The Old Lawnmower Club
Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers
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Cylinders

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Suffolkcult Wed, 19/04/2023

Evening everyone,

Can anyone shed any light please on when a cylinder is too small/ worn to be reground? Is there a measurement of blade width? I have reground an old suffolk punch cylinder, and on refitting it is now on its maximum adjustment to touch the bottom blade to cut.

So is there a way of telling that its not worth regrinding before? And are there any known new cylinder suppluers?

 

Many thanks all

Forums

wristpin Wed, 19/04/2023

On high end kit the manufacturer may include minimum cylinder diameter etc in their technical manuals .

When you’ve worked on a few and ground a few you will develop an eye or feel for it. Best way is to adjust the cylinder to the bed knife before you dismantle or grind and see how much adjustment is left . However a cylinder that still cuts may not throw the grass further than the lip of the box.

 

Suffolkcult Thu, 20/04/2023

So simple I never thought to do that, ive searched everywhere haha, thank you.

So once a cylinder us at its maximum adjustment its scrap presumably? 

Are there any suppliers of new, or can they be saved another way?

Many thanks again

wristpin Thu, 20/04/2023

Way back,  some manufacturers supplied new spirals,  and worn out ones were cut out and the new ones welded in. However, even then it would only be done on larger machines. I remember seeing an illustration of a fixture with a mounted cut-off disc that neatly sliced down each side of the spiral carrying web taking out both sides of the welds, just leaving a bit that could be knocked out, and leaving a slot ready for the new blade.

If your Punch is of a vintage with a screw on lipped bottom blade you may find that a new blade may get you just one more season or two. One of the after market suppliers did offer flat or lipped bottom blades and replacing flat with lipped may just buy some time. If you have a later machine with what Suffolk called the unit type blade , a sole plate and blade all in one , you may be able to open up its two bolt holes and tilt it towards the cylinder a bit - desperation!

If the rest of the machine is good it’s possibly worth seeking out a “ spares or repairs” machine with a decent cylinder, ideally not too far from home so that you can compare it with yours.
 

 

 

Suffolkcult Thu, 20/04/2023

Thank you, I was considering lengthening the adjustment screws and spigot holes, maybe adding a chain link just for seeing if, not a vintage just a £5  marketplace to refurb and sell on, shame about the cylinder being too worn to sell, one will turn up or the spares will sell.

Thanks for your knowledge, sometimes cant see the wood for the trees 👍

wristpin Thu, 20/04/2023

Seen them with lengthened chains, longer adjuster screws, and elongated cut outs in the side frame to allow the cylinder shaft extra room ! 
There comes a time !