a trip to bradford.

and look what followed me home.




its a coborn b23. i will post more information later.
richard.

It's suprising just what can follow you home these days nice find, looking forward to some more pics and some more info on the engine and your plans.

Stu.

Interesting looking engine, I thought it was one of the bigger J.A.P.s at first.
Can't wait to hear a bit more about it

Produced by K&L Steelfounders & Engineers Ltd of Letchworth. Built from about 1954 until 1963. Develops 3.8 bhp at a speed of 2000 rpm from a bore of 3 inches and stroke of 3.25 inches. Weight is 138 pounds. Oil sump holds 2 pints.
richard.

hello,
does anyone have a copy of the coborn logo that would have been on these engines.
thanks richard.

just spent some time in the shed this morning with the coborn to work out what needs doing.

1, leaky tank (this can be sealed)
2, stuck valve (regrind)
3, no spark (i think the damp may have got it, i have a spare coil. so just needs a good clean i think)

the engine had been dry stored, his idea of dry stored is a lot different to mine.
richard.

earlsinclare wrote:hello,
does anyone have a copy of the coborn logo that would have been on these engines.
thanks richard.

Closest I have found: Manual
looking around on Google images briefly it looks as though no logo was applied, just a plate on the cowling.

i found a coborn tank in the back of the shed, so the non original tank has been replaced. the mag now sparks i just gave it a good clean and unstuck the points, it now gives a nice big strong spark. next job is to get the head off and have a look at the valve.
richard.

All sounding good Richard, lets hope there's no scares once the heads off.

Stu.

the coborn with the correct tank. the valve is now unstuck and the engine runs well.

richard

Great news you've got it up and running, so what's your next move? strip it and paint it over the winter.

Stu.

the engine will be put to one side while i concentrate on some other projects. the engine will be stripped and painted early next year.
richard

Keep us informed of how you get on with the engine Richard.

Stu.

That old tank looks like it would fit mine & Ian's Briggs & Stratton RC. Don't suppose you know what it came off???

BTW, I've been following this one with interest but, as yet, couldn't think of much to say. I've always liked the old Coborn engines, but it somehow doesn't look right in black. I thought they were all red?

So you can guess my next question.... What colour are you going to paint it?

Best of luck with it anyway, I will continue to watch with interest.

the engine will be painted red. the tank came off a seized c3 engine.
richard.

hello everyone,
no rugby today so the spare day was spent in the shed. the coborn is now on a heavy trolley to stop it moving around when it runs without load. the engine runs well without load if a little quick. picture to follow if it ever stops raining.
richard.

Glad to hear it's running well. What's your plans with it? Going to take it apart & have a look, or just sort the cosmetics?

Or maybe none of the above???

when i got it, it had no spark or compression so these have already been sorted. the oil has been changed and the carb stripped and cleaned. next on the list is removal of the tin work and to make a start on removing the paint from the alloy castings, these have been painted silver. i intend to polish these and repaint all the tin work red and black.
richard.

earlsinclare wrote:when i got it, it had no spark or compression so these have already been sorted. the oil has been changed and the carb stripped and cleaned. next on the list is removal of the tin work and to make a start on removing the paint from the alloy castings, these have been painted silver. i intend to polish these and repaint all the tin work red and black.
richard.

Should look good. Best of luck, I've always liked these, so I'll keep watching.

as promised, a photo of the coborn on its new heavy trolley. the engine can be run at a good speed and does not move around on the yard floor.

richard.

Nice looking trolley Richard.
Good luck with the painting and please keep us informed of how you get on.

Stu.

the engine is now back on the bench for stripping and cleaning, hopefully I wont find anything nasty inside. the engine does run well so fingers crossed.
Richard.

Looks a good clean engine and if it's a runner I can't see you having that many problems with it's resoration.

Good luck,

Stu.

decided to go with black as I could find no traces of an original colour so I think it must have been black in the first place.

just need something to run from it now.
Richard.

Well, I like it in black (not that it matters what I think really). You'll probably get a lot of people asking what make it is.