[SEL] First Engine

[Germoamer at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/21/2007 10:14:36 AM Eastern Standard Time, mullt at att.net 
writes:
It looks like it is a 2.5hp IH Model M 
Tom,

The M's came in 1 1/2, 3, 6, 10 but not 2 1/2 to my knowledge.  

Things to consider:

Being this is your first engine, take along a collector friend and ask him to 
help you look it over for completeness/correctness/etc

Is it an overstrike or understrike engine?  This is the way the ignitor 
points work that are hooked to the magneto.  If the arm trips them on the top side, 
then overstrike.  Bottomside trip-understrike.  Understrike engines are worth 
a little more money
Does it have compression.
Has anything been broken or weld repaired  
Are all the parts there
Are the valves free and are stems very loose it their guides
Is the gas tank not rusted thru and does it have all the proper fuel lines 
and check valves
Is name tag here with serial number to check for year built.  Your engine is 
late teens to early 20's time
Any original paint

Most parts are available for the M and magnetos can be rebuilt

$500 is a reasonable price for the engine provided it does not require much 
cost to get it in running condition.  However, you can find these engines in 
running condition for less than $1000

Above just some get started ideas and information.

Post your photos somewhere and the folks here can look and evaluate more.

Good luck on your purchase!


Tom Schmutz
Concord, Va.
Germoamer at aol.com