Flywheel Forum

By Staff
Published on April 1, 2008
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43/3/1: Lawson date request

I’m asking for help in determining the year of a 4-1/2 HP John
Lawson Type F with serial no. 8675. I have a 1916 Lawson catalog
that shows a 4-1/2 HP, but it was cast with the cylinder/hopper
separate from the base. My engine is a one-piece casting with the
gas tank cast in the base. It is very heavy, probably 1,600 to
1,800 pounds. Does someone out there know when this might have been
built? Roger Lewis, 314 Greenwood Drive, Paris, TN 38242.

43/3/2: California engine info

Here is a photo of a California engine that I recently
purchased. I have looked over the entire engine and cannot find a
serial number – only the front plate with the name and “6 HP.” Can
someone please help me find information on this engine? Rolf
Heinrich, 1465 Russell Way, Sparks, NV 89431;
prheinrich@aol.com

43/3/3: Unknown engine

Here are two photos of my sludge pump. “No. P 102” is on the
head and “No. P154” with the letter “p” above the number is on the
muffler. It has a Simms magneto; it’s gear driven, hit-and-miss and
the crank is in the flywheel. There are two square oil holes on the
crankshaft and there was green paint on it at one time with the
letters G, C and a small h. It is all cast and very heavy. I’ve had
it for 40 years and would like more information about it. Lloyd O.
Larson, 3871 E. 1453rd Road, Earlville, IL 60518; (815)
792-8469.

43/3/4: ID request

Can you help me identify this engine? It’s 1-1/2 HP with a
serial no. of 304213. It has split-bolt hubs and flywheels that are
16 inches by 1-3/8 inches in diameter. It has a WICO magneto with
sparkplug; and the mixer, muffler and head are cast as one piece.
Richard Stryker, 53 Taylor St., High Bridge, NJ 08829-2006.

43/3/5: Parts for a Sylvester

I have a Sylvester railroad engine, which was made by the
Sylvester Steel Products Co. Ltd. in Linsay, Ontario, Canada. The
company was originally the Sylvester Mfg. Co. Ltd. formed in 1876,
producing all types of simple farm implements. They began building
gas engines about 1902. The engine I have was probably made in the
1950s. The name change to Sylvester Steel Products came March 8,
1956.

These engines ran forward and in reverse. Fairmont, in the U.S.,
also made engines very similar to these. The tag on my engine
reads: “Mfg. by Sylvester Steel Products Co. Ltd. Linsay, Ontario,
Canada. No. 8172, Type K.P., HP 6-9.” I’m looking for a parts or
operating manual for this engine. Any information may be forwarded
to Ron Baer, R.R. 1, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada L3K 5V3.

43/3/6: Witte saw trouble

I have a Witte 6 HP saw machine that was bought new in 1928 that
I’m having trouble with. When I start it, it runs perfect for
about five minutes or so but after that it begins to miss and gets
worse until the engine quits. It has no muffler so I can see the
exhaust fire when it’s firing, and when it misses there is a
vapor cloud. I had a new condenser put into the WICO magneto and
new spark plugs as well as a new gas line. It ran great all last
summer until the fall when it commenced to acting up again. Is
there anyone that might be able to offer a solution? Jim Merrill,
226 Mt. Prospect Road, Holderness, NH 03245.

Flywheel Forum is a place for readers to ask questions and share
information on their equipment. If you have a question about your
engine or tractor, please send it along to Gas Engine Magazine,
1503 S.W. 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609-1265.

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