One of my numerous hobbies is restoring antique small engines. Recently, a friend gave me a Johnson Iron Horse engine, model X454. It hasn't run in over 40 years at least. I began to take it apart, and it turns out that it's in remarkably good shape. It still even had oil in it! All this engine needs to run is a very good cleaning and some magneto and carburetor work.
To make a long story short, I broke one of the piston rings (of course). However, I don't know where to find any replacements. The cylinder is 2" bore, and the rings are 1/8" thick. Does anyone know where to find replacement rings for this engine?
Put a free classified want ad on Antique Outboard Club of America webpage.
That should get you replies where to buy these.
http://www.aomci.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=Webvertize
Try a motorcycle or small engine shop. There should be something close enough to fit with or perhaps without modification. The bore would be 50.8mm, so find a ring for 51 or 52mm bore and just make the ring gap correct. Thickness would probably be close as well 6.35mm. If necessary, you could put two rings in the grove so you don't have excessive clearance on the piston.
Hi, Cameron. Call Starbolt Engine Supplies, 4303 Buckeystown Pike, Adamstown, MD 21710, Phone 301 874-2821. This is pretty old information but if these guys are still around they'll have the ring you need. Good luck. Bob
google Frank Bowman..Best rings made.....
Cameron, you can call Hastings and see if they have a ring that fits.
http://www.hastingsmfg.com/?gclid=CPzV9_3n4r8CFQGtaQodnJIAXQ
Take a look on E=Bay, there is a guy Mark Shula that sells Maytag and Briggs new /used parts that may have some. I too have the same side hobby and have had good luck with mark. You may also find a good parts engine there as well.
Cameron, If you know the specs on the bore and piston, I would go to the AOMCI website and see if you can match those measurements to existing OMC engines of the period. I wouldn't be surprised if Johnson's earlier A series or LT series outboards would have used similar piston rings. The TD/TN series might work as well. I usually contact Seaway Marine out in Seattle, WA for all those NLA parts. They have an uncanny ability to find them. I just got through re-ringing a 1952 Johnson TN outboard for one of the neighbors. Runs like a champ now!
Call Dave Reed at Otto Gas Engine Works.
http://www.ringspacers.com/
Thanks for all of your input. I should be able to have this engine up to snuff and running in no time!
That is the same bore as a WMB briggs so they are out there.
Hit and Miss enterprises is where I got the last set of rings I needed for a Model K briggs engine. I worked on 1 of those for a friend and they can be cantankerous to make run right for some reason.