This is how ALL my problems start

Augiedoggie

Well-Known Member
#1
One might think I would become a bit smarter and more sensible with over seven decades of madness and stupidity……but. I recently saw a project started by our friend @Havasu Dave and thought to myself?? I have a Briggs model “N with no home. Motor has rebuild parts here in stock. I have a junk bike frame. Oh Shit!! You’d think I’d have learned by now. Guess I’ll have to live long enough to start and finish another project. I’ll watch Dave’s project for ideas.
 

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#4
Well, I'm 66, and 22 years of those were in the Marines, 50 of them partying like a rock star. Waking up each morning at 4 AM is a pleasant surprise. Go for it. That looks like a MTB frame, beefy. The vintage Schwinn frames are not beefy. At all. Ironically, I just now came back in to the house after my first test ride. Very few problems, none of which cut the ride short. Does an easy 30 MPH, runs up hill with authority. It was a squirley ride, but I figured that.
 

Augiedoggie

Well-Known Member
#6
Very cool, and I love the tank. How many horse is the model N? It sure fits nicely.
I’m second guessing engine selection already. The model N is probably 2 horsepower. I’m not really sure. If memory serves those old dinosaurs were 1 1/2 or 2 horsepower. Kind of hate to repurpose and waste a vintage Briggs like that but I don’t have anything else that needs it either. I have several other vintage Briggs motors in the shed also. I may reconsider engine choices. I usually change my mind several times during planning stages. I sort of dig the old style home grown, cobbled up looking machinery that looks like it was built in a shed by a blacksmith.
 

Augiedoggie

Well-Known Member
#9
I made the decision to use the REO engine for this project. I have two engines from older purchases and found another engine and purchased it today. Tentative plans are to replicate a gas powered bicycle I built as a boy. I have been planning to build this thing for 15 or more years but always manage to find other distractions. I’m always working on 20 different projects at once and this one has been neglected for awhile. I reckon I’ll use this thread as my build thread as time allows
 

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Augiedoggie

Well-Known Member
#12
I think the REO engines were clockwise. Weren't they the ones that had the PTO on the cam rather than the crank?
Yes that is correct. Crankshaft was geared to camshaft on those. Output shaft ran at half speed opposite crank rotation. Also used single lobe camshaft and forked valve actuators to operate valves. It was a common weakness for the engine design and they would sometimes break teeth off camshaft when the rotary mower blade jammed a rock or stick when running. This is exactly why many of them were scrapped and replaced with the more durable Briggs. 863.jpeg 863.jpeg
 

Augiedoggie

Well-Known Member
#13
I found another old REO engine and purchased it on Wednesday morning. One hour trip to New Jersey and it’s mine for the cool sum of $70!!!!!
Funny story. Fellow I purchased it from was a schoolmate of mine who worked in the mower shop after school where I got my original two REO engines 60 years ago. He was the person who originally informed me the engines were in shops scrap pile for the asking. He doesn’t remember why he saved this last one he sold me. His wife told me it was her idea to get rid of it so I paid her for it. I thanked my old friends and drove off like I stole it. Got it home and it looks good inside and has good hot spark. Should be a runner. I’m stoked!!!
 

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