Ransomes14

[vhgmcbuddy]

Angus: thanks for the tip, I’ll get some of that and give it a change, hopefully it’ll stop trying to smoke me out then!! Yes, the starter pulley is hand made from wood, it works well just wrapping the cord around and giving it a good pull!! Roughly what age do you think it is then?

Snr: you only got the “old man” because a little further up I was referred to as “the boy” as I recall, when putting the chain back on the gem it was you “fetching the spanners” and me doing the work, “the boy” status should be more aimed at you…. Mind you, that would make me the “old man”…….

[roatavator]

Ok, I give up, but re the Gem, someone had to take the supervisory role.

[wristpin]

I will do a bit of research on the manufacturing period for your machine.
I acquired the manual that I scanned in around 1979 or 80 when a large local dealership was closing down and all their manuals were dumped in a heap in a corner of the workshop. A deal was done with the liquidator’s man on site before a two day auction of stock and equipment. I had an Escort estate at the time and it was two trips with the seats down and headlights pointing skywards!
Anyway, back to the subject. The manual was well used and grubby in 79 and makes reference to Mk2s which suggests that the model may have been around in the 60s or even earlier.

[hillsider]

According to information contained in the book Seventy Years Of Garden Machinery by the author Brian Bell the Ransomes Model Fourteen (petrol and an electric version) was introduced in 1964 and was in production until 1969 when it was withdrawn.
The book also states that earlier versions of this mower used a BSA 65cc four stroke engine but was later replaced by a 65cc Villiers engine.
From what I have seen I suspect that the change of engine was more of a name change than an engine swap, maybe Angus will throw some more light on the subject with his research.
Just one question though, I have one of these engines on a Ransomes Sprite mower and the fuel tap is located inside the filler neck of the fuel tank as I found out when the sealing washer split and I could not find the fuel tap! Are all versions of this engine equipped this way?

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thanks Angus, that makes quite an interesting story!! I wish when we moved at work I had room to store all the old leyland and scammell parts books we threw out, there was a bout two pallet fulls of them…….

Thanks ray, that’s narrowed it down quite a bit, I had a feeling it must be 60’s.

The fuel tap on mine is on the bottom of the carb, it’s made as part of the bottom cover to access the float chamber. It’s an Amal carb on it.

[Author]

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