I tried to resist.....but couldn't

A Coborn C3 TVO

I'm pleased because it seems to be in original/untouched condition. I got it from a seller who was clearing out his fathers garage. It had been stored for many, many years and was covered in all kinds of c**p (I suspect it had been found on a farm as it had that kind of dirt on it)

This is what it looks like after a bit of a clean.

A few problems exist: One of the brass tank screw lids, all of the brass fuel taps, the spark plug and some tin-work nuts & bolts are seized or rusted solid. One of the fuel taps on the tank end has come away or has been knocked and snapped off. On the other hand the air-vane governor & carb linkages are nice and free. The Wico series 'A' impulse magneto seems in quite good shape and 'snaps' when turned. The engine is not seized and turns over with some compression.

The general condition of the engine casing is good with NO oil leaks. The tin-work is strange with one half of it looking as if it is galvanised, so is the tank which appears to be in great shape with no rust holes.

After a bit of research I think that the original colour of these engines would have been Red/Orange. This engine has NO indication that it was ever painted in that colour. The remaining paint seems to be a kind of Olive Green, the only other colour found is on the bottom of the sump but to me that looks like Red Oxide Primer.

What now? a full restoration or strip down the carb and mag, get it running and treat it to the oily rag? what do folk think?

See if it runs first, personally I'd go for a resto.

That looks a nice engine! Like Robotstar5 says get it running and then decide.

Robotstar5 wrote:See if it runs first, personally I'd go for a resto.

Wot 'e sed

I would get all the c--p of it and get it running then wipe it down with a oily rag i like to see a engine in its working clothes,good luck.
Regards,
Chiefy.

Date is about 1950, nice to see one with an original K&L Steelfounders filter on it.

blue cat wrote:Date is about 1950, nice to see one with an original K&L Steelfounders filter on it.

It does seem to be very original, even down to the spark plug. I have begun to remove the tin-work, fuel tank, carb & magneto in preparation for a strip and clean then I will see if it runs. The three fuel taps are all seized solid and the soldered on fuel tap thread adaptors have come away from the tank, I wonder if the lead solder did not take very well to the tanks galvanised finish?.

This one I'm going to leave as an 'oily rag' finish rather than a full restoration. The tank and some or the tin-work is galvanised. At the moment I can't find any traces of colour other than the Olive Green that can be seen (apart from some traces of red oxide primer on the mounting base) so I'm thinking this engine maybe one supplied to the military, what do folk think?

The tank and it's cast mounting bracket have cleaned up nicely. For now I've just treated them with a rub down with WD40. What's the best stuff to use for the finished treatment?

A wipe down with a oily rag does wonders to a old engine.
Regards
Chiefy.

coborn engines were mostly painted red by the factory, but some were painted green. however, the coborn green was brighter than the green in your pictures, somewhere between pea green and mid brunswick green. however, it may also have been painted to the buyers requirements. in your case this could have been military olive green (look for military stamp marks on the engine) or maybe GPO who had engines in GPO green. for younger readers info on GPO can be found here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Post_Office

I also find it odd that some of the steel metalwork on your engine is galvanised and some is not...... haven't seen that before.

Some progress on the C3

I chose the 'Oily Rag' look in the end but decided to use a mixture of boiled Linseed Oil & White Spirit in a 50/50 mix which dries quickly and still offers some protection to the metal work.

Just got to put a few more bits back on it and find out why the mag refuses to spark.

Great result in the end.

Nice job - oily rag is sometimes just what is needed.

Thats just how i like to see a working engine well done that man.
Regards,
Chiefy.

Now more or less finished apart from sorting some kind of trolley.

Looks good, have you had it running yet?

Looks great... happy you went with the oily rag.

Robotstar5 wrote:Looks good, have you had it running yet?

No, because I don't want to risk starting it just sitting there on the Workmate if it starts jumping around I may get into trouble.

It has good compression, has a good spark at the plug and has a clean carb (no blocked jets) it should start OK. I'll post a video when it's on a trolley running.

HobbyPaul wrote:Looks great... happy you went with the oily rag.

Thanks

Good job done. Is it running yet !
Andrew

Got it outside today but it would not start.

What I have done before hand: Spark plug and points correctly gapped and tappets set.

There is compression and the Wico impulse 'snaps' at TDC, there is also a good blue spark at the plug, fuel is getting to the carb (Solex 26FV).

When the engine is cranked I sometimes get a small bang and a smell of exhaust gas but this is not strong enough to carry it over the next compression stroke. After much cranking the spark plug is still bone dry. The plug is a new Champion D14 which is the modern equivalent for the Champion 7 that came with the engine (the old plug sparks but does the same as the new one) I don't think it's getting enough fuel, what do folks here think?

First guess would be blocked jet(s) in the carb, have you tried a squirt of "Easy start" through the carb or a few drops of petrol down the plug hole?

Robotstar5 wrote:First guess would be blocked jet(s) in the carb, have you tried a squirt of "Easy start" through the carb or a few drops of petrol down the plug hole?

I had the carb to bits, and all of the jets were clear, I've tried with a drop of fuel in the 'plug hole' this morning, no difference. I think I'm going to look at the ignition timing again it may be sparking after TDC although I thought it was spot on as I had got the crankcase cover off and could see the position of the con-rod at the top of the compression stroke with both valves closed when I set it.

It still may be prudent to look again at the carb but I have little experience of the Solex 26FV and have no maintenance or set-up manuals.

Garak wrote:

It still may be prudent to look again at the carb but I have little experience of the Solex 26FV and have no maintenance or set-up manuals.

I have a cobbled together Solex F manual which may help. PM me with email address if you would like a copy.

Just made sure that the ignition timing is OK. The video shown all of the four cycles of the engine and the sound of the Wico 'impulse' magneto can be heard 'snapping' at the top of the compression stroke. Also a good spark can be seen from the mag at the end.

Now on to the carb..................