Is a 1940s small engine different than newer ones?

Zachary Hoyt · Apr 8, 2014

I bought a Cunningham walk behind sickle mower at a scrap yard
for $50 last fall and am hoping to put it to work this summer.
The engine turns and has compression but I have not tried to
start it yet. I am hoping to try it this week. This is a
Cunningham engine that was only produced for a couple of years
before Briggs & Stratton sued Cunningham for patent
infringement, as I understood what information I have found
online. I am somewhat accustomed to working on engines made
from the 1970s or so to today, but I have never had anything
older to work on till now. What type of oil should I use, and is
there anything about engines of this vintage that is different
from modern engines that I should know about before I try to
start it? Any advice will be much appreciated.
Zach

Anonymous-0 · Apr 8, 2014

The carburetor will be a lot more primitive than you're used to seeing and the ignition system as well. Parts for either one are likely to be nonexistent although you can possibly adapt more modern parts to work on that engine - if mounting space is available.

Dick2 · Apr 8, 2014

Back in those days, it was customary to use oil that was heavier viscosity than oils used today. That may have been desireable in some engines, depending on the design. I think most of them just used "dips" on the connecting rod to splash the oil around inside the engine.

Larry EC-OH · Apr 8, 2014

I would check for spark first. More than likely the points and condenser are bad. You may or may not be able to find replacements. An engine that old probably also has an oil bath air cleaner. If so oil must be filled to the line to maintain the correct fuel/air ratio.

Good luck! Larry

mkirsch · Apr 8, 2014

Zach,

The technology on small engines of the time should be about the same level as what was on your H.

60 acre hillside · Apr 8, 2014

Likely it has a rope starter you have to wind, pull, wind, pull, wind, pull, talk bad, wind, pull, rest, wind, pull, rejoice it is running !

Richard G. · Apr 8, 2014

Primitive is better in my book.
Richard in NW SC

Anonymous-0 · Apr 8, 2014

The knot at the end of the pull rope sure hurts when it hits you just right.

notjustair · Apr 8, 2014

Davis, you gave me a chuckle. When I was about 8 my new job for several years was running the grain cart and augering into the bins. Our auger had an OLD Briggs engine on it. It looked huge but I think it was just one if the big old 8 horse units. Wind the rope, pull, and pray.

The problem was the engine was up about five foot off the ground. Might as well have been a mile for me. I would stand on a bucket and turn on the gas and wind the rope then jump off that bucket pulling the rope with me. At least twice a day that rope knot would clobber the top of my head. I would get on the tractor and start augering watching that thing like a hawk. If it ever died and I didn't catch it I was dead meat! When it was done I shut off the gas and went back to the field. I can't even tell you if that motor had a kill switch on it. I wouldn't have been able to reach it.

Dan T in MO · Apr 8, 2014

Suck-Squeeze-Bang-Blow. Not much different than today. Don't expect electronic ignition and fuel injection. My experience with old motors (I have boat motors dating back to the 20s) is they are much easier to troubleshoot and fix.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 8, 2014

Me too, Up to a point. If it's primitive in My stone tablet then it is a little to old. lol.

mrf-engines · Apr 8, 2014

They are pretty simple to run and work on. I used to have a model EA and EB engines, both I got running. I used the same oil as my farmall"s, 30 weight worked fine. Just make sure the points are clean and set. I think I used some parts from the Briggs Model N engine like points and condensers. I used to have the manual for the EB scanned in, if I find it I will e-mail it to you, I got the original manual around here somewhere yet too. These are very simple engines to work on, shouldn"t take I much to get it going. Good luck.

greygoat · Apr 9, 2014

OIL ? I do Wisconsin Engines, 1 Cyls, 2 cyls,
V4'S, Modern lawnmowers, Snowblowers, Trucks,
Cars, Tractors ! All I use in any of them is
10-30 Mobil Oil, for over 50 years, and I've
never had an oil related problem !
And, yes, I use 10-30 in Antique Briggs engines too !

JDemaris · Apr 9, 2014

Nothing different about it than most other old engines. NO strange "sucker" valves or buzz boxes. I never heard the story about a law suit over the Cunningham EA or EB engines. I've got a dozen of them. Cunningham made one of the first V8 powered cars in USA in 1915. Also helped make tanks for the military. I've got Cunningham walk-behinds with Cunninghan engines, Briggs, and Wisconsin. Here's some specs from my 1950 tractor field book.

Is a 1940s small engine different than newer ones?

Zachary Hoyt

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Anonymous-0

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Dick2

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Larry EC-OH

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mkirsch

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60 acre hillside

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Richard G.

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Anonymous-0

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notjustair

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Dan T in MO

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Anonymous-0

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mrf-engines

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greygoat

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JDemaris

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