Build a simple spare parts inventory for a Ruston Hornsby ‘T’ engine
A sensible stock list for a Ruston Hornsby ‘T’ should begin with preservation, not a large pile of uncertain components. Examples carrying the same class letter can differ in condition, equipment and service history, so the machine on the bench is a better guide than a generic shopping list. Photograph its identity plates, record what is fitted, and reserve space for parts that protect it during running or help complete a sensible strip-down.
The simplest useful system has three layers: everyday consumables, wear items likely to be needed at the next opening, and scarce recovery parts worth protecting. Quantities should reflect running hours, storage conditions and local availability. An engine displayed in Melbourne, stored near dusty workings west of Broken Hill, or kept in a humid coastal shed will not need the same stock. Keeping the list short makes it easier to check, find and update.
Identify the engine before ordering anything
The engine’s serial number and class information should anchor the inventory. Photograph the maker’s plate square-on, then take wider views of the crankcase, cylinder head, fuel tank, governor, magneto or ignition unit, starter, and belt-driven equipment. Note stamped numbers on the crankcase and accessories. Record dimensions only when they can be measured reliably, and label every photograph so the bench, flywheel, pipework and drive side can be recognised later.
Next, create a one-page operating profile from the manual and the engine itself. Establish fuel type, cooling method, cylinder dimensions, lubrication arrangement, governing speed and direction of rotation. Do not infer these details from the ‘T’ badge alone. Record approximate running hours, the time since it last ran, the frequency of starts, the type of load and any known faults. A cold, unused engine needs different preservation items from one that can be run regularly and inspected after every session.
The surroundings belong on that page too. Heat, coastal salt, dust and long damp periods affect seals, paint, electrical parts and stored lubricants. A background fuel consumption comparison between pre-war and post-war diesel stationary engines shows why duty cycles and fuel records matter, but its figures must not be treated as specifications for this T. Keep the T-specific manual, measured output and actual fuel observations separate.
Set a working stock that matches the engine’s use
Start with one complete service kit for the engine as identified, including the correct oil, specified grease, fuel-line materials and the appropriate filter or strainer. Keep enough oil for one drain-and-fill operation in reserve, preferably in sealed containers marked with the batch and date. For ignition, hold one tested spark plug where a plug is fitted, plus the correct points, condenser or equivalent components for a magneto-equipped engine. These items cost little to maintain and can be awkward to replace at short notice.
Next, hold one full gasket set and one inspected set of piston rings, valves, valve springs and small seals. Keep them only where dimensions and materials have been confirmed. Bearings, bushes and sleeves should be ordered to measured journal or bore sizes, not simply to the engine class. A low-hour engine rarely justifies spare pistons, crankshaft parts or cylinder barrels, whereas an overdue strip-down may make those early purchases sensible. Keep the immediate renewal kit separate from longer-term restoration stock.
Fuel and lubricant storage matters in Australia’s climate. Seal metal containers, keep them away from direct sun and heat, and follow relevant state and local rules for petrol, solvents and paraffin. Rotate stock so the oldest approved oil is used first. E10 is commonplace in parts of the Australian petrol market, but an older T’s carburettor, fuel lines and elastomer seals may not suit it. Confirm compatibility with a specialist before changing fuel or starting on unfamiliar pump petrol, and record the fuel selected along with any symptoms noticed.
Protect wear, ignition and drive parts
Small wear parts are the ones most likely to disappear from a crowded drawer. Give each a labelled envelope or rigid container, including piston rings, pin clips, circlips, valve springs, governor weights and springs, drive belts, fan belts where fitted, oil seals, pump seals and the small washers used at glands or drain plugs. Keep an original gasket in its own flat packet. Where copper, asbestos-composite or another period material is present, do not abrade or reshape it unnecessarily, and record any handling restrictions.
Electrical and starting parts deserve similar protection. For a magneto, spare points, a condenser, an insulated lead and suitable caps are useful additions; a distributor-equipped machine may need points, condenser, rotor and cap instead. Match brushes, bushings and starter components to the actual starter. For belt-driven plant, retain the belt dimensions, pulley widths and key sizes rather than buying several unlabelled lengths. A spare pulley is valuable only if its keyway, balance and finish are correct.
Fasteners should be treated as engineering parts, not loose workshop debris. British engines commonly use British Standard Whitworth or cycle-thread fasteners, but an altered nut or replacement bolt may be metric or Unified. Measure across flats, thread pitch, length and washer face before ordering. Keep matched sets of head bolts, studs, linkage pins and locking washers, with each group bagged around a card showing the component from which it came. The AJS Weatt collection provides another lead for supporting engineering information, but all dimensions should still be checked against the engine.
Source locally first, then across borders
Search the Australian market before buying overseas. Filtered listings on Australian eBay, agricultural and stationary-engine salvage yards, and specialist dealers can supply washers, belts and common electrical pieces. Search across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, then ask regional freighters whether they can check their networks. Hardware and fuel-system items may also be available from established suppliers such as Rare Spares in Perth, although an engine-specific dealer may be required. Record each seller, price, postage charge and delivery estimate in the inventory.
For imported pieces, obtain a clear description, photographs and dimensions before shipment. Australian border processing may include GST, duty and handling fees, so compare the landed cost with an Australian substitute. Used engine components should be clean, free of active rust and free of soil, timber and packing waste; declare their material, age, quantity and value accurately. Protect metal surfaces against transit rust without concealing the component. These customs practices reduce uncertainty and make the purchase easier to justify later.
Use substitutions as a controlled process, never as a guess. A modern fastener can be acceptable if its material, thread, length and corrosion resistance suit the application, but oil-line fittings, bearing materials, ignition parts and rotating components require close checking. Maintain a small swap register showing the original item, proposed replacement, measured dimensions, source and reason for fitting it. Ask a specialist fitter or electrical person whenever heat, vibration or safety is decisive. Remove an old component only after its dimensions and condition have been recorded.
Maintain a simple workshop system
Build the inventory as a spreadsheet that can be printed when a computer is unavailable. Useful columns include engine serial number, original part number, description, dimensions, material, quantity held, condition, storage location, compatible engine, source, cost in Australian dollars, date received and reorder point. Give every item an internal code tied to its envelope, shelf or container. For machine-made replacements, include the current supplier part number as a cross-reference, while preserving the old number because it often unlocks better photographs and specialist stock lists.
Place fast-moving consumables near the engine and archive restoration parts in a dry, labelled cabinet. A photograph showing each envelope, shelf and container makes locating a small item much faster. Mark quantities after every issue, and receive new parts directly into their labelled home. Use old stock first, then the newly arrived item. Date fuel lines, elastomer seals and packaged lubricants so ageing is visible rather than forgotten.
Review the list after every operating or maintenance session, rather than waiting for a failure. Test each new spare against the drawing or removed component before installation. Mark hard-to-obtain pieces as non-substitutable where that is known, and set a reorder level equal to one working set. Quarterly checks are enough for a rarely used exhibit, while an active engine may need monthly reviews. The record remains straightforward when every entry has a purpose, a location and a clear next action.
Begin the inventory at the next bench session: photograph the plates, separate the three stock layers, and place the first service kit, gasket set, labelled fastener group and critical wear items in their storage positions. That modest core will cover many interruptions while leaving room for engine-specific discoveries and creating a clear baseline for every future repair.
Keep the serial number, dated photographs, removed components and purchase details with the engine’s papers. Where documentation is missing, a clear note and correctly tagged part can save the next owner or restorer from repeating a costly mistake. A well-kept Ruston Hornsby ‘T’ inventory preserves rare mechanical evidence as carefully as it preserves the working machine.