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Hello Everyone, I had acquired a JAP 600cc and a Howard 810cc engines a few years ago, both missing parts and of course no way of starting them without engineering some kind of stand and crank. Recently I was offered a Howard GEM with the JAP engine, s/n UCZ/W 77806/4. Using the JAP Engine chart, this a 600cc, with side valves, 85.7 x 104 mm bore and stroke, sport engine with dry sump lubrication model year 1950. A little rough and one very bad tire but complete machine. There was also a snow plow that was either made to fit or had a few repairs along the years. 
Like many of you who have asked me about tyres, I'm in the same predicament. The original tyres are 20 x 4, 20" in O.D. and 4" wide. A 5 x 12 tire is basically the same. I had a old 5 x 12 tire that I attempted to install. While I was seating the beads, the tire and tube exploded, dry rot. Okay a call to M.E. Miller Tires at (419) 335-7010 and some new tires (4.80 x 12)and tubes are on their way. The tires and tubes from Miller fit great on the rims but are a close fit on the machine. 
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In the tool box was a collection of rusty tools and misc parts. I know the church key was for the beer can. 
The gas/oil tank needed the gas tank side cleaned and sealed. So I drained the oil tank and removed the tank from the GEM. The oil filter is secured by the gas tank U-bolts so I removed it also; disassembly and cleaned it. The filter, at least on this machine is a cloth rag wraped around a spring and stuffed in the filter housing. 
The JAP engine muffler and exhaust pipe is one piece. The exhaust pipe has a nut that connects it to the cylinder head. My machines exhuast pipe was rusted away and was patched with aluminum flashing wraped around the pipe and held on with radiator clamps. This patch failed causing the engine to backfire and be very noisy. I can not get the nut off of the cylinder so I came up with my own fix until I can and have a muffler shop weld up a new pipe. I slipped a sleeve into the muffler inlet and the cylinder outlet, I then used 1-3/4" flex pipe to complete the repair. Started the engine, nice and quiet, well almost but much better then it was before. 
She needed the normal maintenance for a machine that has been sitting for awhile, file the points on the mag, change the engine oil, and grease and oil every thing that moves. The parts engine donated it's carburetor as the original one needed some parts and TLC. A trip to the garden is now in order. Thanks again Bob, and God bless! |
