Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[pigtin]

B****r, B****r B****r! Fallen at the first hurdle. Took cover and pull start off motor to prepare for conversion and, guess what? No ruddy ring gear on the flywheel!!!. I have another two similar, but smaller, engines and they have ring gears... I just didn't check this one.
Now trying desperately to cancel order.

Ex, Cap'n Don. (Demoted).
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Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[Keith D]

Hey Captain Don,

If it's any consolation, that's the sort of thing I do !!! As they say, "back to the drawing board!"

Keith D

[pigtin]

Been told a ring gear can be bolted to the bottom of the flywheel, another £107. plus fitting. The flywheel has to come off to fit it. At this rate it would have been cheaper to buy another motor as suggested. Anyway... I shall sleep on it.

_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[pigtin]

Pull-starter housing removed to display the distressing absence of a starter ring. It needs a special puller to remove the flywheel to fit the ring so it's to be sent to the local Mercury agent. They hint darkly that the flywheels are sometimes difficult to remove.
Am awaiting arrival of starter motor and cables, having cancelled the solenoid and rectifier (horrendous prices.) I can see no problem with using and automobile solenoid and fitting a rectifier/regulator of my own manufacture external to the motor, but time will tell.

Cap'n (reinstated) Don.
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[pigtin]

Have most of the bits together now, the Mercury agent charged me two hours labour for fitting the starter ring, could've done it myself in 20mins' If I'd had the special puller.
Concerned about the spiraling costs I decided to turn the heads off a couple of C/sk 8mm SS screws, rather than buy the correct studs for fitting the starter. I'm a mean b****r and recieved my just deserts. A neat spiral of swarf sneaked under my glasses and lodged painfully in my eye causing me to go whining to the memsahib for help.
The memsahib told me she dosen't 'do' eyes, and shuddered. Five minutes of hell and I managed to excavate the nasty thing with a cotton bud myself.
Have just sent memsahib to turn out the garage lights while I settle down with a large scotch to settle my nerves.
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[peter scott]

Sounds horrible but on the bright side they do say that the eye is one of the most robust organs in the body. I hope it heals up quickly for you.

Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[pigtin]

The weather has warmed so a little more progress with the outboard.
Fitted the safety lock micro switch which prevents the starter being used with it in gear.
The starter motor, which is a very tight fit, The correct solenoid from ebay at £9 (great saving) a battery cable from ebay 99p (even greater saving) and a 40a bridge rectifier from RS components for £8.50 a total saving of about £80.
I hooked a 'flattish' battery on to try it and the solenoid and starter work as the should. Just have to finish the wiring now.

Sorry about photo quality, cameras on its last legs.




_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[peter scott]

Well done! Nice that those extras didn't prove too expensive.

Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[pigtin]

At over £300 for the starter motor and ring I had to try and save some money.
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[pigtin]

Some progress on converting my outboard to electric start: Converted old angling box to discreetly conceal a battery starter button and condition meter, as well as a few tools and my tackle.

Wheeled the contraption outside, connected the fuel tank and cooling supply... joy of joys! It started at the touch of the button.
I just have to re-attach it to the boat now and await the appearance of some fish in the Bay.





Sorry no photos of it running... camera batteries flat.
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[Rick]

looks like a very neat setup, soon be taking to the seas with it. Nice tantalising glimpse of the 10/4 there too

R
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[peter scott]

Well done Pigtin! Glad it worked out well.

Slightly OT but I've just been watching some episodes of the Channel 4 series "Motor Mania" and there were, amongst others, some very nice pre-war Austin publicity films in the series. Does anyone remember the Motor Mania series?


Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Rick]

[pigtin]

Didn't get notification of the last two posts, will have to watch out for the programme.

Oh Well, have to report on the Sea Breezes first outing this year:

The weather was perfect yesterday. The good ship Sea Breezes left port at noon, starting instantly on the new electric starter. Then at a steady warp factor 2 headed to that beacon at the edge of the universe known as the East Last Buoy. We dropped our new, shiny and expensive anchor off Bishopstone (I didn't even say goodbye to it) and turned our attention to slaying some worms. Bites came fast and furious my son Rick and grandson James started to pull in one miserable little whiting after another.
Arming a large pennel rig with a delicious parcel of squid, mussels and mackerel I went after the biggies. But somehow the whiting still managed to impale themselves on the huge hooks destroying carefully prepared bait in the process. Ba*****ds!
We ended up with three species: whiting, pout and dab, mostly undersized. After trying to pull up the anchor (using every method known to man) we had to cut it free. I have lost the anchor now on two consecutive trips in roughly the same area. Time I fished somewhere else.
We were late on the slipway and had to paddle about in deep, stinking mud to load the boat on the trailer. Rick and James enjoyed the trip but I was knackered and had an hour to recover before going to a dinner party.
I shall now look out for an Admiralty pattern fisherman’s anchor. I’ve never lost one of those, but there’s always a first time.
Sorry no piccies… too embarrassed.

Don.
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[peter scott]

The Motor Mania series was rather a long time ago but the book is still to be had..

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1308484941&searchurl=bt.x%3D47%26bt.y%3D10%26sortby%3D3%26sts%3Dt%26tn%3Dmotor%2Bmania
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon