Skip to main content
Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Qualcast Suffolk Punch 43

Enter a word or two to search the forum section and click the Search Forum button.

Hello All

This is my first venture into renovating a lawn mower and my first post onto this forum, having read some of the previous threads and knowledgeable discussions I hope that someone out there can help me.  I recently acquired a Qualcast Suffolk Punch 43 (or at least that is what it says on the transfer on the mower box).  The engine plate which incidentally is a metal plate clipped onto the engine cover (as mentioned in a recent post by Wristpin) states the Engine type is 75G 14 and the model no. is 13A. can anyone help with the following questions:

1, Age of the Mower;

2, Manual for this engine (have looked on this website and can find no reference to engine model no 13A, and finally (for now any way)

3, The Flywheel has lost 3 Vanes and the exhaust has corroded beyond use, any suppliers of parts.

 

flywheel with missing vanes

 

Exhaust

looking forward to any replies with thanks.

 

Bob R

ekoortrebor

 

 

Forums

wristpin Mon, 05/10/2015

Welcome.

The image that you have posted is of a fairly old engine but the 43 metric designation on the grass box belongs to a more recent machine. So maybe it's a newer box on an older machine or an old engine on a newer one.  Also I'm not sure whether the 17"  / 43 cm Punch ever had the 75cc engine rather  than the 98cc one ; perhaps a historian of the marque can enlighten us.

The damaged flywheel is a shame  - is it causing vibration?  The only source of supply will be a used one but be aware that the shape of yours suggests an early one and that a flywheel from a newer machine may have a different taper where it interfaces with the crankshaft.  It may be easier to find another engine - possibly a 98cc one.  The design of silencer / muffler on your engine is no longer available and the one that you have is likely to put up a fight when you try to remove it so if it's only rusty and not holed I'd leave it alone; even the later box type mufflers are only available second hand but  half inch BSP pipe fittings fit the block and allow the use of various pattern part mufflers.

 

ekoortrebor Mon, 05/10/2015

Thank you Wristpin, most helpful.  Yes I am afraid the exhaust disintegrated in the battle to remove it.  At the moment the engine is completely stripped, just need to seat the valves, source some gaskets and rebuild.  Hopefully next weekend will see the engine run for the first time in 20 years.

once again many thanks for the information you have provided- great website-great forum.

ekoortrebor Mon, 05/10/2015

thanks, it gives me some ideas to get the engine running and then try and source an original style exhaust.  I know there is one out there with my name on it.

wristpin Mon, 05/10/2015

"thanks, it gives me some ideas to get the engine running and then try and source an original style exhaust.  I know there is one out there with my name on it."

Well , if you find one, let me know where! 

hortimech Tue, 06/10/2015

The first 17 inch Suffolks did have a 75cc engine, so it could be original, cannot really tell, the pictures all seem to be focussed on the engine. Has the machine been painted? if not, what is on the chaincase?

I wouldn't use the flywheel as is, but I don't think the taper changed, but everything else did, so if you want to use the later cast iron flywheel, you will have to change the alloy backplate as well.

 

ekoortrebor Mon, 12/10/2015

Thanks for that Hortimech

Apologies for the delay in response I have been working away,  I have attached a few photos of the mower albeit it in a dismantled state.  hopefully you may recognise it and any information or advice would be greatly received.  I have almost completed the rebuild of the engine (and Wristpin I located an exhaust on ebay- if anyone can help with a flywheel I would be grateful).

Many thanks in anticipation

 

ekoortrebor

 

wristpin Mon, 12/10/2015

From the images we now know that the grass box is "modern" and the mower an early Super Punch  - probably a series 1 made between 1956 and 1959. (squared off front ends to the side members and individual height adjusters/roller shaft carriers as opposed to the single microset adjuster on later machines.)

ekoortrebor Tue, 13/10/2015

it gets more and more interesting,  as ever thanks for the info at least I now have an idea of what I am working with and looking for.