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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Atco commodore clutch help

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Evening all 

Today I wasn't lucky enough to be given an atco commodore b20, 

on the surface all is there cylinder needs a sharpen and new bottom blade, the file tap leaks petrol as dose the carb, it leaks out of the air filter housing? 

The first problem I can see is that when I turn the engine over the blade tries to spin and when I want to push the mower to move it the rear roller is stuck and not turning, 

ive taken the cover of and the shaft coming out of the engine when I move the clutch leaver the arm with the bearings on moves but doesn't Seem to do anything? 

 

Any ideas? 

Thanks

dan 

 

 

wristpin Mon, 23/10/2017

Fuel flooding = float needle valve not sealing. Float seized on pivot or general crud and corruption inside the carb. Has the machine been sitting around outside for s while? Strip, assess and clean.

 Clutch  issue. On the Commodore the main clutch plates should not be transmitting drive until the OPC / Bale bar on the handlebars is squeezed to compress the plates and engage drive. Disengagement is the default position when the bar is released spring pressure releases the pressure on the plates via the yoke with the two small bearings. Again, if the machine has been standing in damp conditions something may be seized.

Traction clutch. Again  this fails safe, so requires operation of the small rh clutch lever to engage it. Again there is the possibility of the drive plate being corroded preventing the clutch from freeing.

Really it’s a learning curve to familiarise yourself with machines so that next time it’s easier. A word of warning - if stripping the traction clutch there are 52 1/8 inch ball bearings that can catch out the unwary  and fall on the floor.

When I’m in the office I will add the user’s manual for the 14, 17 and 20 inch Commodores which includes good parts diagrams showing the clutches and other assemblies.

Edit

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tlmv5o2ecyctl8j/Atco%20Commadore%20manual%201…

gtc Tue, 24/10/2017

Today I wasn't lucky enough to be given an atco commodore b20, 

I had to read that a few times. :-)

Petrol_head29 Tue, 24/10/2017

Thank you for your reply it was most helpful! 

Managed to free the drive shaft clutch it was slightly stuck together with corrosion, I haven't tackled the roller yet as it's stuck on.

managed to get the engine to start, although it's runs for a bit then stops, the fuel leaks seem to have stoped since the petrol has been left in over night so many gaskets have swollen? 

To get the engine to run I have to press the button on the carb vowel to let some fuel out then it seams to run for 30 seconds then stops? 

The engine seams to be gold in colour as dose the carb, how is the exhaust removed on these as can't seam to see a manifold it looks like it go's straight into the head? 

 

Ha ha yes auto correct! Meant to say was lucky enough. 

Dan 

wristpin Wed, 25/10/2017

Fuel flow. Pull the pipe off the tap and check the flow there. There should be a strong flow for at least half a minute . If not unscrew the tap and check the nylon gauze filter. Also check the breather hole in the tank cap. If you still have running issues , a thorough clean of the carb will be needed.

The exhaust is screwed directly into the cylinder block. Can be a b**** to get out, unless there’s a particular need to remove it, leave it. The nut on the muffler box should, with care, undo and release the box . Treat that nut with care as shearing it off creates another problem!

Petrol_head29 Mon, 30/10/2017

Evening all

bit of an update, managed to sort the roller drive clutch out it was simply adjusted up wrong so was an easy fix. Still having a little trouble with the engine as it only seems happy to run on full choke when I flip the choke lever across it runs for a few seconds then cuts out. Struggling to see the best way to return the setting to factory so to speak and set the carb up again, also there is a brass screw on top of a long bar that is attached to the govoner bye the looks of it and it can be wound in or out by again can't work out where it should be set. 

Dan 

merryman Sun, 05/11/2017

I have had the "only runs on choke" problem on all my Qualcast B66 tillers with A114 engines and DelOrtos, tried everything, and nothing works except time. If you have cleaned the carb out and it will still only run on choke, keep running it that way until it will run on half choke, after a while (30 min or so) it will start to run without choke. You can overdo it and soot the plug, but once it has cleared itself, the machine will run fine for the rest of the season, unless you do get some dirt in it. Clive once told me that he used to fit an adjustable main jet, which cured the problem, Qualcast changed plug specifications, which didn't, then onto a different carb (Wallbro?)