5268 Green Gables Rd., NW Brainerd, Minnesota 56401
Inspired by Bob Elliot’s photo of his C.S. Judson engine in
the February 1986 issue of GEM, I am enclosing a couple of
photographs of a Judson engine that was finally brought to the
point of reasonable restoration in late summer, 1985.
This Judson (Stover) engine is a 7 HP throttle-governed engine
equipped to run on gasoline or kerosene with water injection from
the hopper. The bore is 6′ and R.P.M. is 360. Some other
features are a Webster magneto with self-starter and a 20′
diameter clutch pulley. The serial number on the original name
plate is RX89045 which, I believe, dates the engine at 1916 or
’17.
This engine came to Minnesota from the vicinity of Wynyard,
Saskatchewan, where it was owned by a gentleman by the name of
Barry Stachyuk (my apologies for any misspellings). If Barry is a
reader of GEM, it would be interesting to hear from him.
When I obtained the Judson a couple of years back, the
carburetor was functional on one valve only, the igniter trip was
jury-rigged, the fuel pump was ‘shot’ and two of the four
piston rings were broken. Surprisingly, it would run! For a few
minutes on gas from the starting tank, anyway.
The mentioned problems (and a few others) were taken care of in
turn and a reasonable facsimile of the missing (as usual!)
half-moon crank guard was shaped from a small trailer fender. All
bearings and gears were in good condition.
Final cleaning did not reveal any remains of original paint. The
information that I have on Judson indicates that the engine may
have been painted green, red or black. I was tired of green and
didn’t like black.
After a few minutes’ warm-up on gas from the starting tank,
one can switch to kerosene (with a bit of hot water added through
the carburetor water valve) and the engine runs well making neat
little smoke rings which help to keep the Minnesota mosquitoes at a
respectable distance!
The Judson can be belted to a 30′ cord wood saw (not shown
in the photos) and can handle about anything one cares to lift to
the saw if the teeth are kept reasonably sharp.
If someone out in engine land could help, I would like to know
the correct length of the carburetor overflow standpipe, as the one
in the carburetor of this engine was completely rusted away.
