The Old Lawnmower Club
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Ransoms Certes 14 inch Mk 6 8 Blade

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Edda Wed, 17/02/2016

Hi,

I have just acquired this mower and I have a couple of questions: the grease nipples look a bit worn can anyone tell me the size and thread size. Also the front roller have they got bearings or bushes, I suspect bushes.

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David Bouchard Tue, 22/03/2016

Edda
​Things I know:
your grease nipples are a mixture of threaded and drive-fit.  You can tell by the hex.
The front roller is mounted on a pair of finely ground cones, one of which is adjustable.  You put 1/4 pint of SAE 30 oil in the roller (16" version).   That's assuming you have the full width steel roller.
The grease nipples are supposed to be oiled with SAE 30 during the season.

Things I believe until you get more replies:
The drive-fit nipples are 3/16" I think.
The screw-in nipples have two different thread lengths (I won't swear to that).
I thought the screw-in nipples were 1/8 BSP but I see you can also buy BSW (Whitworth), and since the rest of the mower is BSW and BSF threads (apart from a BA on the gear cover) I am now not so sure.

I have a Mk 8 in bits just now so let me know if you want any better detail by replying an email to this post.  I don't often check posts themselves.

Regards,

wristpin Tue, 22/03/2016

"the grease nipples look a bit worn"

They may be worn but bear in mind that nipples of that era were not the bulbous snap on ones used now but fairly squat with  concave sides and require a period grease / oil gun connector to match.

As has been mentioned, Ransomes tended to recommend lubricating with oil rather than grease  - this avoids the problem caused by grease drying out in passages and bearings and effectively cutting off lubrication. Anyone who has had to deal with seized rear rollers on Ransomes machines will testify as to why this should be avoided.

Edda Wed, 23/03/2016

I have only just acquired the lawnmower and yes you are correct in stating it should be lubricated by oil as the manual confirms. Since my original post about a month ago I have managed to source new oil nipples from Ransomes including the push fit ones for the rear roller and casings. Ransomes also still manufacture the original oil gun. I also suspect you a right about the grease drying out especially along the cylinder shaft that lubricates each bearing.