[vhgmcbuddy]

Good Morning everyone.

I am very grateful to all who have helped me so far and I hope that Charlie and Hortiman will see my messages that I have sent to them?

Thank you S1G, your information ties in with Hortiman’s information so it does seem that I have a relatively early Bullfinch. I have had a look at your website and it truly is superb and I am grateful that someone has taken the time to collect this valuable information and make it available to others. Hopefully, among your new information you may have a user and or parts manual for the bullfinch that you could possible let me have a copy of?

Unfortunately I have been unable to ascertain what the first serial number would be for a bullfinch? As an example, when the name was changed did Howard simply add 11 to the beginning of the 4 digit serial number or did they start a new number system, it would seem that a new number system was used?
Thank you Stuart for the clue (A25) belt and through an Australian site I have found that the correct belt would be an A24½ so that would be on the shopping list, My machine had an A21 belt fitted which explains a lot of things.
That said, something that I hadn’t considered which was nicely spotted by sidevalve44 is the pulley. I had assumed that the one on my machine was the correct one but it isn’t so that is also on the shopping list, perhaps Hortiman could help me with that, along with the engine?

Never the less and as sidevalve44 suggests I am seeking a JAP 2A to replace the Suffolk, which as stated does indeed struggle.

It seems that one of my pictures to my earlier post did not upload and that is of the right wheel, this shows how close it is to the chassis compared to the left side (I just hope it hasn’t sized) and as I am looking at the different aspects of the machine, I am not going to take it apart until I find the obvious parts that I need, for example #14262 spacer – base plate Pivot (used from serial No.2231001). I am not sure if the Bullfinch would have such a spacer since I am reading from the 200 parts diagram but on my machine there is so much play it would possibly need one?

So, the list is growing longer and I welcome any and all information and or advice/suggestion.

Thank you once again

John

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[vhgmcbuddy]

As far as I can assertain g101-g951 were fitted with jap 600 cc singles so long as the factory could obtain them due to war time shortages, otherwise scrap yards were raided for motorcycle engines etc until they could be replaced with japs. The handles on these machines were the cycle type handlebars as fitted to the earlier junior. Up to g500 the gearbox was shorter as the thrust bearing was inside the bell housing, and the instruction manual suggests removing the engine and clutch every six months to grease it!
I’m led to believe that the jap twins and british junior twins were fitted to the roteho 8. Information on the early gems is a little sparce but I’m trying to build up the biggest picture possible before I update my site, along with information on the other models such as the bullfinch enquired about at the start of this topic.

[vhgmcbuddy]

You could try Standen Engineering (https://www.standen.co.uk/parts/) at Ely, as they acquired the manufacturing rights for Dowdeswell equipment.

[vhgmcbuddy]

That’s great thankyou, do you have anything covering machines prior to g951? And particuarly g500 and lower?

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thanks for pointing that out Stuart. there’s a couple of things that need updating, particuarly as some new information about the gem has just come to light. I hope to revamp it when I’m next off work for a week.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Also I’ve bullfinch’s fitted with both type of handlebars and my bulldog has the straight type rather than the loop. The biggest problem with the bullfinch was that the engine was underpowered, the demon with the BSA went some way to address this issue. For more information take a look at my website, http://www.howardgem.webs.com

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi if it’s any help bulldog number 6451 was built 14/3/1955 and bullfinch number 11151 was built 11/3/1957.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Sorry all, I’ve only just seen the updates! I could have sworn I ticked the ‘notification’ box but clearly I didn’t!

Trusty220 – what hole pitch are yours? Mine are 38mm between centres. The longest side (vertical when fitted) is approx 108mm and the shortest edge (cutting blade – or horizontal when fitted) is approx 90mm. Mine are also sided, that is there are left handed and right handed ones.

2 photos attached showing not too bad ones and some well past their best!

Oh, and I’ve now ticked the notify box so I should see any other replies hopefully.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Good Morning all

Thank you so much to you who have replied with some very useful information.

From the information gathered it seems that my Bullfinch is not as early as I first thought but never the less it is still relatively early and I am still pleased that I acquired it but it is a shame that the data plate is missing although I may try and make a replacement, for authenticity sake!

Further study of my machine has revealed further possible problems along with the possible “V”- belt problem.

I have managed to find a Howard 200 parts manual and assuming that the chassis of the 200 and Bullfinch are very much the same, I was unable to find detailed information on the size of belt needed other than the manual stating “V”-belt?

Looking at the attached photos it appears to me that the belt is too big in the shoulders for the pulleys and I say this because with the engine in the lowered position there is enough “grab” on the pulley on the engine, to rotate the gearbox pulley. The photos show that the pulleys are clean and should slip when there isn’t any tension on the belt.

This leads to a further possible problem and that is that the blades rotate even when the engine is in the lowered position (clutch disengaged)

Now, reading the 200 manual suggests that the “L” shaped lever only engages the wheels and does not do anything with the blades would indicate that my machine is operating as described but since it is not a 200 I cannot be sure that it is correct, does anyone have a Bullfinch manual that they could let me have?
So the question really is, do the blades rotate regardless of the “L” shaped leaver position and are dependent on the clutch been engaged or disengaged?

If it is a question of the belt been incorrect, does anyone know what the correct belt would be?
A further problem is revealed when you look at the left and right wheels, the left wheel has a clearance from the chassis whilst the right wheel is rubbing up against the chassis and the castle nut on the right side is further along the shaft than on the left suggesting that something is missing from the right side, a spacer perhaps? Anyone with a parts diagram for the Bullfinch?

So depending on the general consensus is, will determine what state my Bullfinch is in and what remedial works would need to be done.

Once again thank you to everyone and I look forward to more advice.

Warmsteel

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[vhgmcbuddy]

hello

i have a small collection of howard machines and am slowly building it up.from the pictures and what you say i would say you have a bullfinch and early one which would have a jap 2a engine on. the bulldog was not in production long 18 months according to my books. and all had loop handle bars. and the odd bull finch had these but the jap engine where as the bulldog did not.

as for the belt there are two speeds for drive and rotor speed and you change the belt from pulley to pulley the pulley nearest the engine is the slowest i think from memory.you use the lever on the side as a chucth to control drive to the gearbox but the rotor will turn at all times then in gear then with engine at low revs turn the l shaped lever to enage drive to wheels.it will drive left first then lock both when fully turned.

hope this helps

[vhgmcbuddy]

a picture finally

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Greetings everyone

I am certainly looking forward to this hobby and like my other hobby, amateur radio, all things must work and earn their keep so I am looking forward to keeping this Howard running.

I had a cursory look at the pulleys and drive belt as I am wary about the fact that the blade rotate whilst the engine is in the lowered position and it seems to me that the fan belt that I have is too large shoulder size, for the pulleys and so is causing the gearbox to be engaged at all times. Is it normal for the gearbox and or blades to be engaged with the engine in the lowered position, a manual of some sort would be very helpful here?

The below picture is of the Howard after I got it back from the tip and this shows the handle bars much better but I am still a little wary about making a definitive judgment of the type of Howard or date since there appears to be some conflicting attributes to my Howard?

Once again, thank you all so far and I look forward to hearing the enormous wealth of knowledge from the members of this superb club.

Warmsteel

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Charlie

Yes indeed, I did come across the reason for the name change but unfortunately found very little else to help me with the dating and so on.

I am pleased I stumbled across this hobby as I prefer to be able to use collectibles rather then a collectible just sitting and looking pretty and I just hope that someone will be able to help further.

Hopefully, once I have the information needed, my machine could be the first entry on the “Howard” registry?

Thank you for all your help and all the very best

[vhgmcbuddy]

Many thanks for the welcome, the serial number is TC1341 but the reg plate is quite basic!

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[vhgmcbuddy]

hi all, for those of you that have entered the biddenden tractorfest, you should be receiving your passes in early july
there is plenty of room for more of you to enter, just drop me a message

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