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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Suffolk Super Colt uneven blade?

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Hi all,

I have inherited an old Super colt from my Gramps and have had difficultly setting the the cylinder, the chain end  adjusts all the way down to the end of the threads to make contact with the bottom blade where as the belt end only uses half the threads this causes excessive tension on the chain and clearly isn't right. I thought that it would be down to uneven wear on the cylinder or bottom blade so bought re-ground ones offline and this has the same problem in the same place. I could understand if the gap was all along the length of the blade with both screws adjusted but it is only the one end. Has anyone experienced this problem before or have a solution to the problem?

Thank you in advance 

Joe  

Forums

hortimech Thu, 18/06/2015

A super colt is a very simple machine, there isn't much to go wrong, but like every other cylinder machine, in use the cylinder will wear tapered. If the cylinder isn't ground correctly, this wear can be made worse, not sure if this is your problem, having never seen your machine, but this is unlikely seeing as it was the same with the original cylinder.

Are the cylinder bearings ok ? , is the bottom block fitted correctly ? If you remove the chain and the belt, can you actually setup the cut ?

Is there any chance you can post a few pictures, being able to see the machine, especially the cylinder area will help a lot.

 

 

Ratticusvontrap Thu, 18/06/2015

Thank you for the reply, the bearings looked ok and i cleaned and re greased them both when i had it apart. I did remove the chain and i can get a good cut with the tensioner completely removed as this gives me the extra slack to wind the housing right down. Something clearly isn't right with it as its still adjusted far more that the other side to the point where the bottom chain gear would be at a slight angle. 

I belive it is setup correctly as it sits the the recess with the shims on the bolts. 

 

I can get some photos when i finish work later tonight.

 

Again thank you.

wristpin Thu, 18/06/2015

Have to agree that it sounds decidedly odd, especially with two different cutting cylinders  but unless the replacement came from a reputable source you may have bought someone else's  junk.

A crude way to check the cutting cylinder is to wrap a strip of paper around it at one end and mark the overlap and then repeat the operation at the other end and see if there's any appreciable difference. 

Other point to check is that the "hump" of the bottom blade is fully seated in the side plates of the chassis and that the two retaining  wedges  are properly seated.

As has been said, a few strategically taken images may give a better idea of what is adrift.

PS

Just read your second post  with the comment regarding the adjustment with the chain removed. If it is necessary to do that it sounds as though either the cylinder or the bottom blade are well past their best.

Just occurred to me, you comment about the different amount of screw adjustment at either end - are the screws of different lengths and just giving the impression of different amounts needed when actually the cylinder is level ? I've seen longer screws used to try and pinch a bit of extra adjustment together with an extra pitch in the chain and even the slot in the drive side chassis plate filed out to allow extra cylinder adjustment!

 

Ratticusvontrap Thu, 18/06/2015

It does indeed, i did think that myself but on both cylinders and bottom blades in exactly the same spot would be really odd (not impossible unfortunately).

I shall do that, it may be crude but with the gap difference should work a treat. 

Ive been thinking about the bottom blade all day wondering if its not seated right, its definitely not bent as that was the first thing i checked, i shall be looking at that.

Oh photos will will follow around 7ish.

Thank you.

 

PS. I did think about swapping the screws around to see if that changes things,as far as i can tell the slots have not been filed or made larger but i would have to take another look tonight just to be sure.

PPS. Thinking about the cylinder being excessively worn, would or could it wear that much unevenly and not be noticeable? I could understand if it was the whole length but it gets just past the middle and a gap appears. I looked at the guys feedback and its 100% and he seems to do allot of these blades. I guess ill have a look tonight. 

Thank you again