[vhgmcbuddy]

The attached is a similar duster by Drake & Fletcher, Maidstone, Kent. There is nothing on this machine or in the literature I have seen that suggests that they used the logo on your duster, but it may be of interest.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Darren, thanks for the info, I’ll look through your post. I have seen a minor on ytube presumably yours ? I’ll see if I can find the numbers. I hope to restore mine during the year and will, i’m sure have many questions. Coincidently, there is one on the auction site at the moment complete with a rough cut mower but the handles don’t look original.
Thanks again for the help.
Regards
Shaun

[vhgmcbuddy]

Once painted and dry I reassembled the rest of the mower……

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[vhgmcbuddy]

The mower was missing one of the safety guards. I made a cardboard template, marked out the steel and cut it out. Rolled the steel by hand to get the conical shape, welded it together and made the mounting bracket……

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Once all the bits were painted and dry I made a start putting it all back together……

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[vhgmcbuddy]

I’m using brush enamels mixed to match the original colours. The green is BS282 Forest Green and the red is BS593 Rail Red. The paint itself covers really well, goes on quite thick and flattens out leaving virtually no brush marks……

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[vhgmcbuddy]

The Mold board returned with quite a lot of pitting. After using a flap disc to ‘polish’ the surface up as best as possible, it looks much better. Have been told it will ‘shine’ up with use!

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Another issue to be addressed was the cast wheels on the mower attachment. The cast axles had worn from 19mm or 3/4′ to about 14mm or just over 1/2′ meaning they wobbled quite badly! I asked my local welder if he could do anything with them, he suggested cutting them off, drilling out a hole of 3/4′, obtaining some 3/4 bar and make ‘new’ axles? Here’s the pictures once repaired…..

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[vhgmcbuddy]

The ratchet pawls are missing from the ploughing wheels and I was fortunate to be contacted by Alan, who told me about broken and very rusty machine near Guilford, Surrey. A trip was arranged and on a very damp chilly day I took myself down to remove them from the bones of the donor machine. Unfortunately the springs were rusted away, so once I have it back together I will have to try to make some.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

I’ve decided to make use of this machine as a working exhibit. I will however give it a makeover, so I made a start on the attachments due to space and storage restrictions. I’ve broken everything down to component parts, and took it all to the shot blasters. It’s been etch primed and I’ve decided to brush paint this one, as it will be easier to patch up, should it get damaged during use.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Shaun, There is some information about The Raven Engineering Company on the post about my Farmers Boy Minor……. I have 2 of these machines, one fully restored and one in its working clothes. Both mine are fitted with Villiers MK12HS engines. There should be a production number stamped into the large plate at the base of the handlebars, where they bolt to the machine. Unfortunately there doesn’t appear to be any surviving factory records to date these machines, the company changed hands and name a couple of times before going into liquidation. However there is often a date stamped on the engines flywheel. This will of course only give you the date of the engine, and if its been changed at some point will not really help date your machine.

[vhgmcbuddy]

That would be awsome andy , thanyou very much.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thanks Stuart. I will look at the needle length tomorrow. It did start and run fine three times today, but still refuses to re-start straight away after stopping it. The needle keeps getting stuck too in a high revs position and the slider can be really hard to get out, so think I will strip the carb down again tomorrow or try the spare one. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Im in Bedford andy

[vhgmcbuddy]

Ho one and all , i hope you all hade a great christmas and new year. Now back to reality i thought it was time i started to try and get some more answers to which may be an endless amount of questions in the coming months from you wonderfull people.
So my fist question of the new year is that my engine cowling is in a poor state due to being eaten away from rust and being used as a battering ram. Is there anywhere i can source a replacement or can it be fixed ?

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