Fisher, Illinois, 61843
It all started one fine spring morning when a decision was made
to visit a fellow engine collector, who lives at Russellville,
Missouri, about 35 miles from our cottage, on the Lake of the
Ozarks, where vacation time is divided between fishing and engine
hunting.
Arriving at the Basil Amos farm, one wouldn’t have to look
twice to see a fine collection of restored gas engines. Basil just
doesn’t pass up any old engines, no matter what shape they are
in. That is why there was an old rusty and broken pile of iron
laying under a tree. As I was trying to read the nameplate, Basil
asked if I ever saw an engine sold by the Lansing Company? I said
‘no, but if I had that pile of iron home I would restore it.
What do you think.’ Basil said, to my surprise, he said ‘if
you will restore that mess I will give it to you. I should have
used my eyes better and kept my mouth shut.’
After loading the pile in the trunk of my car, I found the
following missing; both main bearing caps, the connecting rod
bearing cap, governor assembly, both valve heads rusted off, the
crankshaft cut off with an acetylene torch just beyond the main
bearing, one flywheel missing with the missing part of the
crankshaft.
The cylinder was rusted so deep that one could lay a split pea
in some of the pits, so to rebore the cylinder was out of the
question as the head gasket area would be too narrow. A dry sleeve
had to be installed.
The bore was 3-5/8, so a sleeve from an IHC model H tractor
which has a 3-7/16 bore and was a few thousands toolarge O.D.to fit
in the cylinder so with a small amount of noning the sleeve was
driven in the block. That made a nice smooth cylinder. The IHC
model H piston fit the bore, the connecting rod had to be cut and
the tractor wrist pin end welded on as the tractor piston pin was
too large for the original rod.
Next came the head with the valve stems stuck in the guides and
heads rusted off. The valve seats were badly pitted, so oversize
valves were needed which was found by using automotive valves and
cutting the stems to length. A working set of valves were made. The
missing connecting rod cap also the crankshaft main caps were made
by using double strength pipe. Cutting a section in half and a
bushing welded on each side, thus after repouring the connecting
rod and mains with babbitt the crankshaft was ready for fitting,
except it had lost about 7 inches to the use of an acetylene
torch.
The shaft size being 1-3/8, a 1-2 inch shaft was welded on, then
put in a lathe and turned down to 1-3/8. The crankshaft was then
fitted to the newly poured bearings. The engine originally had a
mag which was also missing, so a timer was built on the exhaust
valve push rod. Missing governor parts were made, the engine
assembled and was ready to run except one flywheel was missing. A
search was made for the flywheel. To make a long story short, the
party from whom Basil got the engine, needed a counter weight for
an outside basement door so with a torch he cut the crankshaft at
the flywheel hub. We tried to buy the flywheel, but the owner says
it is being used and he will not sell it. At this time the engine
is running with only one wheel.
I called the Lansing Company, Lansing Michigan, asking them who
built the engine. They said they built cement mixers and bought the
engine and had no record as to who made it.
The nameplate reads: The Lansing Company, Lansing Michigan – 525
RPM – 2 H.P. -Serial No. W68715
I wonder if some reader can supply information as to the builder
of the engine and its original color.
Back view and side view of a horsedrawn field chopper made by
Thieman Harvester Company, Albert City, Iowa. It has a four
cylinder Dodge motor on it but I am quite sure this is not what it
came with from the factory. Could anyone tell me what make motor it
came out with and was it mounted crossways or lengthwise?