A Suitable Challenge Restored

By Staff
Published on July 1, 1996
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10267 Tyler Road Lakeview, Michigan 48850

I thought you would enjoy pictures of my 1912, 4 HP, ‘Junior
Series’ Model T Stover.

This is truly an international Stover. I found the engine in New
York State in 1991 and decided I would like a larger engine to
restore that would provide a suitable challenge. Little did I know
what I would be faced with!

Upon disassembling the unit, I decided to do a complete
overhaul. The crankshaft journals were badly pitted, as was the
cylinder bore; there was a 12 inch crack in the water jacket; the
gas tank, the crank guard, and all the springs were missing;
valves, valve guides, and valve nuts were unusable. The cam gear
and crank gear were cracked; fuel pump and ignitor were shot, and
the muffler was missing. Surprisingly, the rod bearings were sound,
but one main bearing was badly cracked on one side of the
crankcase.

So I started. After stripping and cleaning all the parts, the
head, crank shaft and cylinder were taken to Ferris State
University Auto Lab for boring and sleeving, seats and guides,
welding, grinding, etc. The fuel pump was sent to England for
refurbishing along with the crank gear, which was to be reproduced.
The crank guard was ordered from Canada. New valves, valve nuts,
and detent roller were reproduced in California and the ignitor was
reworked by Bud Motry of Big Rapids, Michigan. Dale Nickerson of
Cassadaga, New York, lent an expert hand in reproducing various
critical parts.

For other missing and broken parts, e.g., cam gear, gas tank,
and crankcase, a second engine was obtained for parts from Glenn
Burroughs of Madison Heights, Virginia. The cart was obtained in
Middleville, Michigan, from Leo and Pat Colburn, and the Amish were
contracted to build the battery box. The Kaat Sign Company of Grand
Rapids, Michigan, finished it off with the pin striping and
lettering on the engine and the cart.

Specifications of the engine are: bore: 5 inch, stroke: 7 inch,
4 HP at 350 RPM, serial #T41766, indicating it was made in 1912. It
starts easily and runs beautifully at 120 r.p.m.

Many thanks to the following people/organizations for a
successful restoration that spanned three-plus years: Pat and Leo
Colburn, Middleville, Michigan; Ferris State University, Big
Rapids, Michigan; Tim Kinsey Associates, Palmdale, California; R.
J. Kemp Associates, LTD., Kent, England; Dale Nickerson, Cassadaga,
New York; Glenn Buroughs, Madison Heights, Virginia; Hubert (Bud)
Motry, Big Rapids, Michigan; Paul Noake, Esq., Ontario, Canada;
Dave Kaat, Kaat Sign Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jerry
Jahreis, Eden, New York; and finally, my wife, Margaret, whose
patience was above and beyond reproach throughout this ‘basket
case’ restoration.

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