[vhgmcbuddy]

Correction — I have now found the service manual. Gearbox oil is SAE 40.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2wsg58gl3g7j4q7/Ransomes%20multimower0001.pdf

[vhgmcbuddy]

Andy,

That’s so helpful! I have now Googled Ransomes Multimower gearbox and found an identical unit for sale. Further Googling suggests it can be no earlier than 1963. Another website suggests SAE140 for the gearbox — would this sound right?

Brian

[vhgmcbuddy]

It would also be incredibly useful if someone could suggest a specific oil for this gearbox. I was under the impression that EP oils might best be avoided but I have also been told that EP GL-4 oils are perfectly fine, even with bronze gears (assuming it might have them – I don’t know), but not GL-5.

Maybe someone could advise? I’ll probably be along with some more questions as I think of them.

Thanks.

[vhgmcbuddy]

It might possibly be helpful to mention that at least some of the screw threads are UNF.

[vhgmcbuddy]

It was quite usual for trailed gangs to hook up in that way; sometimes in reverse orientation so that in the absence of mechanical disengagement the cylinders were not driven during transport. As for yellow, I’ll leave that to someone else. Other clues that may help with identification are whether “ your” set did have disengagement levers on the wheel gearboxes and whether they were on rubber tyres or studded steel wheels.
Common makes were Ransomes, Lloyds and Shanks ; and possibly others that I’ve forgotten about.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Don’t recollect ever seeing one in red and silver but I do remember seeing one or two of those “rat trap” grass collectors – mainly abandoned at the back of owners’ sheds!. Even In the early 80s many of those riders were suffering from poor maintenance, rust and chassis fatigue. Hard driven ones on rough ground used to crack where the flat foot boards met the upstand of the engine housing – broken seat pillars too!

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thank you Andy and Charlie for the information on the ID plates, George at Villiers does have ID plates but I’ve decided that a new one would look wrong on the machine and after a couple hours work I’m happy with the results so I’ll be refitting the originals now. Thanks for the comments Danny it does look better than when I got it home, lots of welding, hammering etc and the fuel tank refused to be painted, 4 attempts in total. Parts and information about the Yeomans seem scarce but you might be lucky and find a tine assembly for the one you’re looking at. After a few problems with Windows 10 not letting me resize the photo of the Yeoman as I bought it, below is the photo at last. When I’ve got time, a few attachments will be fabricated, like a tow bar, plough and a set of harrows, should be fun.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Very pleased you maneged to dig up a picture of the plough!

I think im going to be hard pushed to find an original replacement but i think i can fabricate something close from the picture!

I also plan on giving it a good clean up, i would like to restore paintwork and clean up rust, i quite like the original patina / aged look though – so not sure how far to go with it , any advice there would be great

Bearings on the wheels and axel could poss do with a once over too.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi there

Thanks for the replies.
Very useful info!

The inventor Braune Rudi Helmut seems to have been quite ahead of his time when it came to electric personal vehicles.

The whole thing is incredibly simple, just a 12 volt battery , some form of dc starter motor and a battery charger. there are four mechanical switches controlled by brake wire going to hand levers which change the which direction the motor spins. and simple chain drive with locking disk brake.

Very well built but very simple (like all the best things) . You could fix anything on it easy – not that it looks like you’d ever need too!!

i have sent an email with photos to vhgmc@btinternet.com – i hope thats the right one?

Thanks again

Sam

[vhgmcbuddy]

Update:
I had a quote just to update.
6-800£ for a one off.

Madly expensive but it is possible.

I am sure this simple shaft can be made cheaper
so will continue search.
Need an old engineer with a lathe !

[vhgmcbuddy]

Basically a Murray . They came in both the gold/ yellow and the Mountfield red.
Most got robbed of their decks and given to the children to run round on. In the local collective sales they seldom make much but a dealer friend has a buyer from Poland who seems to like them.
Pity about the repaint – originality gone for ever.

[vhgmcbuddy]

That’s looks awesome we’ll done on the restore there’s a howard near me for free to collect the whole blade mechanism is missing but I want it just as it’s such a cool and interesting peice of machinery I think getting the blasé parts for it might a very difficult take though haha
Danny

[vhgmcbuddy]

And another one

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[vhgmcbuddy]

This is an image of the mower itself.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Simon
Yes I have found the manual I will post it out to you.

[Author]

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