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Ransomes Ajax Mk4 - Main gear, any hope?!

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RobJeffery Mon, 03/06/2019

Evening everybody, I've recently embarked on my first mower restoration - a Ransomes Ajax Mk.4 - before taking it apart the land roller wasn't turning the blades, but everything was turning ok by hand - I now realise why!!

After a bit of gentle persuasion (and reading lots of advice on the forum - thank you!) I managed to get the biggest gear off the drive shaft from the land roller. I now realise why! See the pictures, but as you can see the pin that engages with the gear to turn the whole mechanism has turned and swaged the end of the gear over to look more like a mushroom!! You can see the resultant shape of the pin in one of the photos!

This leaves me with two options I think:

  1. Source a replacement part - I believe the part number is LK140A - I wonder if anybody can help with this?
  2. Attempt to re-machine the middle of the gear, but I'm not confident how I could connect a new central shaft into the gear

I would really appreciate anybody's thoughts or ideas as to how I could repair this machine which is otherwise in an ok condition.

Thank you in advance for any replies.

Rob

Forums

Antbr123 Mon, 03/06/2019

Hi RobJeffrey.

Honest opinion given here - no hope!  I had a look in my box of bits and found nothing.  ....except a good condition grass box if its any use?

I cut my teeth on the MK5 and then a MK3 and I believe I did a posting on the forum with a similar problem of getting the drive cog off the shaft....but mine was in good condition.

These come up on Ebay frequently and I fear you may have to raid another machine.

regards,

RobJeffery Tue, 04/06/2019

Hi Tony,

thank you for the offer of the grass box, however that is intact and not rusted!

Unless anybody has any other wise words I might give it a go at machining and welding a new central section whilst I search eBay for a machine to borrow some parts from!

thanks for taking the time to reply,

Rob

hillsider Wed, 05/06/2019

Re the damaged drive gear on your Ajax I have a set of gears in good condition that I removed from a scrapped mower. When you have completed the dismantling and have decided that restoration is indeed possible we can then talk about them becoming yours.

 

 

hillsider Thu, 06/06/2019

Fair enough, so long as Rob is sorted and his project can make progress.

My gears are quite happy stored in their Biscuit box I find that those plastic Biscuit and Cracker boxes very handy for storing parts 

cwj123 Thu, 06/06/2019

I am sure if the one sent is duff he knows all is not lost and can get progress via your one.Mine was loose in cardboard box with all spares together,hiding under stuff.

Antbr123 Mon, 10/06/2019

Totally agree!

Come Xmas, i give all of the chocolates away to the neighbours kids and keep the plastic boxes for storing white  vinegar in when I want to de-rust some parts for 2-3 days.. Bloody brilliant!