Tuesday Torque: Restoring A Basket-Case Fairbanks 10 HP

Gary Bahre has graciously allowed us to post his photos here so you all can see some of the steps one has to go through in restoring an engine. Gary picked up this Fairbanks at an auction last February. It had been disassembled and left outside for forty years. Everything was rusted and stuck, and he has it running now.

This is how it looked upon arriving at Gary's shop. Everything has to come apart to have the rust cleaned off.

The cylinder was open to the weather on one end, so the piston was stuck tight. A charcoal fire was used to crack the rust loose before sending this assembly off to a shop.

Pressing the piston out is risky, but it must be done. If these parts had been destroyed, they could be replaced since Fairbanks engines are fairly common. Other makes are often irreplaceable.

The fellow who pressed it apart also bored the cylinder 0.060" oversize because of pitting. Rather than press in a sleeve, the piston was built up and turned to fit the bore. It is now a 7.060" bore by 9" stroke. 352 Cubic Inches! The rings available today are 1/2 the width of the original rings, so two were fitted per groove.

Gary began reassembly of the block while he was waiting on the cylinder to be completed. One of the main bearing shells was missing, so Gary poured new babbit for that. The cart is a Witte factory cart, and it looks like it was made for this Fairbanks.

And here it is, ready for a test run! But first, a little break-in time so it will roll over a bit easier.  Gary belted up one of his 6 HP IHC M engines to spin the Fairbanks for half an hour.

Gary has secured a cooling tank that will look good with this engine. He has to do the plumbing for the fuel and cooling systems, and he will be making a new needle valve for the carburetor. The original one is pitted from sitting out in the weather and does not run well.  This engine will get a new coat of paint because there was no original paint left to save after exposure to forty years of outdoor weather. Gary and other engine men often say that all engines cost the same.  Buy an original or well restored engine, and you have to pay for that.  Buy one that's a wreck and you have plenty of expense making it work again.  If someone gives you an engine, it just may bankrupt you!

Photos and videos by Gary Bahre.