Vintage Horticultural and Garden Machinery Club

Brilliant job! She looks like she’s just rolled out of the factory. What green is the toolframe ? Cheers

Lovely, I’d have it in the house on display!

Brilliant job !

Great job on the pressure gauge. Whilst having some stickers done on my van recently I got talking to the guy doing it, who also makes signs for shops etc. I asked him about engraving Perspex and he told me he couldn’t see any problem with recreating your cover, he has 2 ways of doing it, one being a computer controlled engraving machine and he a…[Read more]

Great find ! I love the cobra emblem on the cover. Well done.

Yes the gem tank caps are identical and the carburettor float was from an gem JAP engine too. The magneto refurbishment story you described was exactly what I came up against. Not because he didn’t like them but because he is so busy with motorbike ones. But with some persistence and the fact he only lives 5 mins from me, he agreed to help me o…[Read more]

After a little break during the cold weather I started sourcing a few parts I needed to help finish her off mechanically and looks wise. The old carb float had a crack around the central stem so that would explain the over fuelling. A suitable donor carb was found and the float was perfect. As for the other running issues I decided to get the…[Read more]

Spot on Geoff, mechanism stuck, given it a good oiling and its beginning to free up. I’ll let it soak in for a few days. Cheers.

Thanks for the tip on the ultrasonic cleaner, I’ll have a look around and invest in one. I’ve looked at the mag and the impulse does operate but when it trips it just goes with a little click but if I’m not mistaken shouldn’t it go with a nice snap ? Is there a spring involved in the mechanism that may have failed ? Thanks for this all this help.

Correction sorry, .150 retarded. Should be at .375 btdc my points opened at .225 btdc. Please correct me if I’m wrong I’m learning as I do it. Cheers.

Now the re assembly is mostly complete I decided to give her start up, she ran roughly and after turning off all I can get now is a few seconds of spluttering and banging. So all of the usual things were checked spark etc and the carb was given a good blast out with solvent cleaner fuel lines replaced. None of which helped so I took the head off…[Read more]

That makes sense, yes the rounded part is missing then but I think I have the correct u bolts and plates as they have a couple of notches pressed out on them. These now obviously locate the top of the knife centrally on the plate whilst it pivots. Thanks

Had some help today with putting some bits back together.

Looking great ! Can’t wait to see her with some stickers.

Ah that’s where I went wrong, I put some pressure on it then started heating it up. I’ll leave it to cool off next time. Cheers for that tip.

The pin had unfortunately become one with the drawbar. So the oxyacetylene was employed along with the press. I cut the pin top and bottom of the drawbar and removed it from the casting then strapped it to the press. But it wasn’t to be as any hotter would have turned it into a liquid ! And the press was making creeking noises never heard b…[Read more]

Any tips on the best method of removing a very stuck drawbar pin ? It’s free in the casting but seized solid in the central steel part.

Engine tin work prepped and re painted with gloss engine lacquer, hopefully it will stand up to the odd splash of petrol.