I was looking for a "project" and this came up in the Stationary Engine Magazine ads. Its certainly a project although the previous owner has partially restored the fuel pump and Manzel lubricator (model XW). It arrived here on 21/7/2003 courtesy of Peter Forbes.

Its serial 2040 of 5/6 hp @500rpm and c1919 in date. It is also comprehensively seized near BDC and badly frosted. The flywheel rim has a chunk missing probably caused by the governer weight making a bid for freedom. The engine is a hot bulb two-stroke semi diesel and was also made in stationary form with twin spoked flywheels. At some stage these models seem to have been offered as petrol/magneto start; semi-diesel run, something for which there seems to have been a brief vogue around WW1.    The previous owner tracked down the maker, now in the hydraulics business, and obtained some literature but this is not particularly helpful. I know of only two others, both the stationary version, and neither runs. I would be very pleased to hear from any other owner or of a source of information or spares for the Manzel. Can anyone identify the make of gearbox it should have?

Here is a link to a contemporary advert which shows how it might have looked. Note this engine has the optional extra petrol/magneto start.

Update 2 September 2003

In early August the fixed main bearing was melted out and all the studs removed from the other. The marine style big end was removed and the piston driven down to enable the gross rust to be removed from the bore. I then drilled right through, tapped the piston boss 12x2mm and screwed in a length of studding which went up to a large bar across the bore. No sign of movement so it was filled with diesel and left to fester. For the last week it has received daily heating and tightening of the nut until yesterday it moved a tiny bit. Today the heating was repeated three times and the nut wound up very tight. Remembering the trick to removing Mini flywheels I clogged the stud end with a lump hammer and was rewarded by further slight movement. After four hours of clog/wind-up (very tired right arm) the piston emerged looking very good. Two of the rings may even come out! The ramp is very sharp and the fitting of an oil-control ring is unusual in a two-stroke.

Sadly for some unknown reason half the conrod foot decided to drop off. It has been offered no violence and although the literature describes the rod as being of "high-tensile marine type" it looks like low grade cast iron to me. Suggestions for repair or replacement are welcome. The rod is 9" from little-end centre to foot and 10 1/4" between centres.

Next: welding up the crankcase and tackling the crank/flywheel assembly.   The crankcase is not a frost victim but rather of 2" of scale/rust in the bottom of the water jacket, and is cracked almost all the way round.-*

Update 9 September 2003

Its all apart now although the news is mixed! The process began the same day as the piston was removed with the flywheel assembly being placed on a pair of machinery stands and warmed :-). After that diesel was applied liberally and the assembly covered and left to marinade. Today more conventional warming with a propane torch and completion of the key drilling. The previous attempt was spot on and no damage occurred from the drill . Then a 14lb hammer was applied using a series of purpose made drifts to protect the crankshaft end. The crankshaft is fine and I may even get away with simply polishing the mains. The big end will need re-grinding. Sadly the governer, similar in style to that of a Tangye M, is in three parts and the flywheel hub cracked in three places to about a third of its 4 1/2" width. All are old cracks presumably suffered in use or during its subsequent meanderings/dismantling attempts. The governer can be cobbled together and used as a pattern for a new casting but the cracks together with the piece out of the rim suggest the flywheel is a write-off. Well I wanted a project! There will now be a pause whilst the total cost of restoration is assessed.