Questions on 3 hp Novo

[Toesmack]

Getting a 3hp Novo up and running for the first time in approx 20 years, and got a few questions for the more experienced Novo owners among us. 1919 model year. Ser # 51971

1. Oil level, how do you determine correct level and can it be filled without pulling crankcase covers?

2. How is the gap between the carb and cylinder sealed?

3. Gap between breather and flywheel is just enough to remove a finger or two. Is this normal, or do you guys slide flywheel out on the shaft?

4. Advantage or disadvantage of the hopper cover?

Older restoration just needed bit of tweeking and little paint removal, did have it running today, but need to reseal the carb to the cyl to stop fuel running onto the floor.

Nice looking engine, hope to get it dialed in to take to the Gardnerville NV show this weekend. Any help would be appreciated!

[Dan Hodge]

You will need to pull one of the covers to get oil into the crank. I have seen Novos that have two plugs in the crank. One for a drain and one at the correct oil level. If you dont have plugs one above another on the side of crank then you fill so the nuts on the connecting rod gust dip into the oil.

On the 3 HP novo the breather is close to the flywheel at least with one of the breathers they used. Just spin flywheels from ignition side. You will only forgit to do this once. :-)

The cove is not needed. Just keep water over the head and you will be fine.

As for the carb sealing, I have used some silicone RTV on one of my Novos.

Here is my 3 HP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KodK...&feature=g-upl

[Toesmack]

That's what I like about this site, always somebody with the info you need!

Used a sealer (silicone based product) by 3 Bond #1194 and seems to work well. Got the intake leak dried up, and was able to get it running much cleaner with very little smoke.

Did have the oil overfilled, and it slobbered everywhere. Drained it down and dried things up quite a bit.

Governor seems to make quite a bit of noise, but from the design I assume this is normal. I hear a bit of that in your video. On the flip side of that, gov does not seem to regulate very well. RPM varies greatly even though I detect no binding in the system. Any pointers there?

[Dan Hodge]

My governor is loud and so is my breather. You may need to adjust the catch that holds the latch up for the exhaust valve. Just a thought. Have fun and keep playing with it untill you are happy.

[ErikG]

For the loud breather question........try making a new leather gasket. They are easy to make. ~1/8th inch thick leather cut in circle to correct size and saturate with oil. The originals are usualy dried out and make a loud clatter. This will also help keep the oil slobber to a minimum.

The governer latch out is a balancing act in spring tension between the flyweight spring and the speed control spring.

Good Luck,

Erik