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British Anzani Lawnrider clutch

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Alec Thu, 11/06/2015

Hi, can anyone advise on the centrifugal clutch on a British Anzani Lawnrider? I bought the mower recently at the annual rally (have just fitted a new chain) the engine runs fine and the mower looks complete and in good condition except that it doesn't drive  - neither the blades nor the machine itself. Here is a video of the mower running (before I fitted a  chain - the chain is still missing in the video): http://amzn.to/1QPIfv1

This is my first experience of a Lawnrider but I don't know what the clutch mechanism should look like. I was wondering if it could be the centrifugal clutch that is at fault? It looks to be a centrifugal clutch next to the top chain sprocket on the engine. 

Is there any adjustment on the centrifugal clutch? There are two bolts coming out of the mechanism at angles - I was wondering if these offer any kind of adjustment or do they just hold it in place?

The bottom clutch next to the roller - the one engaged by the handlebar control lever - seems OK (i.e. it grips when released making the mower hard to push and when it is pulled in the machine is easy to push along).

Any advice or even pictures of what the top clutch should look like would be appreciated. I am a total British Anzani virgin and don't even know what model mine is MK1, MK2 etc or what year it was built smiley 

Many thanks.
Alec

 

 

Forums

Kabman Fri, 01/01/2016

Hi Alec,

This is probably not much help because mine's a mk3 which has twin front wheels and a clutch on a belt driven shaft in front of the engine so a different setup than yours which has the clutch directly on the end of the crankshaft. There's no centrifugal clutch, just let out the lever on the bars and off you chug. If you push the mower forward and let out the clutch lever it should try and turn the engine over which is how you describe it so it sounds as if your clutch is at least doing something.. Is it possible the spring isn't strong enough or the cable a too tight so the clutch is slipping too much to actually drive the mower ?

Drive belt from the crankshaft is on the right in this photo, the clutch is the blue circular bit on the left and just to the left of that is the chain driving the wheels. On the far right, just visible under a cover, is the belt that drives the blade. This rotates constantly with the engine and is engaged by a separate lever.

Alec Sat, 16/01/2016

Many thanks for this information and picture. Didn't realise it's not a centrifugal clutch. Will start by adjusting the cable and see if it makes any difference (hadn't touched the cable yet). It's odd as the mower appears nicely restored but was missing a chain when I got it (i sourced a suitable chain and fitted it), seems complete, engine runs beautifully but just won't drive nor do the blades spin when the engine is running and the clutch is in or out. 

Alec

Alec Thu, 30/06/2016

A bit late, but here is a picture of my machine. Still not got it rolling have taken the engine out and my father has taken a look at the clutch internals but he reports it appears new. Wondering if it might be a go kart clutch and needs a higher revving engine to work? Will get some pics of the clutch when I visit my dad's shed!

Alec Sat, 02/07/2016

Here are the clutch internals, looks new but spring is heavy duty have ordered a lighter tension spring!

hillsider Tue, 12/07/2016

Just looking through the photos of your engine and I am wondering which type of governor system the engine has, is it an air vane or a mechanical governor? My reason for asking is that I noticed in the photo of the engine complete that there are empty holes in the alloy casing where the speed adjuster for an air vane governor should be located.