[charlie]

Stripping the clutch, which is a cone clutch, revealed a new lining would be required. This was carried out by a clutch and brake relining company, not cheap, but a very necessary job. Little did I know just how much more this restoration was going to cost!!

[charlie]

This was about as far as I got in 2005.
Major problems identified, fuel tank rotted out, tin work around rotors almost non existent, engine side covers rusted through in places and hinges broken. Handle bar adjustment to swing left or right seized solid and something certainly not right with big end of engine as it would only rotate so far. Magneto would need a full rebuild and radiator was an unknown regarding leaks. I took the radiator away to have it tested and was very pleased to find it was OK.
After much heating, soaking with penetrating oil, gentle taps with soft hammer the handle bar adjuster sleeve was still firmly stuck. I decided a bit more persuasion was needed so using a flat ended bit in the SDS drill set to hammer only I attacked the sleeve. Holding the drill against one end of the sleeve a gentle plume of smoke like rust emerged from the other end, something was happening! Further application of the drill to both ends alternating between them and eventually there was movement, success.
The next job was to tackle the engine and clutch. It was now January 2006.

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[charlie]

Inside the rotor drive, again nice and oily and rust free.

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[charlie]

Wheels removed.

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[charlie]

Handle bar and fuel tank support bracket which are mounted on the gearbox cover.

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[charlie]

Cylinder barrel removed, a bit of scuffing on the piston. The engine is rated at 11hp.

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[charlie]

With the gearbox cover removed I was able to see that there was still oil in there and it looked to be fairly rust free.

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[charlie]

The strip down then started, I was helped by my eldest son Alex. Remarkably most nuts and bolts came undone without the need to cut them off. Although the machine dates from 1930-36 metric threads are used as it is Swiss made.

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[charlie]

I started the restoration in Sept 2005 by taking over 50 photographs of the machine and various parts from both sides, front, rear and above to make sure I knew what it had looked like and what went where, before I started the strip down.

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[charlie]

Spammer sorted now.

[charlie]

Thanks for that I did miss them, got them now.

[charlie]

Coil has two windings HT and LT one side of each is connected to earth, the other side of LT goes to points and the HT goes to plug lead. Hope that helps.

[charlie]

Is that a Ransomes Ace? Mine has a small brass plate on the handles cross piece.

[charlie]

Odd how IH went to the trouble of marking everything, which must have added some small cost. The hidden identity of the Elec Trak poses an interesting dilema I guess, do you restore it with the GE logo showing or hidden?

[charlie]

For those wondering, the various Monro and other leaflets are part of the club archive, all material saved from Mechanised Gardening when they closed. This all needs sorting, cataloguing and indexing so we know exactly what is there.

[Author]

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