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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Yet another Suffolk Punch 43 build (hopefully)

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I know this has been done to death, especially by me, I won't saturate updates (mercifully)  but hoping for some help as I go.

I could not bin the last scrap machine I have, looking to make one out of all the bits that I have left, fortunately I have a good running engine aside for this as original motor end float on output shaft is very sloppy & oil everywhere..

Made fairly short work of the strip down and un seized, rear roller is good, cylinder bearing carriers good, never gone this far in a strip down! Bit committed now in that have blade & cylinder up for sharpening.

First bit of help please, bit basic but I am a metric man in an analogue world.

Missing what appear M8 size nuts but fine thread - what would these be in metric do you think as I need a fair few? - Last pic. Thank You.

 

 

Forums

wristpin Tue, 07/05/2019

Despite the metric model designation the machine is built to imperial standards when it comes to threaded fixings. The majority will be UNF  so your “8mm” will probably be 5/16” UNF . 

UNF nuts are readily available and 1/4, 5/16 and 9/16. Should cover what you are likely to need.

Chris G Tue, 14/05/2019

Getting there.. well not really, but this bit is up next zzzzzzzzzzzz

Got clutch cowl, L & R covers off ebay for not a lot.

Cylinder and bottom blade dropped for sharpening, will be the biggest outlay on this I hope.

Got most of the bigger dings and dents out, panel beating novice kit. 

Mechanically things seem to be working ok, although independently. The governor (well 3 sets of bits) might be a bit of a head scratch but with working machines as reference, would hope to get a proper setup.

Toyed with the idea of making a new throw plate which does not look to hard, but may just smarten existing - budget build! Lots of cleaning prep and paint, not too diligent, but hope it will look ok.

Question - for  working machines.. is there any point in doing anything to the finish on a steel rear roller other than a wire brushing down?

 

wristpin Wed, 15/05/2019

Question - for  working machines.. is there any point in doing anything to the finish on a steel rear roller other than a wire brushing down?

No - Natural patina, rusty or otherwise.

Chris G Thu, 16/05/2019

Thanks for that, I will leave the roller in glorious oxide.

Some buffoon had painted the majority of the chassis and remaining panels in what looked like disco metal flake which reacts with everything, I have had to strip it all back, very boring!

And following a recent comedy theme, I present you "triggers broom"

This is after tin snipping back, wire wheel & flap disk. Even tho someone went to the trouble to stitch a bottom section, it is very perforated and not sure it will take too long before the original upper peels up creating a block to throwing the grass.

I can get a sheet of 500x200x0.9mm stainless sheet for £6 - stainless is not easy to work I know and probably a bit of an extravagance but for £6..

Got to have a go - no?

 

Chris G Sun, 19/05/2019

All cleaned, sanded, painted and hardening off in a bit of sun.

Picked up the cylinder and bottom blade, lovely job by Steve as usual.

Next weekend I would hope to start reassembling.

Henno Mon, 20/05/2019

Looks nice! What's the plan with the shot deflector, reverse engineering or eBay?

Steve, that's Steve Teigh from Hemsby?

 

Chris G Mon, 20/05/2019

Yes, that is the Steve!

Well, reverse engineering if you can call it that :-) The sheet turned up today..

I sold my table top band saw just last week as hardly ever used it, regret that now for this little job. Had to do it with disc & jig saw by hand, got the shape cut, need to smooth the edges. That's the easy bit done, no way am I buying a sheet folder never to be used again but I have a sort of plan for the 90 deg mounting bend and also for the cylinder curve. Even at just 0.9mm this SS will be damn hard to bend I know that!

 

Chris G Mon, 20/05/2019

Cut out

Chris G Sat, 25/05/2019

Throw plate. Test fit. Bolt slots don't align quite right, possibly the worn out templates or bad measuring, can be fixed as not that far out.

Slotting into plate groves behind cylinder has worked well, happy with that.

£24 new delivered from Ransomes spares but you don't learn anything from that and more than its worth maybe..

Some odd things going on with posting pics....

wristpin Sat, 25/05/2019

Some odd things going on with posting pics..

I have found that posting from the iPad the images always appear at the beginning of the post regardless of where positioned when composing the text. When posting from the PC  they remain where originally positioned .  Frustrating!

Chris G Sun, 26/05/2019

I only have Windows PCs and its a bit pot luck with posting pics for some reason..

Put the cutter and bottom blade back in but have a few issues to sort on the pulley side, this is a belt version.

The aluminium toothed pulley has lost the battle a bit against the steel spindle and rounded off the centre somewhat, I can build that up to get it slotted again but I think the damage was due to the comedy nut that someone had put on which likely worked loose, what size and thread would the proper locking or stacked nut be for the cylinder spindle?

Chris G Mon, 27/05/2019

Hi Yes, but my issue is a lot more simple, I am missing the cylinder spindle nut, is it 1/2" UNF ?

I got the pulley centre filled and slotted, much better fit and with the right nut tightened up it should not chew through!

Chris G Mon, 27/05/2019

Hello - Installed & aligned engine & clutch and bolted up.

Guessing a bit on the position of belt tensioner, it fell out the side with no fastners when I took the cover off.

I'm waiting for a nut for the bottom spindle pulley, but if I turn over in place the belt skips on the top pulley, I am guessing it is too worn and held an oblong shape for too long.

Looking to order a new one, both pulley spindles look fine, is there anything else I should check before releasing another r £10 ?

Many thanks

 

Henno Tue, 28/05/2019

May I add that it looks from some 60's SciFi film with the new deflector plate. Really sharp.

Chris G Wed, 29/05/2019

May I add that it looks from some 60's SciFi film with the new deflector plate. Really sharp.

Thank you, I would hope Barbarella would approve :-)

Cleaned and painted (shear folly) what I think is a whole "set" of governor bits, I stripped this off the engine I am using, won't be doing that again!

Surprising lot of bits and I am no good at jigsaws, thankful for an installed reference to compare.

Air filter to go to standard to rule out any running quandaries, the kill switch I may keep.

Thanks Chris

 

Chris G Sun, 02/06/2019

Once all reassembled it ran - Like a pig! I had no idea that the silly pod filter would make such a difference, thought I had put the governor assembly back on wrong it ran so bad, I had ony run the motor before standalone with no load. Swapped air filter out to standard, the enrichment and idling adjustment were also a mile out. Purring great now. Had doubts over belts and cables wear, but again just needed adjustment per the book so no further outlay and it is cutting great.

The cylinder "felt pads" were never there or disintegrated when dismantled. I have since got hold of some super strong 5mm thick felt and could easily remake and fit.

I am guessing, but is the felt just to keep the detritus out of the cylinder bearings?