Seagull AC2986L
Moderators: John@sos, charlesp, Charles uk, RickUK, Petergalileo
Re: Seagull AC2986L
Here are the next batch of pictures with shots of the gearbox L&R sides.
Re: Seagull AC2986L
Cleaned up nicely. lovely job 

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Re: Seagull AC2986L
Very smartly done that clean up!
About gearboxes Jon..............I have a shed load of ones that look like this however............unless the pedigree is known the different types of aluminium mixed and matched is evident on most of them.
By that I mean different colours and textures combined to make "A Gearbox Assy" that makes some logical sense considering the age and what has been replaced from later models as a repair? Earlier models from a source will fit and make a motor good again. BS does have this sometimes usefull sometimes annoying trait of interchangeability.
When polished up all of any odd bits blend into the whole and become what ever comments, posts and general opinions on.....this site for one....makes something "Genuine or Current Spec" for a model/year.
Mixed and matched for our Old Dears as we get them is obviously very confusing and leads to much topic conversation as to what is what and when by whom aye.
Just saying is all
BnC
Edit
Ok, here is a case in point........a bitsa gearbox because of what you see.....nothing visually matches and the prop yeh we all know about that aye.
Thing is obviously from different production runs but somehow being a whole.
No way being anything original as the history is not known by me........could be a mix and match from how many years?
It was kept operational but from when to when.
Polish it up every component after ditching the prop and may be somehow deemed as "Original" to whatever power head number one may choose.
BnC
About gearboxes Jon..............I have a shed load of ones that look like this however............unless the pedigree is known the different types of aluminium mixed and matched is evident on most of them.
By that I mean different colours and textures combined to make "A Gearbox Assy" that makes some logical sense considering the age and what has been replaced from later models as a repair? Earlier models from a source will fit and make a motor good again. BS does have this sometimes usefull sometimes annoying trait of interchangeability.
When polished up all of any odd bits blend into the whole and become what ever comments, posts and general opinions on.....this site for one....makes something "Genuine or Current Spec" for a model/year.
Mixed and matched for our Old Dears as we get them is obviously very confusing and leads to much topic conversation as to what is what and when by whom aye.
Just saying is all
BnC
Edit
Ok, here is a case in point........a bitsa gearbox because of what you see.....nothing visually matches and the prop yeh we all know about that aye.
Thing is obviously from different production runs but somehow being a whole.
No way being anything original as the history is not known by me........could be a mix and match from how many years?
It was kept operational but from when to when.
Polish it up every component after ditching the prop and may be somehow deemed as "Original" to whatever power head number one may choose.
BnC
A chicken is one egg's way of becoming others
Re: Seagull AC2986L
Sorry its been a while, but work and decorating have got in the way a bit. Most of the motor is now put back together.
The tank is the last thing to fit. It had a dent in the side of it when I picked it up, and as I'm repainting it it needed to be fixed. I decided to have a go at lead filling the dent as I didn't want to go down the car filler route. As a first attempt, I'm pretty pleased with the result.
The tank is the last thing to fit. It had a dent in the side of it when I picked it up, and as I'm repainting it it needed to be fixed. I decided to have a go at lead filling the dent as I didn't want to go down the car filler route. As a first attempt, I'm pretty pleased with the result.
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Re: Seagull AC2986L
Very nice.
I wouldn't worry too much about how long it takes to "re-furb" a seagull.
I have a few VERY long term projects that i've been working on and off for the past 7 years and i'm still not finished yet.
Lead loading is something i had thought about doing with some of my tanks. But there again, the modern epoxy/polyester resins are equally as good.
I like the look of your tank though with just enough (trying to be kind here) "roughness" showing through. Not perfect, but good enough.
Look forward to seeing the finished motor one day.
Jon
I wouldn't worry too much about how long it takes to "re-furb" a seagull.
I have a few VERY long term projects that i've been working on and off for the past 7 years and i'm still not finished yet.

Lead loading is something i had thought about doing with some of my tanks. But there again, the modern epoxy/polyester resins are equally as good.
I like the look of your tank though with just enough (trying to be kind here) "roughness" showing through. Not perfect, but good enough.
Look forward to seeing the finished motor one day.
Jon
Re: Seagull AC2986L
Nice job. One lesson I have learnt from repainting bayonet tanks is to avoid any paint getting in the bayonet fitting. The caps are a tightish fit, so any paint there will make it difficult to fit the cap.
You need a nice shiny cap to go on that shiny newly refurbished tank..
Also a period spark plug cap made from bakelite would look just right, as per the original. Quite hard to find but I might have one I'll have a look.
You need a nice shiny cap to go on that shiny newly refurbished tank..

Also a period spark plug cap made from bakelite would look just right, as per the original. Quite hard to find but I might have one I'll have a look.
Re: Seagull AC2986L
I see this one is now for sale, looks nice
I do like the early post war engines.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-Seagu ... 2179364353

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-Seagu ... 2179364353
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Re: Seagull AC2986L
Yep
AC2986L as a finished restoration.
Nice job too.
I won't be buying it as i've got more than enough to be getting on with. I'm running out of space. FAST
Jon
AC2986L as a finished restoration.
Nice job too.
I won't be buying it as i've got more than enough to be getting on with. I'm running out of space. FAST

Jon
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Re: Seagull AC2986L
I think if I was buying an early, restored AC, I'd expect it to look like it did when it left the factory.
Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.
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Re: Seagull AC2986L
And me, but i'm just fussy!
Just to be able to clap eyes on something as old as this (whether it's techically right or not) is quite something.
Each to their own of course.
Still a very good effort all the same.
Jon
Just to be able to clap eyes on something as old as this (whether it's techically right or not) is quite something.
Each to their own of course.
Still a very good effort all the same.
Jon
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Re: Seagull AC2986L
If I had access to this I would be bidding.
I have other motors and bits to get at least two original with this....including this one.
BnC
I have other motors and bits to get at least two original with this....including this one.
BnC
A chicken is one egg's way of becoming others
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Re: Seagull AC2986L
A fair price.
Someone is smiling
BnC
Someone is smiling
BnC
A chicken is one egg's way of becoming others
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Re: Seagull AC2986L
Yep, a good price for something like this.
There's hope for me yet!
Jon
There's hope for me yet!
Jon
Re: Seagull AC2986L
I took the decision a couple of years ago to thin my collection right down, and to focus on just a few engines. Quality rather than quantity. So out went an early SJM, a SJP, FVP, 2 x SD, SDP, AC, bitsa late 102, 2 x Ferriers, and finally an OP.
Most of my boxes of bits have gone too. Just kept the hard to find parts..
Focus on quality..
Most of my boxes of bits have gone too. Just kept the hard to find parts..
Focus on quality..