The Ford Barn

T Scott · 05-07-2015, 12:30 PM

Not Ford related but I'm sure all you motorheads will like this. Word has it that one of the old Fairbanks-Morse diesels at the old lime works (now resort) at Roche Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington will be fired up on July 4th. This is the bigger three cylinder one. Should be a hoot for those who can attend. GB Sisson, you're next door. Maybe you could take some pictures for us.

B-O-B · 05-07-2015, 05:19 PM

Now there is really the laugh of the day. It isn't like you can just hop in your canoe & paddle over.

T Scott · 05-07-2015, 05:48 PM

Canoe, not so much, but eight ferries a day each way not much of stretch.

ThomasN · 05-08-2015, 12:31 AM

I would like to see the video!!

GB SISSON · 05-08-2015, 09:08 AM

Sounds like a good time. I have seen those engines many times. They were really rough and totally outdoors right next to the salt water. I don't know how to post a link to a youtube video, but someone filmed my big engine a couple years ago at annual show at Lynden Wa. This one is 1912 Stover. Weighs 2250 lbs. Has a 6" bore and a 12" stroke. In the video it is running at about 80 rpms. It was given to me in 1988 and was stuck solid and the head was off and missing. On youtube see ... 1912 8hp Stover Gas Engine. Maybe someone who looks at it could post it or a link here. It's not too long and whoever took it did a good job. Back in the '90s I would haul it off the island behind my '38 tonner. Still mechanical brakes, but I had 12 volt trailer brakes on the trailer hooked up negative ground. They worked, but I later wondered what happened when the 6 volt positive of the truck met the 12 volt negative at the trailer ball...

GB SISSON · 05-09-2015, 08:36 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by B-O-B

Now there is really the laugh of the day. It isn't like you can just hop in your canoe & paddle over.

What's a paddle?

B-O-B · 05-09-2015, 10:40 AM

What!!! no wings??

T Scott · 05-09-2015, 10:41 AM

Wow! Is that a pull start?

T Scott · 05-09-2015, 12:56 PM

Photo's taken yesterday at Roche Harbor

I think a guy out of Seattle has been doing the work on these engines. It appears that he knows his stuff. All looks to be very professional.

You have to admit that when you need a ladder to get to the cylinder heads you're working on a different level. A little play on words there.

40cpe · 05-09-2015, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

What's a paddle?

How do you keep the engine from tipping the canoe?

T Scott · 05-09-2015, 03:00 PM

The canoe must have a ten foot fin keel. Just not installed yet.

GB SISSON · 05-09-2015, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40cpe

How do you keep the engine from tipping the canoe?

I wondered that same thing myself. I have run it many times on a sawhorse type stand I made. I chopped off my old sears canoe so I could bring it to a gas-up on a boat. Many of the old ads show them on a canoe, but it's pretty obvious it wasn't meant to be purchased by the timid set. It's a 2 stroke and has no muffler and the prop is loud too. It starts very easily with of flip of the blade. The original coils in the hub are shot so I run it with a pair of model T coils and a 12 volt battery. They were also advertised as a bicycle motor with a different mounting bracket. I just found this pic online that someone took of my display at Lynden Wa over 15 years ago. I had an old ad glued to a small board and a photo of it running. These days I usually run it at the show in August. It draws a big crowd standing in front of it to cool off, at least until their ears hurt too badly.

B-O-B · 05-09-2015, 06:12 PM

Sure wouldn't want to get near that prop. I have a nasty scar on my elbow just reaching over a mercury O B with the cover off . Had on a long sleeve shirt & the start pulley grabbed it. I was young & indestructible,almost.

FrankWest · 05-09-2015, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T Scott

Not Ford related but I'm sure all you motorheads will like this. Word has it that one of the old Fairbanks-Morse diesels at the old lime works (now resort) at Roche Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington will be fired up on July 4th. This is the bigger three cylinder one. Should be a hoot for those who can attend. GB Sisson, you're next door. Maybe you could take some pictures for us.

I know of Fairbanks Morse Diesel Locomotives didn't know they made smaller engines. I think the Larger locomotives had 12 or more cylinders?

GB SISSON · 05-09-2015, 08:43 PM

They made many thousands of engines in the 1-6 hp range from about 1905 or so up until the late 40s. Fairbanks Morse probably made more of these small engines than anyone else on earth. And here I had no idea they made locomotive engines and I grew up a hundred yards from the tracks. (wrong side). Looks like a very beautiful restoration job on the 3 cylinder job at Roche Harbor. I would love to see it start up. Maybe I can put an outrigger on the canoe and blast over there. The ferries will be a zoo on the fourth!

Brendan · 05-09-2015, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T Scott

Photo's taken yesterday at Roche Harbor

I think a guy out of Seattle has been doing the work on these engines. It appears that he knows his stuff. All looks to be very professional.

You have to admit that when you need a ladder to get to the cylinder heads you're working on a different level. A little play on words there.

there is a guy name Steve Phillips, in penngrove ca. he has a ranch with a lot of old engines, on display, there is a 6 cylinder Fairbanks Morris, it shakes the ground when he runs it!

Brendan · 05-09-2015, 09:16 PM

check this out a video of a 1 cyl running

https://youtu.be/4hRktXPKahw

41panelmark · 05-09-2015, 10:50 PM

May have missed it but is there a link to see this big engine running?

41panelmark · 05-09-2015, 10:58 PM

Not this particular engine but here is a similar one at start up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmUvgbKiW-g

Ol' Ron · 05-09-2015, 11:03 PM

The Destroyer I was on (DDE147) had 4 -10 cyl 20 piston FM engines and we used air to reverse them to go backwards,

GB SISSON · 05-09-2015, 11:30 PM

2 pistons in each hole? Did each engine have 2 crankshafts?

Ralph Moore · 05-10-2015, 10:22 AM

They had a big single cyl hit and miss engine here at the museum last year. Forget the maker. The flywheels were about six feet in diameter. It ran pretty good once they got it going. This thing probably weighed 4000 pounds!

Henry/Kokomo · 05-10-2015, 11:32 AM

GB SISSON - yep. One on the top and one on the bottom. Injector was midway between. FM engines like that used in marine and railroad applications, that I know of. Very smooth running.

alt63bird · 05-10-2015, 02:01 PM

One of my favorites sayings re. F-M engines: I'm opposed to opposed pistons.

05-07-2015, 12:30 PM	#1
T Scott Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Boothbay, Maine Posts: 277	First time in 70 years Not Ford related but I'm sure all you motorheads will like this. Word has it that one of the old Fairbanks-Morse diesels at the old lime works (now resort) at Roche Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington will be fired up on July 4th. This is the bigger three cylinder one. Should be a hoot for those who can attend. GB Sisson, you're next door. Maybe you could take some pictures for us.

05-07-2015, 05:19 PM	#2
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: First time in 70 years Now there is really the laugh of the day. It isn't like you can just hop in your canoe & paddle over.

05-07-2015, 05:48 PM	#3
T Scott Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Boothbay, Maine Posts: 277	Re: First time in 70 years Canoe, not so much, but eight ferries a day each way not much of stretch.

05-08-2015, 12:31 AM	#4
ThomasN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Spokane Wa. Posts: 271	Re: First time in 70 years I would like to see the video!!

05-09-2015, 10:40 AM	#7
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: First time in 70 years What!!! no wings??

05-09-2015, 10:41 AM	#8
T Scott Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Boothbay, Maine Posts: 277	Re: First time in 70 years Wow! Is that a pull start?

05-09-2015, 12:56 PM	#9
T Scott Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Boothbay, Maine Posts: 277	Re: First time in 70 years Photo's taken yesterday at Roche Harbor I think a guy out of Seattle has been doing the work on these engines. It appears that he knows his stuff. All looks to be very professional. You have to admit that when you need a ladder to get to the cylinder heads you're working on a different level. A little play on words there. Last edited by T Scott; 02-23-2016 at 11:22 AM.

05-09-2015, 03:00 PM	#11
T Scott Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Boothbay, Maine Posts: 277	Re: First time in 70 years The canoe must have a ten foot fin keel. Just not installed yet.

05-09-2015, 06:12 PM	#13
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: First time in 70 years Sure wouldn't want to get near that prop. I have a nasty scar on my elbow just reaching over a mercury O B with the cover off . Had on a long sleeve shirt & the start pulley grabbed it. I was young & indestructible,almost.

05-09-2015, 08:43 PM	#15
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 4,914	Re: First time in 70 years They made many thousands of engines in the 1-6 hp range from about 1905 or so up until the late 40s. Fairbanks Morse probably made more of these small engines than anyone else on earth. And here I had no idea they made locomotive engines and I grew up a hundred yards from the tracks. (wrong side). Looks like a very beautiful restoration job on the 3 cylinder job at Roche Harbor. I would love to see it start up. Maybe I can put an outrigger on the canoe and blast over there. The ferries will be a zoo on the fourth! __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

05-09-2015, 09:16 PM	#17
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,903	Re: First time in 70 years check this out a video of a 1 cyl running https://youtu.be/4hRktXPKahw __________________ If it would have been a snake it would have bit ya! i can't spell my way out of a paper bag!

05-09-2015, 10:50 PM	#18
41panelmark Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,264	Re: First time in 70 years May have missed it but is there a link to see this big engine running?

05-09-2015, 10:58 PM	#19
41panelmark Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,264	Re: First time in 70 years Not this particular engine but here is a similar one at start up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmUvgbKiW-g

05-09-2015, 11:03 PM	#20
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,855	Re: First time in 70 years The Destroyer I was on (DDE147) had 4 -10 cyl 20 piston FM engines and we used air to reverse them to go backwards,

05-09-2015, 11:30 PM	#21
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 4,914	Re: First time in 70 years 2 pistons in each hole? Did each engine have 2 crankshafts? __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

05-10-2015, 10:22 AM	#22
Ralph Moore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 1,470	Re: First time in 70 years They had a big single cyl hit and miss engine here at the museum last year. Forget the maker. The flywheels were about six feet in diameter. It ran pretty good once they got it going. This thing probably weighed 4000 pounds!

05-10-2015, 11:32 AM	#23
Henry/Kokomo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kokomo, Indiana Posts: 1,731	Re: First time in 70 years GB SISSON - yep. One on the top and one on the bottom. Injector was midway between. FM engines like that used in marine and railroad applications, that I know of. Very smooth running. __________________ Henry

05-10-2015, 02:01 PM	#24
alt63bird Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: outside Omaha, NE Posts: 276	Re: First time in 70 years One of my favorites sayings re. F-M engines: I'm opposed to opposed pistons. __________________ Alan H. Tast AIA, LEED AP BD+C Technical Director/Past President-Editor-Publications Director, Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l. (VTCI) http://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years" 35+ year member, Crown Victoria Ass'n.