DESJARDINS (12hp).
St. André de Kamouraska, Québec.

Desjardins 12HP Restoration Details
Restored by Joe Kelley, completed 2007

This engine was purchased in August 2004 at the Pageant of Steam in Canandaigua, NY. The engine was a candidate for a major restoration as it was missing the hopper, had a broken flywheel and was missing various other parts. This engine has a 7 bore x 12 1/4 stroke. Flywheel face width is 3 and the diameter is 42. First step was to remove the head. The flywheel and crankshaft were next so as to allow for easy removal of the stuck piston and rod. All these parts were removed without any damage. Also removed were the remnants of the broken flywheel. In addition to the broken flywheel, the crankshaft was bent. This was straightened. Replacing the water hopper was a major project. Steel plate was the easiest and affordable material available. After an extensive search for a shop that could bend the steel necessary for the hopper, a local shop was contacted and after several attempts, dies were located with the correct radius needed to duplicate the original shape of the hopper. The 10hp hopper was used as a pattern for this process. Steel pieces were cut and bent. The welding and fabrication process began. Once completed the hopper was sandblasted to remove any mill scale. Steel epoxy was used to form the bevel needed to simulate the casting around the opening at the top. The hopper was then filled, sanded and primed until the appearance was satisfactory. New gaskets were made and the hopper was installed on the cylinder with all new fasteners. The next major project was getting a new flywheel cast. The original flywheel pattern was located, but was missing a hub on one side. A new wooden hub, using the opposite side as a pattern, was made. The pattern was transported to NY in August of 2005, to have a new flywheel cast. and in September a new flywheel was picked at Oneida Foundry. New skids were cut, finished and assembled with the engine being installed on them. In July, 2006 the flywheel casting was machined, the hub bored, the keyway broached, then installed on the crankshaft after being trued up. After attempting to remove the rings from the piston and having to break them out, 4 new rings (7 x 3/8) were ordered. New square headed set screw bolts and nuts were purchased and the holes retapped to hold the new wrist pin in place. A new bronze bushing was machined and installed in the original connecting rod, with the original babbit and end cap, new shims were made. The cylinder bore was cleaned out and slightly honed. A new decompression valve was installed. New exhaust and intake valves, were machined to size. New valve guides were machined and installed. New valve springs were made. The head was installed with a new head gasket, new head bolts and nuts. Two helicoils were installed due to marginal thread engagement in the block. The original exhaust elbow was removed from the head and a new one installed, along with a new cast iron muffler. The original rocker arm bracket, and rocker arm were missing. Both parts were re-cast. The mounting holes were drilled, then installed on the head with a new pin for the rocker arm to ride on. A new oiler was installed. The magneto trip bracket was missing. This was cast and machined and installed on the original pushrod. A new trip finger assembly was purchased as this was missing. A new roller was machined for the camshaft to ride on as the original was badly worn. The original pushrod and governor assembly was re-installed on the engine. A new magneto was located as the original was missing. The original ignitor/bracket was intact and unbroken. This was cleaned up and a new set of points installed. The original gas tank bracket was missing, a new one was cast and installed. A new gas tank was fabricated along with a new fuel line, pickup tube and check valve. A new needle assembly was machined and installed.

This engine displaces 471 cubic inches, Wow!
On November 19, 2006, the engine was started and ran great. A couple of minor adjustments were all that was needed. John Elward, Barry Thomas and Dave Huling assisted in the start up. Thanks! Another Desjardins has come back to life! What a great feeling to see and hear this engine run again!
In the summer of 2007, the original governor gear guard (after repairs were made) was sent to Cattail Foundry to be used as a pattern for 3 new guards to be made. Two of the re-cast guards were sent to Brian Domney in Saskatchewan, Canada. One new guard was installed on the 12HP engine. In exchange for this favor, Brian sent his crankshaft guard to Tomahawk Foundry in Wisconsin so that I could have 2 guards made, 1 for the 12HP engine and 1 for the 10HP engine. This guard was painted and installed. The engine was painted, parts re-assembled, and striped. New self-adhesive stencils were made up, and the warning and Desjardins company was painted on the hopper.
Crew members: Jim Goupee, Warren Chatto, John Elward, Ben Albert, Jim Steele, Charlie Bryant, Brian Domney
Materials: Oneida Foundry, Cattail Foundry, Otto Gas Engine, Otto Sideshaft, O & R Lumbra, Charlie Alton, Stiman Steel, Johnston Machine, Bill Graves, Essex Brass, Tomahawk Foundry, Maine Signs
Note: This particular engine has been the most ambitious restoration I have undertaken since my involvement in this hobby. Thank you to all the individuals who got on board with me to accomplish this. This restoration project completes an entire set of all 6 sizes built by La Compagnie Desjardins of St-Andre-de-Kamouraska, Quebec.

	12hp. (before 1).
	12hp. (before 2).
	12hp. (after 1).
	12hp. Desjardins carb side.
	12hp. rocker arm and muffler.
	12hp. governor gear guard.
	12hp. fuel line.
	12hp. fuel line and tank.
	12hp. gas tank and bracket.
	12hp. gas tank bracket support.
	original governor gear guard.
	governor gear guard used as a pattern for new castings.
	12hp. Desjardins magneto side.
	12hp. magneto trip bracket.
	12hp. new head bolts.
	12hp. piston, connecting rod, pin, rings.
	12hp. detent.
	first start up in November 2006.
	first start up in November 2006.
	12hp. governor gear and shaft.
	new cast and machined flywheel installed on crankshaft.
	12hp. hopper components.
	12hp. hopper being fabbed.
	12hp. hopper Jim welding.
	12hp. hopper with top ring in position.
	hopper sandblasted, epoxied and primed.
	12hp. piston being installed.
	12hp. tapping for head bolts.
	12hp. piston installed.
	primed hopper and flywheels assembled.
	12hp. rocker arm and muffler installed.
	12hp. with head installed.
	new piston pin and rings.
	piston installed crankshaft spacer.
	new paint clutch pulley side.
	new paint magneto side.
	new paint working end.
	new paint head and muffler end.
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