Vintage Tractor Engineer

It is generally thought that the Standard Motor Company and Ricardo Engineering limited the success of the Standard 23C engine due to the design and dimensions of the entrance to the pre-combustion chambers. This single design element is often blamed for the poor starting performance of these engines.
Many engineers recommend the enlargement of this [...]

Paul has twin Standard 23C engines in the boat he is restoring.  Here is what Paul says about ‘Betsie Jane’, how he overcame some problems and how things are progressing…
Hi Steve,
I’ve finally fitted the 23cs to my boat and both engines fired up first
time!!
Fantastic I’m really chuffed.
My background is in carpentry, although I now teach [...]

The oil level on this Massey Ferguson 575 suddenly rose up the dipstick.
The oil hadn’t gone the milky/creamy colour consistent with water getting into the oil, but had become ‘thinner’ and had a slight smell of diesel.  Clearly diesel was entering the oil, but where was it coming from?

In this case the fuel lift pump [...]

We’ve had an email from a 4 cylinder 23C, Engine Rebuild DVD customer who is having a few problems with the timing procedure for the engine.  The DVD shows how to time the engine when it has been split from the clutch housing, but Henrik wanted to know if it were possible to determine Top [...]

We have been asked where to find a manifold primer pump for a 1959 Massey Ferguson 35.  The pump is no longer pumping fuel.
Unfortunately we can’t make any suggestions as to where to source this part, but it is probably just a seal which needs replacement and so would suggest stripping down the pump.   It [...]