Saving Old Seagulls

Nice one, thats a really good buy. FNR engines seem to be getting very popular and expensive. I'm after one myself as a future project as and when one comes up reasonably close.

Another excellent project! What's the bore like?

Hello Charles, I went to Derby platers for a chat on friday afternoon and showed them the part. Quote was £60 plus VAT :cry: Even though I explained that I was not looking for bling he was telling me that they always give everything a polish. Dipping in the tanks is the easy bit. He showed me an E-T...

I've just got my first price for chroming £35 plus VAT. Just over £40 all in. Ouch, but worth it. I suspect the bulk of the cost of chroming is the dressing and polishing rather than dipping into the relevent tanks.

Nice looking engine and welcome. we are slowly putting together a beginners guide to seagull ownership on the forum which you will see on the main index page. Theres some usefull stuff in there. It's worth a nose around.

Looks like we have a spammer in our midst

Hello Graham, Sorry but I have been installing kitchen units and was away sailing at the weekend. Force 8 in the Thames Estuary all last weekend, with sunshine :D I have found the time to build a seagull rack in my garage, should hold 8 engines at least :D Apart from the leg which needs a little bit...

Brendan, some extra photos to go with my post, can you add to the guide?

Whilst perusing ebay, I came across this. Interesting bit of seagull history, it would indicate that winter was a quiet time for new production? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRITISH-SEAGULL-WINTER-ENGINE-REPLACEMENT-SCHEME-/220776051048?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_Boat_Engines_EngineParts_SM&hash=item3367...

Is this a 102 plus? If so you have a larger slower running prop designed for pushing displacement hulls aka the "barge pusher" These would pull HMS Belfast out of the mud

I'd suggest that have an ideal engine and prop for your boat.

Welcome to the forum It won't be long before that seagull breeds and your shed will be full of them!

Brendan, our forum admin is putting together a new starter guide as a topic on the forum. It's worht taking a look as we have already added the first "how to" articles.

If after all the initial preparation the engine will not start, there are several common reasons why, which is often why the engine has been left in a shed unused for some time, before you bought it on ebay :D 1. Fuel supply 2. Poor spark 1. Fuel supply . Old fuel that has been left in the tank is o...

How about a focus on the main things that cause seagulls to be discarded, put at the back of the garage and left to rot? I'm thinking, carbs/tanks full of gunk, points cleaning and setting, water jacket corrosion. Sort of "How to get that ebay bargain going again"

One of my driveshafts was so corroded on I resorted to carefully grinding a slot along the length of the square bit of pinion until a small chisel could be inserted. Take your time and the pinion will be ok to reuse.

Hi Charles, I think a replacement steel(zinc plated of course) or brass tank for the 102 could also be an oppurtunity. As a pattern part you could even go down the cost reduced route and (purist scream now!) put flat ends on it. It would keep tooling/set up charges down. As a pattern replacement for...