Reply To: Request a list of the “beautiful” WWII era motors

[Honorcode]

Thank you squierka39. I am enjoying this new hobby as I try to figure out what to do with my unplanned early retirement. But there are sharks in the water that want to take advantage of my ignorance. For the last three motors that I wanted to buy, all of the seller were not being honest with me. For example:

1 – 1939 Johnson MS39 – There is one for sale on an auction / museum web site. It is a stunning green with chrome. I was tempted to buy it even though it is very expensive. In doing research, I learned that it is missing its spark plug aluminum cover. The advertisment states that the motor is complete, fully restored, and operational. When I contacted the dealer about the missing part, he said that it is being sold-as is, as pictured, and there is no warranty expressed. He made no apology for misrepresenting the motor as being complete.

2 – There is a 1938 Clarke troller listed on e-bay. It has the spring starter, and a custom stand with a battery box. The price is steep, but it is advertised as “new” and the has a long description which makes them seem like they are an authority in this motor. A recently met a antique motor mechanic, he looked at the pictures and warned me not to buy it. He said that the starter pully is “fake”, it is a low-budget rebuild that is not probably not compatable with the spring starter. he also said that the tiller appears to be a home-made bolt-on item.

My take away is that it is very hard to buy an antique motor over the internet.

Thanks again for the reply.