[SEL] Ball Oilfield engine - Now what do I do with it?

[Spencer Yost]

Good news:  I have one Ball oilfield engine on the ground, and it should 
run.

Bad news:  I don't know how to make it run )-;

Check out Dave's link to refer to the engine while looking at these 
questions:

http://www.oldengine.org/members/rotigel/Spencers_Ball_Engine/index.html

How do I hook fuel this thing up?   I presume it is a 2 cycle - similar 
to a Bessemer where the back end of the cylinder is the charge cylinder 
and then the power stroke charges the combustion chamber.  It is a hot 
tube ignition (though there is an eccentric for a magneto and spark plug 
on the base of the hot tube so I know it use to run on a mag at some 
time) and the hot tube is in good shape considering.  The hot tube is at 
least operational I feel.  The engine is 25HP.  It is solely controlled 
by a gate valve on the gas supply line  as best I can tell.

I understand most folks use a 100 pound propane tank.  While testing the 
engine, can I use a 25 pound tank of propane though?
Will I need an accumulator?
Any safety tips or special adapters/fittings I need to know about?
I have an oil tree and an oiler (Thanks Dave ad Brice - pay you back at 
Portland).  However, I need that little wick/screen that hangs from the 
bottom for the connecting rod cup to hit .  I need the cup for the 
connecting rod too.
Any tips for checking this engine thoroughly?
How do I actually spin it to start it?   I remember seeing some folks 
use the "bump in the wrong direction trick", but I didn't watch close 
enough to understand it.   I also would like to learn to start on air (I 
have air available here at the shop).  However, since I am a real man, I 
will hand start it the first time - at least until I get tired (-;

So many questions, so little time.   As for what I have done so far:    
I have got it off the ground and off the flywheels.   I need to continue 
raising it and cribbing it so I can replace the skids.  I am working on 
locating some affordable oak skids.   I fortunately have a friend that 
runs a sawmill and I can usually get wood cheap or can do some log 
trading.  I am in the process of dropping off my pine logs as trading 
stock.  I'll let everyone know how many big pines it takes to buy a big 
oak.  I also have it tarp-ed as I believe the original paint is in good 
shape.  I'll need to clean it carefully to be sure, but everyone at the 
"rescue" believed only the paint on the flywheels and the head was 
shot.   The rest is intact but coated in grime and dirt.  I'll be 
carefully cleaning it over the next few months too, trying to retain as 
much of the original finish as possible.

Thanks in advance for any help, advice and discussion!

Spencer