FL engine number.

[NickPoll]

Hello, A few years ago I picked up a Scott crankcase at the Mannheim autojumble in Germany. The seller was from Latvia. The engine number is ” FL 3244A “. The FL prefix isn’t shown in the Scott book. The number is clearly shown on both sides of the casing and I’m sure has been there from new. Any ideas ? The main bearing area is different from the norm and it has the very hard old remains of a rubber oil seal. More pictures can be posted if you are interested. Nick.

[Roger Moss]

Hi Nick. It would be interesting to see a view on the normal crank centreline as what looks like a small diameter seal is not on the centreline
We never stop learning. Kindest Regards Roger

[NickPoll]

Hello Roger,
Here’s another photo. The oil seal is in the centreline of the crank, it’s just the first photo was deceiving. Any clues on the engine code ?
regards, Nick.

[NickPoll]

I find it hard to believe that no one has ever heard of an FL engine code. Is it that rare ? regards, Nick.

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

I’ve never come across this engine number prefix before….. I wonder if it was built as a stationary engine, thus not entered in the motorcycle despatch ledgers.
Brian

[Anonymous]

Although I’ve never seen one of the FL prefixes I would take a guess as Brian mentioned that they were stationary engine crankcases. With FY and FZ the F meant a 68.25mm stroke but the Y giving a 600cc and the Z a 500cc, letters which ID’s later engines of those capacities too.

However… there were LFY and LFZ numbers issued in the early-mid 1930’s. Just to confuse matters they had a 71.4mm stroke.

So as a guess I would say the FL was a short stroke stationary engine of niether 500cc or 600cc, perhaps less than 500cc. Knowing what Scott was like perhaps a 68.25mm stroke and a 66.6mm bore to give a low revving high torque engine favoured in stationary applications.

Cheers,
Richard

[NickPoll]

Thanks to both of you for that theory. I had never thought of it being from a stationary engine. Maybe that’s the answer ? I think my TT Rep. has also decided it’s engine is a stationary unit, as it refuses to make noises ! Well, that’s not quite true. The other day it refused to start from cold. It had plenty of fuel getting through, good spark etc. In the end I gave up. I went over to it today, didn’t touch the fuel tap or tickler and it fired up first kick and sounded fine. Bl–dy bike, but I do love it though. God know why. regards, Nick.

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Does the Rep have a Binks carb by any chance ?…..
Brian

[NickPoll]

Hello Brian, It has an Amal. I’ll take a photo of the carb tomorrow. It’s not a correct flange type, I changed that last week. This one is a stub fitting on a machined round flange casting. Nick.

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