01/08/2026
A restoration job we recently completed was to recommision the National Diesel engine used to power a local landmark, Bennett's Flax Scutch Mill located in Ennish, Lisgallon road Co Tyrone.
The engine had damaged the big end and we were tasked with re-casting the white metal bearings and machining them to suit the crank pin. We reassembled the bearings after some scraping of their thrust and radius faces, set the clearances, primed the oil lines and got the engine running.
The attached reel illustrates some of the work entailed in such a job and also shows the engine and mill in operation.
Interestingly, this engine was purchased by the current owner's father in 1940 from McKee's garage located less than 3 miles from the mill. The engine stayed at the mill for decades until it was sold into preservation, then brought back to the mill after its restoration. Please get in contact if you would like a tour of the mill to be arranged.
For any magneto, metalling or machine work, get in touch.
