fowler pa help

Hi all I recently brought a fowler 1pal or pa , iam not sure as the name plate is missing , I have had it running by holding the throttle as govenor arm is missing, and I can here its got some big end knock, so I tool the carcase door off and yes the big end has play but there is no side shim to the bearing, so the bearing can move side to side on the crank, surely this cannot be right, can anyone advise or clue me in, cheers john

Hi,
Replied to your other post re. engine/model number.
Never seen a Fowler with any side shims on the big end, its just a pair of shells running on a fairly crudely machined crank pin....Fowlers and good tolerances don't go together! There is usually some side float so I wouldn't be too concerned. I have a couple of Fowlers which are in need of new big ends due to knock, probably have to either machine out and re-metal the shells, or have a bearing cast and machined. Need to check the crank pin is true or that will need reground. If there is serious side movement when turning over this would suggest the small end/gudgeon pin need looking at, also check for bore wear and the rings are ok, worst case a bent con rod but not had one as yet after owning a good few Fowlers...! Cheers Dave

Thanks Dave having looked at it , it does look crude , when I ran the engine it definitely had a big end knock , also I found the engine number on the flywheel but unfortunately its so faint I cannot make it out, there is a few numbers but not enough to work out the serial or type,shame really, perhaps I was thinkin if I can get the flywheel of might try etching as what the forscenic guys use on stolen items where the numbers have been ground out, they say the where the number is stamped it becomes stressed, and would appear again, what do you thank on that idea,cheers john

Pity the number isn't visible. Not sure about etching to find the number, sometimes polishing the area and then rubbing with an oily rag helps read numbers. You could also go over the area with a permanent black marker and then lightly polish off the area with a sharpening stone and that may leave enough trace black to read the numbers. Cheers Dave

Thanks for the tip Dave I shall give that a go, as the other method is apparently successful ,it is also destructive and highly dangerous as it uses hydrochloric acid.cheers john

Just on the update I checked the big end and found no play, I know I heard the engine knocking, so I took the big end apart and its fine crank is good too, so I grabbed hold of the conrod and its the little end knock with an awful lot of play, has anyone had this amount of wear on a fowler before, anyway restoration will continue, hear is the pics of the enginepicture of engine
side
breather side
crancase
journal
big end sheel/cap
cap side
conrod cap

Interesting update, the big end and journal does look reasonable apart from a couple of scores Not had any with huge wear on the small end, what state is the pin in ? Easier to make a new bush than deal with a big end bearing. The side play on the big end does look a bit bigger than 'normal' but once you have sorted the small end it shouldn't be a problem. The big end shells all look original and 'correct' . Cheers Dave