Howard Gem, 1948 series 2

[ben8vgte]

So this is a little side line project I have on the go at the minute as I have been allowed the use of a corner of a field from a veg plot

It's a 1948 series 2 Gem with the JAP 600cc brought as a non runner, with a little fettling I soon had it running.

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

With a good clean of the mag I had this

https://flic.kr/p/oHwwkV

It's looks very rough but the plan is to get it mechanically good then use it before stripping and painting it up.

So today I changed all the fluids and stripped out the roto bar and repaired the decompresser valve guide bit, though the exhaust was nearly rotted out and snapped so will need a repair.

Howard Gem series 2 JAP by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Cam drive looks good though.

Howard Gem series 2 JAP by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Made up some new gaskets.

Howard Gem series 2 JAP by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Although the roto bar bearing were not too bad they still had a little play and the seals are gone so I have ordered some new ones, the jack shaft is stuffed and I'll have to turn a new one up.

Howard Gem series 2 JAP by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

It's lost a tine and needs the brackets unbending and the safty clutch was seized so that needs sorting and I think should be lined so will have to look in to that..

Howard Gem series 2 JAP by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

 

[Wendelspanswick]

We have 2 complete Howard rotovators here, both with the 3? speed forward and reverse gearboxes. One has a British Junior 650cc side valve engine and one with the JAP engine, plus about 6 boxes of spares and bits as well as a complete spare JAP engine that I plan to put into a Board Tracker motorcycle frame with a rigid back end and Girder forks.
I also have PDF copies of the manuals and parts lists if that's any help?

 

[ben8vgte]

We have 2 complete Howard rotovators here, both with the 3? speed forward and reverse gearboxes. One has a British Junior 650cc side valve engine and one with the JAP engine, plus about 6 boxes of spares and bits as well as a complete spare JAP engine that I plan to put into a Board Tracker motorcycle frame with a rigid back end and Girder forks.
I also have PDF copies of the manuals and parts lists if that's any help?

Sounds quite a collection you have there! Yeah this is 3 forward and reverse, though the reverse gear is damaged and the linkage has been removed. I have been thinking of things I could do with my spare engine but that's a way off. I'm all sorted for manuals from here http://www.howard-rotavator-spares.com/manuals.php but thanks for the offer

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Sounds quite a collection you have there! Yeah this is 3 forward and reverse, though the reverse gear is damaged and the linkage has been removed. I have been thinking of things I could do with my spare engine but that's a way off. I'm all sorted for manuals from here http://www.howard-rotavator-spares.com/manuals.php but thanks for the offer

That was where I got all my manuals from but I couldn't find the link again!

 

[Tinbasherdan]

We had one of those, and the biggest one they did, the name escapes me though, it was an absolute killing machine, would go through a brick wall

 

[ben8vgte]

We had one of those, and the biggest one they did, the name escapes me though, it was an absolute killing machine, would go through a brick wall

Super Gem perhaps ? I was tempted by one but decided it was overkill, that and I wanted an old British engine even with just 6hp this thing stills pulls though.

 

[Rig Pig]

Nice machine, I have just sold my old Bullfinch and bought a non running 350 - yet another project!

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Possibly, it was a while ago, I just remember it was like wrestling a bear

 

[ben8vgte]

Just a few more bits done on this, not much more needed really before I can use it properly

First up was to give one side of the safety clutch a quick skim as that part was particularly bad, though I believe the very early ones like this don't have friction disc's in the roto safety clutch.

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

The rest I just cleaned and de burred with a DA sander, I'll see how it goes in use but I might machine it down some more and get it lined like the later ones.

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Picked up some new bearing's and seal, though I've gone for sealed bearings as well for extra protection.

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Next up was trying to get the bearing off, I welded the inner to outer race and added on some square bar. First attempt was aloud bang and a snapped weld as I maxed out the press.. So added a bigger bead and heated the inner race up with the oxy-propane and managed to push it apart.

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

One set of holes on the roto bar had been damaged from a loose tine.

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

That got cleaned up with the die grinder and flap disk to fresh metal before I filled it with the Tig and ground it back to flush.

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Then marked it out and drilled some new holes to 7/16" and 3/4" countersink, they will still need the hole squaring off but need to find some counter sunk square bolts in the right size. I'm going to see if my local fastener place has any kicking around but if not I have found something online that should do the job.

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Last bit to address was the bent flange on the roto bar..

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Again the oxy propane and a BFH soon sorted that out

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

 

[ben8vgte]

Nice machine, I have just sold my old Bullfinch and bought a non running 350 - yet another project!

Sorry missed this.. I was tempted by a 350 as you can add all sorts of attachments, hope you stick a thread up when you do

 

[sardine]

Wait till the laydees see you cruising about on those hot wheels, they'll be all over you like a rash ?

 

[Rig Pig]

Sorry missed this.. I was tempted by a 350 as you can add all sorts of attachments, hope you stick a thread up when you do

I will see if I can pick it up when I get back onshore in a couple of weeks - it's a non runner......

 

[ben8vgte]

Managed to get a few more bits done on this over the weekend, all quite time consuming stuff!

Turned up a new jackshaft out of some EN8 and threaded for a easier to get M16 nut.
Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Then squared out the repaired holes for the new bolts, not quite the correct ones but as near as I can get and better than the mismatched odds on it. Afterwards finished building up the roto shaft with the new jackshaft and bearings, I packed out the jackshaft bearing with grease rather than the gear oil as standard as it less likely to leak out.

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Made up a new gasket for the chain case and fitted that all back on with the cleaned chain, so far the oil seems to be staying in the case now

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Bent up a depth control skid and buttered it with some hardfacing rods, little bit wider than the old one but it's all I had to hand think I got a bit carried away with the length too might need a trim with the grinder!

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Agricultural merchants should have square countersunk bolts as they are used to hold plough shares on.

 

[ben8vgte]

Agricultural merchants should have square countersunk bolts as they are used to hold plough shares on.

Indeed that's where the new ones I have came from, but the proper ones have a plain shank part that rather than fully threaded just deep enough to engage on the tyne.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Wow, this takes me back. We had a Howard on the farm in Portugal (early 70s). Twin cylinder petrol converted to TVO. A beast, if it touched a rock, it took off and you with it. Very well built bit of kit, wish I had one now.
KF

 

[ben8vgte]

Forgot to update this.. But it's all back together with the exhaust patched up and the air cleaner mounted with a new bracket and car rad hose as the inlet

Howard Gem by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Still has a few little things that will need attention but the main thing is it's useable, I'll worry about painting after I done what I need to with and might leave that till next summer once a few other projects are out the way.

Wow, this takes me back. We had a Howard on the farm in Portugal (early 70s). Twin cylinder petrol converted to TVO. A beast, if it touched a rock, it took off and you with it. Very well built bit of kit, wish I had one now.
KF

Sorry missed this post, now that I've tried out a little in the garden.. Yeah beast! It found a buried brick and it jumped up and chucked it at me in small pieces, just an allotment to do next week for my Mum then over to the field to make a start on mine

 

[Wendelspanswick]

How well does yours start, I start my Ferguson TE20 tractor on the handle 10 or 12 times a week without a second thought but when I go to start the Howard it scares the bejesus out of me each time! When it kicks back its savage and you have to be quick to avoid injury.

 

[ben8vgte]

How well does yours start, I start my Ferguson TE20 tractor on the handle 10 or 12 times a week without a second thought but when I go to start the Howard it scares the bejesus out of me each time! When it kicks back its savage and you have to be quick to avoid injury.

Seems to be alright really after priming the carb I spin it over and get some speed up with the exhaust valve lifted, I think the knack is letting go of the valve lifter at the right point so the inertia keeps it going the correct way. Though it did kick back the first couple of time's after I got it before I had the hang of it, I don't think savage was the word I used at the time

 

[brewdexta]

Sounds like my mates dumper, if I can start it I end up a sweating, blubbering, swearing wreck. Then he comes along and and turns it over first or second attempt, he his built like Goliath's rugby playing big brother though.