bowtiebutler956 649 #1 Posted January 5, 2013 I picked this little engine up awhile back, and I paid alot more for this one than I normally would for an old rough engine. The reason being is for starters its a mechanically governed Model N, which most are air vane type. It was off a David Bradley, which is one the very few applications where you find a Model N with a mechanical governor. What made this engine so unique was it was a 48 model, which is the only year Briggs expiremented with using aluminum sheetmetal on them. Most of the time if you find an engine with the aluminum sheetmetal, its in such bad shape, its not even salvagable, because they were so flimsy they didn't last long. This engine has the aluminum shroud, heat shield, and starter cup, which are the rare items. It also has an aluminum head, base, intake (from carb to block), and the long aluminum intake tube (from carb to air filter. While the schroud was a little bent up, it was in great shape for its age, and so was the heat shield. The aluminum starter cup had been replaced with a steel one a some point, which is common, as they were usually the first to be destroyed. I managed to hunt down the correct aluminum cup for it. I know I'm getting kind of long winded here, so I'll talk about it a little more in my next post. Here are some before, and during restoration pics. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry M-(Moderator) 2,158 #2 Posted January 5, 2013 Looks like a nice one Matt! I have an aluminum recoil case/houseing for one of my old Tecumsehs... How much work is it to polish up aluminum parts? Might look sharp polished aluminum rather than painting it. any thoughts? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #3 Posted January 5, 2013 Thats a great looking motor. My Briggs Model 8 (close cousin to the N) has a machanical governor also. Kind of a cool trickie set up IMO. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 649 #4 Posted January 5, 2013 I decided that since its the aluminum parts that really made this engine unique, I would deviate from painting them black like Briggs did, and I would only clean, and clear anything aluminum on the engine. Upon opening the engine, I found a beautiful cylinder bore, piston, valves, crank, and rod. All I had to do to it, was hone the cylinder, install new rings, gaskets, and seals. I got a new set of reproduction decals for the engine, and I even managed to find an old clear united oil bath air filter, that could have come on it. The original David Bradley Sears 500 tag was in bad shape, as you'll see in the pics. I couldn't find anyone who reproduces these, so i had a Briggs tag made with the correct numbers on it. I've really enjoyed this engine, as it really stands out. Anyway, here are a few more pics. I'm just waiting on a governor rod, and spring to come in, and then I'll post a video of it running. Matt :flags-texas: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 649 #5 Posted January 5, 2013 Looks like a nice one Matt! I have an aluminum recoil case/houseing for one of my old Tecumsehs... How much work is it to polish up aluminum parts? Might look sharp polished aluminum rather than painting it. any thoughts? As you can now see, thats exactley what I did Terry. You know they say "Great minds think alike"! It wasn't to hard to polish the parts Terry, it took a few hours though. I then threw some clear over them to keep them that way. Thats a great looking motor. My Briggs Model 8 (close cousin to the N) has a machanical governor also. Kind of a cool trickie set up IMO. Your dead on Vin, the early model 8 was visually identical to a model N, except the cooling fins on the head were slightly taller. On the inside the had a 2.25 piston instead of the 2" like the N. They also have a larger intake valve. Yes, I think the mechanically governed one are really neat. I have a couple early 8's as well, including one with the really rare mechanical fuel pump option. I don't have a mechanically governed 8. Wanna sell yours? Matt :flags-texas: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #6 Posted January 5, 2013 Matt, I always put Clintons on my RJ's but my ProtoType build required me to locate a Model 8. I was lucky enough to come across two... one was an air-vain and the other was a machanical governor. The air-vain Model 8's bore had been bored 30+ already and was worn from there. The machanical Mobel 8 was in super condition so that one is going on the RJ biuld. The only thing I can say is from my opinion Briggs' aluminum was kind of not the highest quality in the early 50's. Here is a vid of my Model 8 build... not much progress has been made since this vid though. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry M-(Moderator) 2,158 #7 Posted January 5, 2013 Matt, that engine turned out AWESOME!! where i got the polished aluminum Idea was at the old ford tractor shows, I see some of the old ford tractors with the rare cast aluminum hoods. the owners during the restoation process polish them up rather than painting them and they look really cool..... again, NICE JOB!! :handgestures-thumbupright: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 649 #8 Posted January 5, 2013 I take it from your old head that your 8 is is a later model with the square type shroud, correct? Looks like your doing a beautiful job, and as a guy with some expirience restoring 30's,40's,and 50's model Briggs engines, I know what those parts cost! Ouch! Very nice work! Matt :flags-texas: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,554 #9 Posted January 5, 2013 That engine turned out fantastic matt! :bow-blue: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
