Atco Standard clutches
Morning all
Thought I’d say hello as I’ve just joined the forum. I’ve had a couple of old mower projects and my latest is a 16” Atco standard in very poor condition, lots of stuff for me to repair... I’ve made a start with cleaning up the Villiers Mkvi-c engine which has no spark. Have replaced the ht, condenser, plug etc and should have a replacement coil arriving today. I didn’t want to fork out for a rewind on the old coil as I’m on a budget so I’ve bought a cheapo undersized coil off eBay (the “long” type - I think these are made to fit midgets?) and will modify it to fit using turned adaptors.
Right so that’s me introduced :) here’s my question: I notice that some standards have a plate clutch and some have a cone clutch. Does anyone know which machines had each style? Is it something useful to dating the machines? Mine has a plate clutch but I’ve seen pictures of 16” models with either arrangement.
Thanks
Forums
Great that’s really
Great that’s really interesting thank you!
I wonder if a similar thing applies to steel/brass fuel tanks? I’m guessing brass ones are earlier.
Happy to say I’ve got a good spark now so it’s on with the strip down and repair work :)
thanks again
Brass tanks not necessarily
Brass tanks not necessarily old - certainly on the 1921 "Oval Frame" models that I have seen they are steel. Nor are the tanks on the HY models brass (or at least none I have seen). Certainly some of the earlier Standard models in the smaller sizes (up to 22") are brass. Others may know better.
Great thank you,
Great thank you,
Good to meet you at Bedford. If you get a chance to measure up dimensions for the toolbox that would be very helpful!
cheers :)
Plate clutch was first and
Plate clutch was first and the earliest models are slightly smaller diameter than those that came later. Cone clutches were introduced, as far as I know, from around 1925 (the first reference I can find) but may not have been on all models in the range from that time. Also, cone clutches could have been retrofitted to older mowers. Not sure I have ever seen a 14" Standard or 12"/14" HY version with a cone clutch. Others may know better.