Wonderful... An AD. These are motors are what seagulls are all about. The first Seagull that was so named. Produced and delivered throughout the war damaged colonies in the late forties and early fifties, yours in fact would be about 1949 and should have three true grease nipples on the box. No choke.
If it is turning freely it is highly unlikely that you will cause any damage. If yours still has the brass fuel line consider yourself blessed. Here is what I do when I find an AD (or any other seagull).
1. Securely attach to trolley bench etc in operating position. Turn flywheel and check for compression.
2. Remove plug and check condition, clean and reset gap 20 thou or .05 metric, if in doubt replace plug. Champion D16.
3. Turn motor over with plug removed and checked for any untowards grating noise from motor or box.
4. Using vice grips etc clamp plug to motor. Around tiller attachment area is the best. Attach lead and turn motor over checking for spark.
5. Remove nut on top of flywheel. Remove round plate (yours should be bare of writing, ie no modern day propaganda). Gaze into magneto and find brass lid. Remove lid and check for anything untowards. Points can be checked at a later date if not mechanically inclined) Polish brass lid (a foible of mine) and if all is well put back together.
6. Remove fuel line and let a little fuel into a glass jar. Inspect fuel for debris and water. Sniff and taste for correct bouquet. Any contamination and tank and carb needs to be dismantled and cleaned. Remove fuel tap and check gauze filter attached to inside tank part of tap. Re assemble.
7. Remove shroud on Amal carb. Operate throttle lever and check piston in carby is sliding up and down.
8. Tip out fuel in tank and add 10/1 petrol oil mix.
If the above is all above board you are ready fire up this magnificent piece of post war machinery....
Place in testing bin with water. Water about 2 inches above exhaust outlet.
Turn on fuel tap. Don't worry about the odd drips of fuel, this is quite normal and can be sorted later. Press jigger on top of carb. A trickle of fuel should run down side of carb after a few seconds.
Open throttle to about 2/5ths open. Turn rope about three turns around pulley. Turn until compression starts to be felt. Smoothly pull rope. On about the third pull it should fire and run. Hold breath until tell tale water gurgles out of square block at top of exhaust
UTOPIA!! or
All good.... now gearbox needs to be checked for lubrication, points cleaned and checked, fuel leaks sorted, carb and tank etc cleaned, paint and polish if so desired.
Attach to fuzzy wuzzies dhow and send to pick up more Gin and Tonic post haste!
