Classic Australian Wooden Power Boat Association

Bugger it. A leaking exhaust gasket lead to checking the manifold (warped), then inspection of the bore to see if it had been cooked at some stage. Bores looked good but one of the pistons isn't right. Someone's done a dodgy fit up of a piston out of something else (Not Ray). The port window in the piston is way too big and it's opening up into the exhaust port. The piston also has over .020" clearance in the bore and had brass shims wrapped around the gudgeon pin to make up the size difference. It also needs a top bearing and bottom seal on the crank. The needle rollers for the rod big ends are ok thankfully. Looks like I'm using the pistons out of the spare engine now.

Well it's running again but I've hit another hurdle. After a lot of stuffing around with jets and needle position it seems the fuel system (needle and seat orifice) won't flow enough for the engine to maintain high rpm. After a lot of research I've discovered the carby incl the spare are not correct item for this engine. They are actually from a BSA Bantam 175cc 7hp. Looks like some trickery is needed.

I have every confidence that you will solve this latest hurdle. Can you believe such huge effort required for something so small?

Craig’s antics remind me of the Bert Munro story in the movie “the world’s fastest Indian “!! Why not make your own pistons etc

Well time has beaten me. I was hoping to have it ready for new years day on Glenmaggie but it won't happen. I spent a few hours drilling and testing jets before going down the path of adding another float bowl. The original bowl needle seat orifice can't be modified for more flow. Anyway today I finally got the larger bowl fitted but now have to adjust fuel levels and come down with the jetting. It's now getting easier to start within the first pull or two. Thanks to Ken Rowley for use of his jet drills and time giving me a hand. Fingers crossed it'll be right for Eppalock.

Well done Craig. So near, great effort.

Picking up some aluminum round stock tomorrow so I can start machining up a carby adapter for a 1 1/8" SU.
Carb needs rebushing and a new throttle shaft. The kit only took 2 days from Sydney to get here! (go figure).

Carby now rebushed, shaft indexed, and ready for assembly. Started machining up the adapter too.

Nice work... keep posting your progress on this project. Love it.

Todays progress.