34 cabriolet got narrower after restoration

[GB SISSON]

Back in 1988 a friend gave me a totally seized 1912 Stover 8hp hit n miss gasoline engine. It weighs 2125 lbs. Over a period of a year I got it running smoothly after freeing everything up and installing new rings, doing a valve job etc. I then hauled it to the big gas up on the mainland (behind my '38 tonner) where I have run and displayed it now for 37 years. Though it has a 6" bore and a 12" stroke, it has always been an easy starter. Ignition on, fill primer cup, bring to compression, one foot in the spokes, both hands pulling on the left flywheel, a good solid lunge downwards and off she went. For about 34 years. Now I start off the first day of the event by calling my buddy (BIG) Dan over to give me assistance, but not before explaining to the others there.... "So glad that those rings have finally started to seat !" Funny, on a manual start system like this you can actually feel the compression increasing year by year.