[charlie]

I don’t think the Allen Scythe ever had a rotavator attachment. Not sure if the Howard 350 had scythe attachment. Howard Bantam did.

[charlie]

That is an interesting machine, unfortunately I cannot help with information, hopefully another of our members will.

[charlie]

Manuals are readily available for the Allen Scythe and Villiers engines. Parts for the engine are also available. Parts specific to the Allen Scythe are not, depending what parts are required, they are fairly sturdy and robust machines and plenty are still in use.

[charlie]

It will be well worth cleaning the points in the magneto if you do not have a spark as they can corrode if left unused for long periods. I am not familiar with the engine used on the Howard but I know the 2 stroke engines on my machines are reluctant to start if any excess fuel/oil mix is not drained from the crankcase. Fresh fuel mix is always a good idea too.

[charlie]

Standard WD40 is not a good penetrating oil, which is why I use PlusGas.

[charlie]

John, the flywheel is on a tapered shaft and can be extremely tight, probably never been off since assembled. I made up a puller to fit the holes in starting flange. I also applied heat to centre of flywheel whilst applying tension with the puller, also a good soaking with penetrating oil eg Plus Gas (not WD40). On my model 35 I ended up giving the flywheel a good whack with a soft hammer and the shock got it off. In fact it released with such a bang I thought I had broken it.

[charlie]

It might be worth contacting Cox and Turner Engineering They have a stock of piston rings and can make rings to size.

[charlie]

As I said I do not know make of engine but do know it is not JAP, Villiers etc, it could be SIMAR own design.
It is not uncommon for these engines to be seized due to water ingress down the exhaust pipe.
Cox & Turner Engineering can supply or make piston rings. They may also be able to help with identifying a gasket supplier or someone that can make them, which is the more likely solution.

[charlie]

The production records for Allen Scythe are held at the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), Reading. It might be worth contacting them, you will need the machine serial number.

[charlie]

John,
Machine serial number 561473 was delivered on 29/12/53 to AF & HV Williams, Piccadilly Nursery, Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire
The model 56 was built in the UK from 1948 by Geo Monro of Waltham Cross under licence from SIMAR, Geneva, Switerland. Unfortunately I do not know what make of engine they used.
You will find the nuts and bolts are metric, most UK built machines of this age would have used BSF and Whitworth threads.
I have sent you a personal message with my email address, (to view personal messages, log in then click on your user name and you will see messages tab) I can supply copies of owners manual and parts list.
Most of the original engineering drawings are held at the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), Reading.
There is a very good French website with information about all SIMAR models, the page for the 56 is at https://motoculteur-simar.fr/pages%20des%20machines/56a.html

[charlie]

Full details of Queen Marys Dolls House

[charlie]

Colin, could you post a photo please, it might help us work out a solution.

[charlie]

I have a number of adverts dating from 1959, taken from Amateur Gardening magazine, also a review of one of their flame guns, see below.
It may well be worth contacting the Museum of English Rural Life at Reading or the Garden Museum at Lambeth. Have you tried a search of Companies House records?

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[charlie]

The reply referred to above if you have not already seen it.
“Not sure what’s going on there but I suggest that you remove the connecting link and then lay the chain around the sprockets and see how it looks. In passing, it’s normally considered good practice to fit the clip on the joining link with the closed end in the direction of rotation.”

[charlie]

I would have said try Meetens, however they have now closed down and L&S Engineering have taken on the business, it might be worth giving them a try.
Alternative could be Villiers Parts

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