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Reid 20HP Engine Project

6K views 16 replies 6 participants last post by  pctdavis 
#1 ·
I was warned about trailers and hobbies. They are dangerous. They get together, conjure up a plan, and bait you into a trap. Well, it happened again! Welcome to the next monster project in my garage. The 20HP Reid Oil Field engine.....



The project is "little dude" approved and took at 10 hour, 510 mile journey to pick up from western PA. The trailer and trusty Nissan Titan handled the trip through the mountains perfectly with a 6000# engine.

This is how the look when running for reference:
https://youtu.be/fmCv4vHwTlw

How will I move this? Plans are to put it on this John Deere running gear I found right around the corner from the house.


Famous last words; this one should take me a while. So, buckle in, I'll try to keep this thread updated along the way. May be periods of silence along the way as I figure out how to manage a project of this mass.
 
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#3 ·
Cool refurb. :fing32:

Following!

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#4 ·
The hauling trailer has a task next weekend to haul trick or treaters around the neighborhood. The engine needed to come off this weekend.

Using the joys of AutoCAD, I have confidence with a few modifications, the engine should fit without needing to extend the wagon gear.


Before:


After (need to cut a vertical bar off yet to move back):


If you need to know about the middle part of this process, you probably don't want to know. OSHA may not have approved but I was as safe as possible.
 
#5 ·
I knew a guy that had one of those Reid's that showed it. Was always intrigued by the hot tube ignition. Harold worked in the oil patch pumping with, and servicing these engines, then eventually being phased out, and replaced with the smaller pump engines. He had the governor set on his, where it would only fire every 30 to 45 seconds, if that.

He had it painted JD green & yellow, and had a 6" chrome stack on it. Sure sounded sweet. I talk in past tense, as this was 20 some years ago, and he was in his late 60's then. Haven't been to any of the shows we used to go to for years. so not sure he's even still around.

After you get that one restored & running, you'll have to find you a 50 hp., single cylinder Fairbanks-Morse diesel, and a lot bigger trailer..!! :)
 
#6 ·
Don't tempt me! Haha. After my first hot tube engine, spark plugs are too modern for me! The hot tube concept amazes me as well.

How do you spend a cold morning before work? Removing the charge piston of course. Now, I only intended to put the tension on it while I was out of town the rest of the week, but it wanted to come out and I wasn't going to argue. So, here is the "small" piston next to a gallon jug of vinegar.


Looks like so critters called this home but the bore doesn't look bad. Don't mind the grease, I was trying to lube the sidewalls.
 
#7 ·
Darned old dirt dobbers have ruined a couple of my bench top tools by building nests in the electric motors. They also damaged my compressor pump when I didn't notice the foam filter element had disintegrated from age and the dobbers made a nest in the intake tube. Turned compressor ON and sucked dirt / bugs down into the compression cylinder. :banghead3

I bungee cord window screen across openings in the electric motors now.

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#8 ·
Felt like Lightning McQueen today (You must turn left to go right). When getting a huge piston unstuck, you must go in....to go out! It moved! That's the important part for now.
 
#12 ·
That's quite an undertaking Greg. Was wondering what you've been up to. Going to follow along.

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#13 ·
Oh I'm still here, putzing around. Based on the size of this, I must have a death wish. Death by cast iron! In some ways, larger is easier to work on. More to grab onto, harder to break. Downside is, you need a crane to move anything, haha. Unfortunately, I plan to back this into the garage this weekend and won't touch it till the new year. Work has plans that don't involve being home till Christmas. That's why I was pushing to get this piston out. Once it's in the garage, I can tinker at it 15 minutes at a time.
 
#15 ·
Winter home or winter storage?

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#17 ·
Unfortunately, that's how it still sits. I've been on the road for work since and have barely had time to touch it. The hope is maybe this summer/fall I can get back on it. The good news is, I shouldn't feel rushed to get it running for a summer show so I can take my time and hit every detail.

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