[43128]

Knew it

 

[snowflitesly]

Is that the real name?
Princess Auto?
They just don't go together for me for an auto parts store. :hellno:

Princess Auto is not an auto parts store, You cannot walk in there and get a ball joint for that Ford F150.


This retailer store started in the canadain west, Winnipeg, Manitoba to be exact in the early 40's as a farm, industrial, garage, hydraulics and surplus items distributor.


Now, they even have a line of PC accessories....


They seem very reluctant to open a branch here in Quebec, Then again, this may be because of our own province's government.....meh


EDIT 5 min later: But I do relate to the contradicting name as I get eye balled when I mention this store to someone who does not know it exists, like I'm some sort of fairy, lol.

 

[snowflitesly]

Oh, and I'd liked to thank Bolens4ever for sharing his teardown with us, get the facts out, nice job

 

[mrfixit]

"Princess"
"Pep"

No comparison. IMO.

 

[Normex]

Just to add on the PowerFist line of engines, they are actually Ducar engines made by a reputable company in China.
Ducar also build over 500,000 of 250cc class motorcycles and they build fine generators which I own for the last 10 years and running without a hitch, lastly they supply the Chinese Army for all their small generators needs.
They are all lined with cast iron sleeves and should be run with synthetic oil since in the event of overheating they will suffer much less damage.
I have 3 Ducar engines and they all perform very good.
BTW in Canada MTI Canada is the supplier of Ducar engines in Quebec.
http://www.mticanada.ca/en/contact.html#siegeSocial

Good Luck All

Norm

 

[snowflitesly]

......
BTW in Canada MTI Canada is the supplier of Ducar engines in Quebec.
MTI Canada inc. - Farm machinery and Outdoor Power Equipment | Contact us

Good Luck All

Norm

thanks Norm for the heads up on this engine, i'm not a fan, but, never know, one day, maybe that is all that will be left on the market


I'm right on the border of Ottawa, so going to Princess is not a problem, maybe an hour and a half set back, depending how long i'm there. A lot of Quebec plates in the parking lot, lolll

 

[Taurus04]

Princess Auto Wrecking (PAW) began life in 1933. The original owner sold the company to Harvey Tallman in 1942 for the money he received when he sold his truck.
Harvey began by selling auto parts to customers who came into his small outlet on Princess Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba. By the 1950's, PAW was buying parts in the United States, buying cars all over Western Canada, and Harvey had begun to travel in search of new products needed by farmers across Canada. Most of the products were War Surplus, and it was with those items that the first Princess Auto Catalogue was created.
Eventually, the Princess Street location became too small. The company relocated to a much larger location on the corner of Fort and York and created a small manufacturing division. In time, Shur-Lift Industries would become a major supplier to PAW, which would change its name several times, first to Princess Auto and Machinery, and later, simply to Princess Auto (PAL).

 

[Bolensforever]

See if this works. Pics of liner.

Overall
Power Fist Liner 1 Pictures, Power Fist Liner 1 Images, Power Fist Liner 1 Photos, Power Fist Liner 1 Videos - Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting

Closer up
Power Fist Liner 2 Pictures, Power Fist Liner 2 Images, Power Fist Liner 2 Photos, Power Fist Liner 2 Videos - Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting

Not sure why the links appear this way, not what I put. But the pictures are correct.

 

[snowflitesly]

Princess Auto Wrecking (PAW) began life in 1933. The original owner sold the company to Harvey Tallman in 1942 for the money he received when he sold his truck.
Harvey began by selling auto parts to customers who came into his small outlet on Princess Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba. By the 1950's, PAW was buying parts in the United States, buying cars all over Western Canada, and Harvey had begun to travel in search of new products needed by farmers across Canada. Most of the products were War Surplus, and it was with those items that the first Princess Auto Catalogue was created.
Eventually, the Princess Street location became too small. The company relocated to a much larger location on the corner of Fort and York and created a small manufacturing division. In time, Shur-Lift Industries would become a major supplier to PAW, which would change its name several times, first to Princess Auto and Machinery, and later, simply to Princess Auto (PAL).

Our Story | Princess Auto

 

[Normex]

Many thanks for the PA original story as I remember receiving their catalog from Winnipeg in the 60`s.
Btw I called MTI if the cast iron sleeves were interchangeable and was told they were not.
Thanks also to Bolens for the trouble of putting us on the right page with these fine engines.
Just wondering though it seems like you had the summer engine right?

Take care All

Norm

 

[clamdigger]

All this "Warm and Fuzzy" about Winnipeg's Princess Auto, does anyone remember " The Pegs" other beloved catalogue/store, SIR (Sydney I Robinson), I loved getting that thing in the mail. I think my age is starting to show when Cabela's, SIR, and PAuto are my preferred reading material for that special room

 

[Bolensforever]

Yes, it is a summer engine, they don't have a 420 for winter. It's in a tractor though so it is getting some shielding from the weather. It never occurred to me about changing a sleeve, I guess I assumed they are cast into the block but maybe they are just pressed in.

Most likely by the time we wear out a sleeve other components would be going such as crank pin, connecting rod, piston/rings.

I guess what really blows me away on these engines is that you can have four complete units for the price of a Honda.

 

[GregNL]

Major props for taking on that investigative work, Bolens! That's why I started this thread as I, and perhaps others, were curious of the difference between the now unmarked PowerFist engines about the type of sleeve liner, if any, and how it may differ from the Pro.Point.

Once again, :rock: :icon-clapping-smile :bowing:

Kudos to Normex for the background on these engines as well! :goodjob:

 

[Normex]

Yes, it is a summer engine, they don't have a 420 for winter. It's in a tractor though so it is getting some shielding from the weather. It never occurred to me about changing a sleeve, I guess I assumed they are cast into the block but maybe they are just pressed in.

Hi Bolens, I beg to differ on the 420 being unavailable for winter unless you mean't they did not have any in stock.
I am on my second year running my blower with the winterized 420cc Powerfist (Ducar) engine and it starts first pull with 4 push of primer.
Here are a few pics of my setup and notice also the red heating handles from MTD.

 

[Bolensforever]

Hi Bolens, I beg to differ on the 420 being unavailable for winter unless you mean't they did not have any in stock.
I am on my second year running my blower with the winterized 420cc Powerfist (Ducar) engine and it starts first pull with 4 push of primer.
Here are a few pics of my setup and notice also the red heating handles from MTD.

Well Normex, that is interesting. I went back to GregNL's last picture in his opoening post and thought I don't remember seeing any winterized engines online, let alone a 420cc.

When I search "ohv engine" on their site I get 17 engines, no winterized ones. And now that I think about it, when I went to St John to get this 420 I went through the rack of engines and did see smaller winterized but didn't pay much attention to them. Wonder why they don't appear online? Maybe they are just in certain store?

BTW, like the tow behind seat for the blower, would be good for long driveways!

 

[Normex]

Well Normex, that is interesting. I went back to GregNL's last picture in his opoening post and thought I don't remember seeing any winterized engines online, let alone a 420cc.

When I search "ohv engine" on their site I get 17 engines, no winterized ones. And now that I think about it, when I went to St John to get this 420 I went through the rack of engines and did see smaller winterized but didn't pay much attention to them. Wonder why they don't appear online? Maybe they are just in certain store?

BTW, like the tow behind seat for the blower, would be good for long driveways!

From what I read previously the winterized engines appear as a seasonal item and once their stock are sold, that's it till next season.
If one asks the store where there are still some left over, they could direct you. If you really wanted you could return the one you have and exchange it for a winterized one with your invoice.

The sulky I had fashioned 2 yrs ago is because I have Multiple Sclerosis which limits on how far I can walk but this permits me to do my laneway of 160 ft by 2 car width.

Good Luck

Norm

 

[Normex]

Also with some search the Pro.Point engines are also made by Ducar but I can't find why they sell for more albeit for not that much of a big difference. Besides cosmetics I bet both engines are exactly the same.

 

[Newfieboi]

So, I received a reply back this evening regarding the difference in cylinder liners between the PowerFist and Pro.Point engines: unfortunately that is incorrect some power fist engines do indeed have a cast iron sleeve.



The PowerFist do indeed have an aluminum liner. If you're looking for a Canadian version of the Predator or Honda GX Clone then Pro.Point is one option. How they compare otherwise I'm not sure.

 

[hidro669]

Is that the real name?
Princess Auto?
They just don't go together for me for an auto parts store. :hellno:

Princess Auto's name is a legacy from earlier versions of the company, which has evolved significantly since its founding in 1933 as Princess Auto Wrecking, located on Princess Auto St. in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The original owner sold the company to Harvey Tallman in 1942 for the money he received when he sold his truck. Sept 9, 2020

 

[Yanmar Ronin]

Far out... 😎