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A couple of years ago I was given a lead to an Anzani Powermow that had been lurking in the under growth at the end of a private garden. Not so much a barn find as a hedgerow rescue. It had been covered up but had been there for over ten years – possibly nearer twenty- and had gradually become exposed to the elements. Fortunately, the grass box was painted alloy and had not succumbed to the dreaded tin worm.
I will mainly let the images tell the story, starting with “as found” and proceeding through the strip and rebuild.To be continued!
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Anzani part two – bottom blade and rear roller.
The bottom blade should be lipped, but the lip was nearly gone. That combined with a well-worn cutting cylinder meant that they barely touched. A fair amount of asking around including Garfitts failed to produce a blade, but a sort through the “might come in useful” bin produced one for a Greens Zephyr which lent itself to some modification. The next issue was that the sole plate as well as being an alloy casting was a bit corroded and wasted and not likely to put up with any welly from an impact driver, so each screw had to have the welding treatment. The screws were countersunk and flush with the blade, so a washer was welded to each with a loop of mig wire underneath to prevent the cooling shrinkage pulling the washer down onto the blade. A nut on edge was then welded to the washer – safer and more effective than welding straight to the screw. The heat from the weld plus penetrating fluid and a bit of gentle wiggling resulted in 100% success, with no sheared screws or damaged threads.
Using the Anzani blade as a template, the Zephyr blade was modified accordingly, some holes being redundant and others “just not right” being welded up and redrilled.The rear roller. This is a three section alloy rubber covered unit. The main issue there was that moisture had crept between the rubber and alloy, the consequent corrosion having blown the rubber away from the alloy. My concern was to preserve the rubber if at all possible. The extent of the separation was such that it was possible to insert a hacksaw blade between the rubber and alloy and gently remove the corrosion – blowing it out with the air line. It was then a matter of re-securing rubber to alloy. After considerable consultation, a suitable adhesive was chosen and squirted in from each end of each section one at a time, with each being left to cure clamped up with an alloy sleeve and large Jubilee clips. It seems to have worked and put up with some gentle experimental trips up the lawn!
Apologies, Had an issue with image posting and they are out of order.
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As I remember someone saying, every 5 minute job is only a sheared bolt away from been an all day job.
Never a truer word- or two!
Back to the Anzani. Here’s an image to show the amount of metal wastage on the exposed to the weather side during its sojourn in the undergrowth, and another showing the complete absence of front rollers and the front roller shaft, with just the springs that separated them. The shaft, although corroded, could be persuaded into a piece of 15mm copper water pipe, and the homemade rollers were drilled to accommodate it.
The chassis is made of welded steel plate of generous thickness, so did not need structural reinforcement so rather than smother the wastage in filler, it’s been left as is.
It has had a short run up the lawn and all is well mechanically, but at this stage in proceedings, other distractions have taken precedence. It could do with stronger springs in the centrifugal clutch, but the major job is to make a belt guard – unless anyone has one going spare. The shape of the guard is not immediately obvious, or how it is fitted. If anyone has a similar machine, an image or two of the guard will be greatly appreciated.Attachments:
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