98 Elm Street Huntington, New York 11743
The 10 HP Fairbanks Morse Y oil engine pictured in this story
spent its life pumping water on an estate in Cove Neck, just over
the hill from the Aviancia plane crash.
The engine was exposed to the weather, because the roof of the
pump house burned off years ago. I found out about the engine from
a fellow plumber who saw it while working nearby.
It took almost two years to find out who owned it and to get in
touch with him. While at a Christmas function, a contractor friend
told me his wite worked for the man who owned it. So, she called
him over the holidays and talked to him. He told her that I could
have the engine for the price of a before-and-after picture!
Before you move a 3,000 lb. engine from its rusting home, you
need the following: plenty of strong engine buddies and a
four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The first time we went, we pulled the piston and cylinder and
any small parts. The second trip we brought our planks, chains and
winches to get the flywheels and block out of the pit. It went
really easy with all the help. The first thing we did on all our
trips was to get permission from the Cove Neck police to be on all
the private roads down to the beach.
After the ten mile trip to my house, we had to make room for my
new baby.
We squeezed it into my one car garage alongside the Economy and
popup camper. My wife loves it because it’s not in our
backyard!
Now the piston is soaking, along with the rest of the stuck
parts. For now I can only make good on half my promise with the
previous owner, because all I have is a before picture.
Hey, anyone selling Y parts? Please let me hear from you.
