
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