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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

ATCO Identification

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Can anyone please help identify my ATCO; model no, size and year of manufacture. All I can see is UD14 on the nameplate but an online search shows up nothing under that number except tractors!

Thanks

Best regards,

Anthony

Forums

Henno Thu, 02/05/2019

Hi Anthony,

I think that must be a Atco DeLuxe B17. Build would be begin 80's, maybe that someone else can determine an exact date from the serial.

 

wristpin Thu, 02/05/2019

I’d go with the De Luxe which came in 14, 17  and 20” sizes. 14” was good, 17 ok but 20” was stretching things a bit. I’d say they ran from 1970 until they were strengthened and appeared as the Commodore range in the late 80s

 

 

 

Clive1997 Fri, 03/05/2019

I'm assuming the other end of tape measure is on end of cylinder? or outside of machine?  so 14 or 17?

Unable to see rear roller clearly? single on 14, double on 17?

Brochure entry from 1976 below showing 14 but assuming yours is 17.

Chris G Fri, 03/05/2019

Not seeing the other end of that measure is a bit of a tease, but would also guess from the blower & engine spacing on the deck its a 17" ?

Love those brochures, I think my uncle had a haircut like that, my dad had this shirt :-)

wristpin Fri, 03/05/2019

Clothing aside, I’d say that the image showing the machine’s high cut capabilities is decidedly optimistic !

ajw2403 Wed, 08/05/2019

Thanks everyone.

I've replaced the cylinder bearings which were seized solid with spares from http://www.themowercentrehailsham.com courtesy of Mr Jon Cruse - thank you Jon - but on blade adjustment the springs have fully compressed before the cylinder engages with the bottom blade so I need a new cylinder.

Can anyone please advise if this is a suitable one?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B17-ATCO-17-INCH-CUTTING-BLADE-KNIFE-BEARINGS-AND-CARRIERS/253900307184?hash=item3b1da33af0:g:TVgAAOSw229bUghb

'again.

Best regards,

Anthony

wristpin Wed, 08/05/2019

Looks ok just so long as it’s not worn down as much as yours. 

A new bottom blade on your sole plate may resolve your problem for a while , at least.  A close up image of the blades on your cylinder, side and end on may give a better ideal of amount of wear. 

ajw2403 Sat, 01/06/2019

Thanks wristpin.

Diameter is about 5" in olde money. Any idea what it should be?

See photos:

Best,

Anthony

 

wristpin Sat, 01/06/2019

From what I can see the blades on that cylinder are not protruding very much over the supporting “webs”, indicating that it’s not in the flush of youth! . I don’t think that there was any published information on the new cylinder diameter and I haven’t got a cylinder to compare it with  - sorry, not much help really .

 

 

ajw2403 Wed, 06/05/2020

Anyone know what the bolt threads that hold the side plates on would be. Cannot be metric?? BSF? BSW?...???

hortimech Thu, 07/05/2020

Early ones BSF, later ones UNF.

Why do you want to remove the side plates ? If it is to remove the cutting unit, then you do not need to, just remove the cylinder sprocket and front roller assembly, then, at each end of the unit, remove the bolts that secure it. The cutter unit should now drop out.

Jonson Thu, 07/05/2020

Definitely a DeLuxe B17, probably a mid 70's model with what looks like the larger 98cc cast iron Suffolk unit instead of the more common 75cc.

villiers98 Sat, 16/05/2020

Agreed - 17 in model should have 98 cc . Can easily be identified looking at the cowling retained headbolts . If there is a bolt head showing  under the cowling between the two that retain the cowl is 98cc, if not 75cc.

 

If the cylinder is good condition though worn, you can get a last go by grinding the ends of the springs by a mm or two but as stated a new bottom blade often solves the problem .Have to say this is a bodge and not good practise.  These cylinders had quite soft steel blades which probably speeded up the wear