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Author Topic: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one  (Read 677 times)

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Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« on: September 14, 2022, 04:08:42 pm »
  I recently received an EBAY Elektro with a good heater
and bad engine.  The bad engine was replaced with a pretty
good engine (still a little blow-by), all joints tightened
up, heater plugged in, and five minutes later off it went.



two out of five ain't too bad

Wayne
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Re: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2022, 10:23:25 pm »
Nice going, Wayne! Got 'er at least running. That's the first one of those engines I've seen with the tag on the boiler side of the engine. Seems they normally have the tag on the engine side. Curious...

I've supposedly got one of those arriving tomorrow. Might need to get a few more to make it run!   :D 

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A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

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Re: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2022, 06:25:30 am »
very nice - I guess I need to start looking for some of those now ;-)
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Richard

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Re: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2022, 10:18:46 am »
Paula....thanks for the comments.

  I have...five, four with the tag on the
boiler side and one on the engine side.  Go
figure.  I'll be trying it again to see if
I was dreaming.  If it runs I'll clean it
up and....

  And, in an Elektro thread a complaint was
made about loose crank bearings.  I have at
least one with 1/4" brass tube bushings.  I
do not know when they were added.

Fool for Elektros,
Wayne
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Re: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2022, 03:17:25 pm »
I have two Electro engines in my collection, both have no play in the crankshaft and both have the tag on the front. The green and red paint has me stumped as there is no black paint under the green or red. So, they probably had different colors at different times during the short production.
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Re: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2022, 12:02:24 pm »
Hi Brad, thanks for posting the picture of your two stamped-base Elektro engines! In addition to the interesting color combination, I've noticed that the manufacturer seems to have used both aluminum and brass nameplates on these engines.

Given the other modifications that were made to the engine on the right, I think it's likely that a previous owner did the off-standard painting. For one, the original factory paint job was not all that durable. I'm getting ready to restore one now, and the original paint was quite easy to remove. Of course, it's a hundred year-old engine! Also, it looks as though whoever did the green paint, went ahead and painted inside the cylinder:

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I don't believe they would have done this at the factory. You never know, though!
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Re: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2022, 06:14:01 pm »
It has been a head scratcher since the day I got it. Here is a better pic. Stamped base, but brass tag. There is no other paint under the green or red and the paint is sprayed on, not brushed. That is the puzzler. Who would strip the paint off the cylinder block and back then, have spraying equipment. Because it was sprayed, there is green overspray in the cylinder. Factory made for Christmas? We will never know. I have discussed this with other collectors, with no answer.
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Re: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2022, 09:42:30 am »
True, we will never know.

  However, spraying paint has been around for a very long time.
And, if it was a spray job it might have been done mid-life,
say in the 1970's.  It is a puzzlement but should not affect
the 'fun' quotient.

Wayne
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Re: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2022, 08:30:34 pm »
I also believe the red and green paint are someone’s restoration attempt in the past. We have to remember that, as these toys surpass 100 years of age, a sprucing up 40 or 50 years ago, as Wayne mentioned, starts to look like an original finish these days.
And yes, spraying paint has been around a long time, although the paint on my cast iron 1919 Elektro is super thick. Almost like it was dunked in the paint, but no evidence of brush strokes.
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Mike

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Re: Elektro runs - two non-runners to make one
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2022, 06:25:06 pm »

Thank you for sharing the video.

2 out of 5 is really not too bad. :)
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