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

Identify Villiers atco mower

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

You Been given this mower from my uncle just need to identify the engine so I can source spares etc for a refurb. Any workshop manuals available for this 

regards Alistair 

Forums

wristpin Wed, 18/07/2018

A nice original 1956 14” two stroke. If it’s going to be a working machine, give it  a set  of front rollers, a regrind and the oily rag treatment  and stay away from the paint pot.

gtc Thu, 19/07/2018

That's the year model I used to operate (i.e. run around behind) as a 7 year old boy after showing the old man that I could kickstart it. If it has wooden handles and a dog clutch on the roller, then with wooden front rollers and a grass catcher it's exactly similar.

Documentation on Atco two strokes is frustratingly sparse.

Depending on how long it's been sitting unused, and the storage conditions, things that you may need to check are rust in the tank, varnish in the carb, and ignition issues such as open circuit magneto coil and/or bad capacitor.

When was it last used, and was it retired because it broke down or not?

PS: I agree with wristpin: clean it up by all means but don't be tempted to paint it.

Weldspec Fri, 20/07/2018

Thanks for the reply . Yes it has wooden handles and dog clutch but hasn’t the front rollers and my uncle still looking for the grass box but fears with it being on a farm somebody has helped themselves to it . It was running when it was put away in the shed so hopefully won’t take much to get going. Ive already done the carb which was all glued up. Next I need to acquire a new ht lead with the fitting that goes into the flywheel. 

And yes I’m keeping it totally original and no paint .

gtc Fri, 20/07/2018

Yes it has wooden handles and dog clutch

Two stroke Atcos with dog clutch are few and far between here in Oz nowadays. I've been looking for one for years to be my special nostalgic restoration. I do have a 4 stroke with a dog clutch that I acquired free and aim to use as a donor machine, but I 'd rather start with the correct parts.

I used that dog clutch a lot when mowing our lawns as, thanks to the fashion at the time, there were obstacles galore to be mown around. And it really helped maneuver the mower back into its corner spot in the garage, especially for a 7 year old.

Wooden rollers can be made.

One source of HT cables is Villiers Parts: http://www.villiersparts.co.uk/ignition.html

Grass boxes often go missing. In my experience, the aluminium ones seem to have survived better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weldspec Sun, 16/09/2018

Bit of a update on atco Villiers cutter . Managed to pick up a coil which has sorted the non spark but still haven’t got it running yet . Does anybody have any literature on setting the timing up in this model . I’ve been told it’s the same set up as the Villiers midget engine . The crank has a notch in the end to line up vertical just need to know where magneto position should be . Any help much appreciated .