[SEL] Last for 2004

[Patrick M Livingstone]

Today was the last engine day for 2004. Ron and I continued to work on the
two little 3hp Australs. We finally removed the piston from the 2nd engine
using a combination of lots of heat, a hydraulic puller, and a big
sledgehammer. All this took about 4 hours and we pretty much had to
completely strip the engine in the process. Both of the 3hp engines have had
the removable valve chambers broken. One has both the air valve and exhaust
valve chambers broken while the other has the air valve only broken. Ron has
managed to get hold of a repaired air valve chamber and his engine has a
good exhaust valve chamber so it looks like we are off to the foundry again.
I also gave a couple of engines a bit of a run. The 5.5hp Buzacott started
first try (on stale fuel) and ran like a clock. I also gave the 5hp Bartram
a run just as the sun was setting. It started the slightest roll of the
flywheels and its steady rhythm  made a nice end to 2004.
Happy New Year (well in 1/2 an hour) from Oz!
I will have to run a couple of engines in the morning to ring in the new
year ;)

Patrick M Livingstone
Leichhardt NSW
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