Learning to strip an engine

[finglas]

Hi everyone, first of all i apologise if this is posted in the wrong sub forum. I'm knew here and I don't have access to a computer at the moment. So using the site on my phone and not being familiar with the site is a little difficult.

Further to that, if there are other threads on this topic which I'm sure there are I would be very grateful if someone could reference them.

I am looking to learn more about engines and I like the idea of stripping one down to experience it and learn as I go.
Issue is firstly I don't know much about it and I don't have a lot of space. No garage, only driveway and a shed.

I think buying an old car is out the question and probably way beyond me at the moment. I was thinking of getting a cheap mini moto and stripping that engine, would that be a good idea or are there better options ?

Guess a lawnmower could be an option ?

I'd appreciate any advice everyone

Please and thanks.

Jamie

Edited by finglas on Wednesday 10th August 20:21

[Dinoboy]

Time was, when you could pop into your local scrappies and have a mini engine for a few pounds for just such fun.

[geeks]

Where are you based? We are doing an engine strip and rebuild at the moment. Will be working on it over a few weekends start next weekend. If you like you can come and lend a hand, you might even learn something

[feef]

The dump/recycling center where I live always has a lawnmower or two sitting there going for peanuts. You could easily pick one up for £5-£10 and use that as a starting point

[LandRoverManiac]

The older the engine the simpler it will be and easier to take apart/put back together - just don't go too far back in time or it won't bear any resemblance to modern engine tech.

The first engine I helped strip down was a Rover 2.25 petrol unit technically dating back to the 60s but which have easily been Victorian. This was handy for basic engineering knowledge but a couple of years later I was horrified when I started to strip down a modern engine and discovered that it had weird and unspeakable things like dual overhead cams, aluminium, fuel injection, dizzy-less coils, no push-rods, metric bolt sizes......

You could always find an old Rover 25 with a 1.4/1.6 K Series motor and start from the top end and work your way down. It'll be a decent case-study in modern(ish) 16-valve DOHC engine technology without all the additional emissions control and forced induction plumbing.

EDIT - just re-read your post. Lawnmower engines are a cheaper bet...... =)

[finglas]

thanks everyone for getting back to me. looks like ill need to hunt for a lawnmower. Is there anything i should look out for in particular ?

geeks, thanks very much for the offer im just outside glasgow. from looking at your profile it says "bucks", assuming thats just outside london ?

thanks a lot everyone, been a great help.

jamie

[geeks]

finglas said:

geeks, thanks very much for the offer im just outside glasgow. from looking at your profile it says "bucks", assuming thats just outside london ?

Well Bucks covers quite a reasonable area but yeah I am about an hour north of the smoke. But about 9 hours from you so no good there!

You could just go and buy a V8 and follow this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5saoYQIlh8

That being said, you can actually learn alot from the Hagerty vids they are hypnotic viewing though!

[R8Steve]

finglas said:

thanks everyone for getting back to me. looks like ill need to hunt for a lawnmower. Is there anything i should look out for in particular ?

geeks, thanks very much for the offer im just outside glasgow. from looking at your profile it says "bucks", assuming thats just outside london ?

thanks a lot everyone, been a great help.

jamie

I've got an old clio sitting round the back that you can mess about with or even take the engine if you want.

You'd have you take it out yourself though!

[finglas]

thanks geeks.

r8 thank you aswell, im not even sure where i would start with it, total noob but thanks for the offer. i do appreciate it.

[PaulKemp]

A cheap engine
An engine stand
A Haynes manual
In all honesty taking an engine apart is a doddle, getting it back together and running again is the real mark of success.
I've rebuilt several heads in the utility room and a couple of engines in the shed.

[finglas]

thanks paulkemp, appreciate your advice. i saw a few people on other posts mention getting an engine stand so think ill definitely look into that. would anyon recommend one in particular ? preferably as at a low cost!

thanks again

jamie

[S6PNJ]

Any Briggs and Stratton engined lawnmower/rotavator/garden tool will be fine. I learnt about engines on a Suffolk Colt lawn mower engine - same basic principle - a simple single cylinder side valve engine. This will teach you the basics - then you can progress onto a 4 cylinder overhead valve or overhead cam engine which is another step up in complexity. The Briggs and Stratton website has engne manuals for pretty much any engine (except of course for he one I'm trying to rebuild at the moment a 12HP Horizontal shaft engine) or they are freely available following a quick search online.

[finglas]

SP6NJ thanks a lot for that , good luck with it. hope it turns out well!

[finglas]

could anyone give me a rough idea of price i should expect to pay ?

see one on ebay here for 40 quid plus 10 postage. Not sure whether this is reasonable or not. does look in good nick.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Briggs-and-stratton-35-c...

thanks

jamie

[hidetheelephants]

I'd stick an ad on gumtree or your local freecycle/freegle list for a broken mower; no doubt someone within staggering distance will have one cluttering up their shed and be grateful to be spared the effort of disposing if it.

[227bhp]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giZgEI626Kw

Very basic, but will give you a start.

Stripping an engine is easy enough, it's recognising whether the components are fit for use and assembling it properly where the skill is.

[finglas]

Thanks again folks appreciate the help

[Toaster Pilot]

Shame you're so far away, I have a Fiat Panda 1.1 engine that will be going for scrap

[Spannerski]

Hi Finglas. Taking apart a lawnmower engine will only teach you about lawnmower engines. The working principles are the same as they are for cars as long as they are 4 strokes lawnmower engines and not 2 strokes. I.e valves to let air and fuel in and exhaust out, piston, conrod, crank,carb, basic exhaust, ignition system. You will need to take part a car engine to get a real feel for it. (Depends on your final aim for this exercise).

The Rover K series engine is a good place to start for cars as it covers the basics of Dual Overhead Cams. multi valves, Hydraulic lifters, fuel injectors.
The most modern engines really are out of the league for amateurs and in the last ten years some are not rebuildable.

Just my Tuppence Ha' penny from years as a pro-mechanic on both Motorbikes, cars, vans and some lawnmowers.

Good luck

[PHMatt]

To the OP - you haven't really told us what you DO know about engines - that would be a good start.

For example - if I asked you how an engine works, even if you don't know about all the little intricate details, would you know what the 4 stroke cycle is? Would you be able to explain and identify what an:

1) Inline engine is?
2) V engine is?
3) Horizontally opposed engine is?
4) Rotary engine is?
5) Overhead cam engine is?
6) Pushrod engine is?
7) Normal aspiration is?
8) Turbo charged is?
9) Supercharged is?
10) Fuel injection is?
11) Carburetors are?

If I was to be seriously considering a break up and rebuild to learn useful lessons I would pick a fuel injected 4 stroke multi piston (IE not a single piston 2 stroke lawnmower engine) over head cam engine. Those are the most common engines fitted to UK cars since the late 80's I guess.

Push rod engines are nowhere near as common, you'll find them in big American V8's and R5 turbo's.
Turbo charging is becoming much more popular these days but adds a level complicity to the simple set up of a normal engine.

Only play with a Rotary if you intend to buy a Mazda RX.

You'll need a decent set of tools as well. You'll be amazed at how many different types you'll need sometimes requiring 2 of the same thing.
If you wanted to build something and put it back to USE it, you'll need a load of new parts too, gaskets, head bolts etc..