John Deere Type W Stationary

[Martin w]

Kind of machine related… I bought this old John Deere from my neighbor. Been sitting outside for at least 10 years and before that I have no idea. Dragged it out of the bush and home. Drained 6 litres of water out of the crankcase. Changed the oil and squirted oil in the cylinders and compression release pet cocks. Cleaned the mag and messed with the timing. Took the carb apart 3 times and finally got the float valve to seat. Pulled the flywheel over and she fired up. Runs not bad!
Martin W

 

[Martin w]

I forgot to mention the stuck exhaust valve…🙄

 

[Dan Dubeau]

Very cool. Got any plans for it to power something?

 

[JustaDB]

There was this gentleman who lived in my home town years ago who was a machinist, hobbyist, etc. He had any number of operating stationary power units.

One day Dad & I dropped by his shop to get something machined & he was working on this vertical single cylinder unit. My memory of it is rather vague (it was around 55 years ago) but I seem to recall that it was about 3 feet tall & painted red. Cranked it over by hand a few times & it fired up, chugging away. I was completely enamoured.

He dropped by the farm probably a decade later, after I bought my first Harley. Kneeled down beside it & asked me a number of questions as to cams & valvetrain, ignition, primary drive, etc. Genuinely interested in how it ran.

He's long since gone, having succumbed to Alzheimer's, and I wondered if his son had taken over the engines. Found out about two years ago that his son had passed from cancer. He was about 5 years younger than me. Always wonder what happened to that red power unit.

 

[Martin w]

Very cool. Got any plans for it to power something?

Thanks
No, not really. I just like old stuff and was worried it was going to be scrapped. Maybe I’ll hook up my buzz saw this winter.

 

[skippyelwell]

Maybe I’ll hook up my buzz saw this winter.

Do you have an old lawn tractor sitting around?

 

[Martin w]

Do you have an old lawn tractor sitting around?

Do you mean the old Vaughan Flex Tread? It’s a sentimental project for me. I kinda like it the way it is. Here is a video of one running. Not mine