SD restoration

[Charles uk]

Perhaps we should do a survey on how everybodys SD block is finished.

I have 5 black & 1 silver, the silver paint will wash off with todays petrol, some have traces of zinc showing through the paint.
All the new ones I've seen have been black.

[Oyster 49]

Success! That's for all the guidance on this one, I was really concerned that I would struggle to get another casting!!

I used the pinch bolt and coin (1 Egyptian £ is just the right size, so visiting Cairo with work has it's advantages ) and nipped up the bolt very gently. Then I selected a socket slightly smaller than the leg diameter and drifted the leg out from the other side of the casting, with the the other side of the casting suported on the vice, whilst heating with a blowtorch between wacks. It was well stuck though and I had to use a lump hammer. Some bruising to the casting, but I can dress and polish that. I think the leg is too corroded to reuse as it will be too thin by the time it is dressed and dipped prior to plating.

So the SD is now fully stripped, and now lots of cleaning and scrubbing beckons.

[woodbutchergraham]

[size=150]I have enjoyed this tread, with my own SD i have had similar problems with the badly corroded drive leg. I decided that due to the unusual finish of the drive leg and cylinder to finish both in paint. Most durable paints available on the market have finishes that can resemble the original finish convincingly. I am aware that it’s up to the restorer’s discretion to how accurate the restoration will be. For myself this was to be a compromise between availability of replacement spares and practical usability. Drive leg carefully rubbed down to remove excessive pitting stabilising the rust with a converter a quality etch primer and numerous coats of silver plasticoat satin, rubbing down between each coat and a good two hours in a warm oven same for the barrel but in satin engine black. (This part took a long time as HID doesn’t care for seagull parts in the kitchen)
Mine however doesn’t have the raised flywheel and cover
Best of luck with your project and keep up the posts

[Oyster 49]

Interesting to see some photos of your leg and cylinder. Some good news is that the leg on my engine I thought would be scrap is looking better then I thought, so after a good clean up with emery I'll consider having it re-plated. I think the tube wall is thick enough and hopefully there are no corrosion holes.

SD is taking a slight a back seat at the moment due to kitchen replacement, but I'm going to clean up the flywheel & leg and rebuild the carb this week. Magneto will also go off for coil replacement. I've just about got most of the parts I need to complete, but will be hunting out an original SD gearbox, bronze gear donga and throttle lever, and a good bronze transom bracket. In the meantime I'll fit later parts to get completed.

Next project is AD29805 for which is stripped, but nearly complete apart from tiller and transom bracket.

I've also had much knashing of teeth re "to bling or not to bling" this engine. I'm going to leave the block unpainted in the original zinc for now and generally clean, scrub polish etc. apart from the leg and tank which I will re plate and paint. For durability over originality I will probably chrome or nickel plate the leg with a satin finish. Interested to see how your painted leg looks though

Cheers.

A.

[Collector Inspector]

Wicked Read This Post!



B

[Oyster 49]

Had a session on the flywheel and tank earlier. The flywheel responded well to rubbing down with progressivly smoother grades of wet & dry, I'll polish it next using metal polish. The copper top came up well with just a rub with a worn scouring pad.

I rubbed down the tank with wet and dry, and again it is in good condition, with just a few small dents. I'm painting this black with new original type transfers. The brass tank came with the engine but I don't think is original, however the jubilee clips are I believe. I much prefer the brass over the correct steel one though.

[charlesp]

Favourite for the leg would be a zinc plating, be sure that the end that fits the water pump housing clench bolt doesn't have any metal removed. It must be a tight fit, or the whole lot may drop off which would bve embarrassing. There is a zinc paint that finishes as a dull grey which would look ok but I can't for the life of me remember what it's called - a classic boat moored near mine has the steel stanchions done with it.

You're right the tank isn't original - I think I see screw threads in the filler ring? They would be a bayonet type on an early brass tank. But many of the steel tanks have corroded away by now, they're scarce.

[Oyster 49]

Hello Charles, the tank is better shown on this picture showing the engine as received. Amazing what can be achieved with some elbow grease

The tank is as you say screw type, and I do have an alloy screw cap to put with it. The tank carriers are alloy, and they have cleaned up really well.

Do you know what the original finish on the jubilee clips would have been? Were they zinc plated also?

I take your point re zinc plating the leg, I'm in a quandry now as to which way to go, I must say that satin chome is sounding good, as I want this leg to last another 50 years, which zinc or zinc paint might not. Any input much appreciated.

My AD is the next project, and I have nearly all the parts I need. Interestingly this one has the same tank, same screw cap but different straps. Were the jubilee clips only used on SD and early post war models?

[Hugz]

There are few brass screw caps floating around which are a nice touch. My jubilee clips appear not to have a plating. Stainless?

[woodbutchergraham]

Im quite lucky then, I have a good steel tank with the bayonet type fuel cap. Now the problem, has anyone a spare or know where to aquire a bayonet fuel cap ?

[woodbutchergraham]

Still at it looking at another two jet repair job! and some polishing!

[woodbutchergraham]

well after some long dark nights, I found time to pop down the shop to take some more pictures. Hoping all who care for the SD approve of my restoration so far.

[Oyster 49]

Looking very good, I'm just waiting to get my magneto back from Villiers parts and I'll be catching you up!

Thats a very nice bronze donga you have there. You ought to let me have it as I feel inadequate as I do not have one

However the good news is that I'm off to collect an AC tomorrow.

[Hugz]

If it is an early AC it will have the right box for your SD! I'm still looking for one. If it has the flat exhaust you are in clover

[Oyster 49]

I've got my figgers crossed, I know it has a brass tank with bayonet cap, and also the flat exhaust outlet, but it does not have the original throttle lever. Totally complete though, and in pretty good condition.