[charlie]

Alastair welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place, I am custodian of the Geo Monro factory records which the VHGMC have. I can date your machine from the serial number, although this may have been lost when engine was changed. In my own collection of literature I have manuals for all models of Monro Tiller and related engines. I am also a volunteer at MERL where the drawings for Geo Monro machines are held and I have been catalogueing these for MERL.

[charlie]

demaskie if you could post a photo it would help us see what the problem might be.

[charlie]

Aghhhh rumbled.

[charlie]

As trusty220 said it is good to see these machines saved.
Off topic, nice Land Rover 101, looks tidier than mine.

[charlie]

The BSA E and G engines are 420cc, looking at the diagram in the parts list it looks as if pulley is held on by large nut on end of crankshaft. Instruction manual does not sat anything about removal.

[charlie]

No clues so far regarding make of engine, magneto or carburettor. I have now found what I assume is an engine number on the crankcase.
Thinking about what to do with this machine I may clean up one side and leave the other as found. Amazingly the large nut holding the wheel on came undone with no effort, one was almost finger loose.
Photos show engine number, axle with wheel removed and oil level sight glass on front of crankcase.

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[charlie]

Chris, the machine came from near Rotherfield. I believe Geo Monro took over in 1930 and think machine dates from the 1920’s. A 1938 advert for the 50 shows a 16 year old model 4.

[charlie]

Unfortunately they are an obsolete size and rare as hens teeth.

[charlie]

Even after all these years there are still traces of the original paint.

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[charlie]

A before and after view of the one wheel I have cleaned up so far using air chisel.

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[charlie]

No idea how long it was buried, possibly 40 or 50 years. I have started to clean it up, attacking the heavy rusting on the wheels with an air chisel. Restoration would be a very expensive job, as I suspect the engine internals are rusted solid due to water ingress. After cleaning I might be tempted to attempt a strip down of the machine just to see.

[charlie]

After about 2 hours of lifting. pushing and removing years of mud and dirt, finally got the machine loaded and it is home. A few photos of the recovery operation more to follow when I have cleaned it up more.
I used a high lift jack to lift the machine up from its resting place and get it on to the ramps off the trailer. After removing as much dirt and mud as possible from the wheels, then putting a large metal bar through the wheels, I was able t get them turning. It was then a case of pushing and pulling it from garden to trailer and winching it on to trailer.
In the second photo you can see where the machine was, it is where the orange high lift jack is.

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[charlie]

Update, I will be travelling down to Sussex this weekend to recover this machine. Below is an advert from an old copy of The Fruit Grower magazine showing the type 4.

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[charlie]

Latest update.
The FBHVC have now submitted their response. I gave them some input regarding the type of machines our members own and the impact any changes to legislation could have. I also sent a response on behalf of the club and another myself.
The following is an extract from the latest issue of the FBHVC newsletter, ‘The intention of the Federation would be to propose solutions which are as favourable to our membership as possible. Not all readers will realise that amongst our members are the owners of historic mowers and similar equipment! They deserve our support as much as any other category of member.’
We will now have to wait and see what happens next.

[charlie]

Welcome to the forum. I don’t know the correct spark plug, but it may be worth looking to see what the Green Spark Plug Company have when you do find out.

[Author]

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