Mower Build

Topics

Mower Build

1/4

steelo
3 years ago

I’ve got a tiny piece of lawn in my back yard that I mow regularly and spend time on. I’ve got a good rotary mower but I’ve always wanted a reel / cylinder mower.
The common popular brands are Scott Bonnar and Rover. Lesser known ones are Qualcast, Atco and as I found out, Webb.
Popular brands are just that and command huge prices even for wrecks and restored ones a hell of a lot more. There are heaps of guys on Gumtree and FB who advertise for any and every type.
I had a friend who hits second hand stores, keep a look out for me and he came up with a Webb 14” through a friend. It wouldn’t start without pouring fuel direct into the carby, was running rough, wouldn’t self-propel, the cutting height couldn’t be adjusted, the blade looked like it’s been cutting fields of small hammers and it had a smashed plastic handle held together with 100mph tape. I was pleased to pay $150 for it. I had a test mow, the engine worked and it would kick up the grass. Happy days.
Invention and innovation is the mother of necessity.
No one makes Webb mowers any more but Qualcast sells some spares. Parts are expensive and you are lucky to find anything on the internet Ebay etc but usually in the UK.
I found a pair of second hand handles in the UK for 42Euro and emailed the seller. In the meantime, my BIL suggested plastic welding. Local blokes who do it are expensive. Light bulb!!
I looked up some DIY plastic welding videos which demonstrated using a soldering iron and cable ties as filler / welding rods. F me if I didn’t do a half reasonable job. Liberal use of the dremel cleaned them up and I mixed and matched 2 halves of each side handle to give extra strength. Job done.
Today I had a look at the rear roller drive toothed pulley which was slipping and loose. Again no parts on the internet looked even close to what I needed.
With the dremel I machined out the grooves in the alloy pulley to give more depth for the belt and slid back the roller to give more tension to the belt.
The rest has been new screws out of my spares tin, oiling, degreasing, cleaning up grass and oil from the body and engine, new spark plug, new oilable filter (the old one was powder), smearing HD silicone sealer onto the drive belts to hold them together and greasing rollers.
So anyway, the machine is in bits, ready to put together tomoz for a test mow. It’s been fun and a bit of interest. I’ll keep you informed.

Repaired handle

Crushed spider connection

Broken handle pieces

Broken handle pieces

Drive coupling has crushed spider coupling

Machine with covers removed

Briggs and Stratton 2 hp engine

Complicated drive roller / idler set up

Gear cover

Smashed and taped up handle

paulybronco
3 years ago

Quoting steelo on 26 Dec 2020 11:02 AMedited: 26 Dec 2020 11:22 AM
I’ve got a tiny piece of lawn in my back yard that I mow regularly and spend time on. I’ve got a good rotary mower but I’ve always wanted a reel / cylinder mower.
The common popular brands are Scott Bonnar and Rover. Lesser known ones are Qualcast, Atco and as I found out, Webb.
Popular brands are just that and command huge prices even for wrecks and restored ones a hell of a lot more. There are heaps of guys on Gumtree and FB who advertise for any and every type.
I had a friend who hits second hand stores, keep a look out for me and he came up with a Webb 14” through a friend. It wouldn’t start without pouring fuel direct into the carby, was running rough, wouldn’t self-propel, the cutting height couldn’t be adjusted, the blade looked like it’s been cutting fields of small hammers and it had a smashed plastic handle held together with 100mph tape. I was pleased to pay $150 for it. I had a test mow, the engine worked and it would kick up the grass. Happy days.
Invention and innovation is the mother of necessity.
No one makes Webb mowers any more but Qualcast sells some spares. Parts are expensive and you are lucky to find anything on the internet Ebay etc but usually in the UK.
I found a pair of second hand handles in the UK for 42Euro and emailed the seller. In the meantime, my BIL suggested plastic welding. Local blokes who do it are expensive. Light bulb!!
I looked up some DIY plastic welding videos which demonstrated using a soldering iron and cable ties as filler / welding rods. F me if I didn’t do a half reasonable job. Liberal use of the dremel cleaned them up and I mixed and matched 2 halves of each side handle to give extra strength. Job done.
Today I had a look at the rear roller drive toothed pulley which was slipping and loose. Again no parts on the internet looked even close to what I needed.
With the dremel I machined out the grooves in the alloy pulley to give more depth for the belt and slid back the roller to give more tension to the belt.
The rest has been new screws out of my spares tin, oiling, degreasing, cleaning up grass and oil from the body and engine, new spark plug, new oilable filter (the old one was powder), smearing HD silicone sealer onto the drive belts to hold them together and greasing rollers.
So anyway, the machine is in bits, ready to put together tomoz for a test mow. It’s been fun and a bit of interest. I’ll keep you informed.

Repaired handle

Crushed spider connection

Broken handle pieces

Broken handle pieces

Drive coupling has crushed spider coupling

Machine with covers removed

Briggs and Stratton 2 hp engine

Complicated drive roller / idler set up

Gear cover

Smashed and taped up handle

You had to many rum balls on xmas day again Steelo...

steelo
3 years ago

Maybe...

fatbat
3 years ago

Have you considered fake grass?!

FBUser87
3 years ago

After many years of being a mower guy, having 5 acres, one of which had ta mow, before got 'RIDE ON', even took two days with push fucken mower. Now my story may not seem dissimilar to many mower stories. .
Then left all that behind, and ended up in big city , where at the market bought for $160 a fucken push mower. Now still have that mongrel mower, Rover, Mr. Briggs and Mr. Stratton, this mower has sat outside for 8 years with a black plastick box over it. I mow rarely, but when must, take box off ower, pour some oil into the barstead, remove air filter with old screwdriver, spray 'Start ya barstead' pull starter cord once, replace af, and fucken mow. ..
Wish my TT600 would oblige me the same...

Grease Monkey
3 years ago

Steelo that's a good buy for $159 if you can get it right, have you had the blades dressed up? If you get on Facebook and look up your local lawn fanatics group you will find someone close by that the real lawn nuts use to do theirs plus tons of tips on the ins and outs of usage, info is info after all.

steelo
3 years ago

Thanks for support fb. Did think about artificial but our little dogs like natural.
Thanks gm. I’ve hit a roadblock.
Finished mower this morning. Tried building up the belts which were delaminating with smear silicone but it made them too sticky and rollers don’t slip like they’re supposed to. Need new belts as it wants to take off.
Engine runs very well with new filter and spark plugs. Handles are a winner.
There is a plastic cover for the gearbox.
Thanks for info regarding fb. I heard mower enthusiast sites existed but I don’t have social media. I may need to join.
Local old lawn mower shop guy says he used to work for Webb. May take it to him for a look over.

Finished

Finished

Drive pulley I ground the daylights out of

Drivers perspective

Dogs like real grass when gaming

Power plant

Drive assembly. - far too tight with belts

New oiled filter

Half a repaired handle

Bonnet back on

Grease Monkey
3 years ago

Mower bloke sounds promising, hope that pans out for you, there are probably mower forums as well, just an observation and nothing more but I find it interesting that so many on here say they are not on social media yet here they are!

steelo likes this post

FBUser87
3 years ago

Ohhh I really do love an engine story, any engine will do.
My dear mate came around to my shoe box an hour a go, on his Royal Enfield GT Continental 650 Twin, with the Chrome tank and fuck me all the jazz from copying others. She looked beautiful, could not take err for a ride, fuckit, AT 148Kms speedo, as alcohol affliction on right hand and right foot just not working at present.
What a beautiful looking Motorcycle, Chrome tank and Black, beautiful;/ Pirelli , with coming custom rear cut off tail, and much more shite my dear friend shall place.
He still has his Shitty Harley Davidson, bought new in 1974 , revitalized, with 3 x KTMs and Husberg 710 ( What a stupid number), as am fucked unit he shall have my TT600 Belgarda.
You know I've (personal here, so cut it if you believe it may effect or cause you any suffering listening to these words you fucken weak people) ok where were we , think that's righty.
Anyway forgot where I was steering..................
Except maybe have a fantastic new year, do not harm those that would not harm you, stick to ya guns and try not to shoot the wrong fucken person.

Good luck .

Far Canal
3 years ago

Quoting FBUser87 on 27 Dec 2020 04:24 AMedited: 27 Dec 2020 04:39 AM
Ohhh I really do love an engine story, any engine will do.
My dear mate came around to my shoe box an hour a go, on his Royal Enfield GT Continental 650 Twin, with the Chrome tank and fuck me all the jazz from copying others. She looked beautiful, could not take err for a ride, fuckit, AT 148Kms speedo, as alcohol affliction on right hand and right foot just not working at present.
What a beautiful looking Motorcycle, Chrome tank and Black, beautiful;/ Pirelli , with coming custom rear cut off tail, and much more shite my dear friend shall place.
He still has his Shitty Harley Davidson, bought new in 1974 , revitalized, with 3 x KTMs and Husberg 710 ( What a stupid number), as am fucked unit he shall have my TT600 Belgarda.
You know I've (personal here, so cut it if you believe it may effect or cause you any suffering listening to these words you fucken weak people) ok where were we , think that's righty.
Anyway forgot where I was steering..................
Except maybe have a fantastic new year, do not harm those that would not harm you, stick to ya guns and try not to shoot the wrong fucken person.

Good luck .

I would like to try a few of whatever you have had.

brucefxdl likes this post

fatbat
3 years ago

They’re clever dogs you’ve got, Steelo. Could never get mine to shit in the one spot, let alone teach them to play noughts and crosses. Nice looking lawn too

steelo likes this post

binnsy
3 years ago

You've done well steelo. I used to service and sell these types of mowers in another life.

steelo likes this post

dicko
3 years ago

Quoting FBUser87 on 27 Dec 2020 04:24 AMedited: 27 Dec 2020 04:39 AM
Ohhh I really do love an engine story, any engine will do.
My dear mate came around to my shoe box an hour a go, on his Royal Enfield GT Continental 650 Twin, with the Chrome tank and fuck me all the jazz from copying others. She looked beautiful, could not take err for a ride, fuckit, AT 148Kms speedo, as alcohol affliction on right hand and right foot just not working at present.
What a beautiful looking Motorcycle, Chrome tank and Black, beautiful;/ Pirelli , with coming custom rear cut off tail, and much more shite my dear friend shall place.
He still has his Shitty Harley Davidson, bought new in 1974 , revitalized, with 3 x KTMs and Husberg 710 ( What a stupid number), as am fucked unit he shall have my TT600 Belgarda.
You know I've (personal here, so cut it if you believe it may effect or cause you any suffering listening to these words you fucken weak people) ok where were we , think that's righty.
Anyway forgot where I was steering..................
Except maybe have a fantastic new year, do not harm those that would not harm you, stick to ya guns and try not to shoot the wrong fucken person.

Good luck .

HUH!! WTF??
well I have a engine story about mowers,
back in the winter of 1964 I used to do work at the Bundaberg Rum distillery, My dad was the foreman, so I always had a job for school
holidays. ( I am 14 years old at this time)
I would help the cooper steam out the barrels and repair them. help fill the barrels with rum, weigh each barrel, and load em onto the train,
climb down into the stills and scrape the deposits out, whatever other jobs, and mow the grass, Well the mower was one of them things that steelo has got, but bigger, and it had teeth on the front like giant sheep shears. it was self propelled and you pulled the clutch lever like on your harley to stop forward progress. ( no reverse).
I decided I needed to clean up the river bank which had heaps of johnson grass growing right to the edge of the cliff going down to the river below.
So mowing back and forth , clutch in , pull the thing back and mow to the edge again. Well on one go the clutch didn't engage and it pulled the whole gadget over the cliff. down it tumbled and sunk into the river.
"FUCK" how am I gonna tell the ol man about this????
eventually I plucked up the courage to tell him I had fucked up.
All was good in the end they scrambled down the cliff and fastened a rope to pull it back up. pull the plug and give it a couple of pulls and it started.
here you go dicko , finish the bloody mowing.???

beaglebasher and FBUser87 like this post

FBUser87
3 years ago

Now that is a great story.
Sheesh ya had a hand in that one Dicko, fuck wished my old man worked where yours did..

binnsy
3 years ago

Hey steelo, is there a bottom blade anywhere in your spares? I haven't seen one in any of the pics?

bloodog
3 years ago

Steelo being a golf nut, and understanding grass is a big deal
My guess is that mower will cut to close for a back yard lawn unless you have had it steam rolled flat
I could be wrong just my 2 cents worth
Ps you would make a great journalist, as reading your post is like reeding a professional news article

brucefxdl
3 years ago

Quoting FBUser87 on 27 Dec 2020 04:24 AMedited: 27 Dec 2020 04:39 AM
Ohhh I really do love an engine story, any engine will do.
My dear mate came around to my shoe box an hour a go, on his Royal Enfield GT Continental 650 Twin, with the Chrome tank and fuck me all the jazz from copying others. She looked beautiful, could not take err for a ride, fuckit, AT 148Kms speedo, as alcohol affliction on right hand and right foot just not working at present.
What a beautiful looking Motorcycle, Chrome tank and Black, beautiful;/ Pirelli , with coming custom rear cut off tail, and much more shite my dear friend shall place.
He still has his Shitty Harley Davidson, bought new in 1974 , revitalized, with 3 x KTMs and Husberg 710 ( What a stupid number), as am fucked unit he shall have my TT600 Belgarda.
You know I've (personal here, so cut it if you believe it may effect or cause you any suffering listening to these words you fucken weak people) ok where were we , think that's righty.
Anyway forgot where I was steering..................
Except maybe have a fantastic new year, do not harm those that would not harm you, stick to ya guns and try not to shoot the wrong fucken person.

Good luck .

balofski ?

Far Canal likes this post

brucefxdl
3 years ago

Quoting FBUser87 on 27 Dec 2020 04:24 AMedited: 27 Dec 2020 04:39 AM
Ohhh I really do love an engine story, any engine will do.
My dear mate came around to my shoe box an hour a go, on his Royal Enfield GT Continental 650 Twin, with the Chrome tank and fuck me all the jazz from copying others. She looked beautiful, could not take err for a ride, fuckit, AT 148Kms speedo, as alcohol affliction on right hand and right foot just not working at present.
What a beautiful looking Motorcycle, Chrome tank and Black, beautiful;/ Pirelli , with coming custom rear cut off tail, and much more shite my dear friend shall place.
He still has his Shitty Harley Davidson, bought new in 1974 , revitalized, with 3 x KTMs and Husberg 710 ( What a stupid number), as am fucked unit he shall have my TT600 Belgarda.
You know I've (personal here, so cut it if you believe it may effect or cause you any suffering listening to these words you fucken weak people) ok where were we , think that's righty.
Anyway forgot where I was steering..................
Except maybe have a fantastic new year, do not harm those that would not harm you, stick to ya guns and try not to shoot the wrong fucken person.

Good luck .

Quoting dicko on 27 Dec 2020 11:01 AM
HUH!! WTF??
well I have a engine story about mowers,
back in the winter of 1964 I used to do work at the Bundaberg Rum distillery, My dad was the foreman, so I always had a job for school
holidays. ( I am 14 years old at this time)
I would help the cooper steam out the barrels and repair them. help fill the barrels with rum, weigh each barrel, and load em onto the train,
climb down into the stills and scrape the deposits out, whatever other jobs, and mow the grass, Well the mower was one of them things that steelo has got, but bigger, and it had teeth on the front like giant sheep shears. it was self propelled and you pulled the clutch lever like on your harley to stop forward progress. ( no reverse).
I decided I needed to clean up the river bank which had heaps of johnson grass growing right to the edge of the cliff going down to the river below.
So mowing back and forth , clutch in , pull the thing back and mow to the edge again. Well on one go the clutch didn't engage and it pulled the whole gadget over the cliff. down it tumbled and sunk into the river.
"FUCK" how am I gonna tell the ol man about this????
eventually I plucked up the courage to tell him I had fucked up.
All was good in the end they scrambled down the cliff and fastened a rope to pull it back up. pull the plug and give it a couple of pulls and it started.
here you go dicko , finish the bloody mowing.???

allen auto sythe ?,have one behind the shed to restore.

brucefxdl
3 years ago

hey steelo,if you are after a rubber drive coupling,yours looks very much like/size of a fordson major injection pump drive coupling.golf clubs use reel mowers and get heir reels ground by specialist shops,may be a thought.is the bed knife [under the reel ] in place/any good ?.

fatbat
3 years ago

Quoting bloodog on 27 Dec 2020 10:13 PM
Steelo being a golf nut, and understanding grass is a big deal
My guess is that mower will cut to close for a back yard lawn unless you have had it steam rolled flat
I could be wrong just my 2 cents worth
Ps you would make a great journalist, as reading your post is like reeding a professional news article

Agree he can write a tale, tell a joke and has a quirky sense of humour. We don’t want to give him a big head though. Gotta bring him back to ground level now and hang some shit on him. I’ll start first. He’s got a feminine choice in dogs

Ratbob and Jay-Dee like this post

Topics

1/4

Mower Build

Mower Build

steelo

paulybronco

steelo

fatbat

FBUser87

Grease Monkey

steelo

Grease Monkey

FBUser87

Far Canal

fatbat

binnsy

dicko

FBUser87

binnsy

bloodog

brucefxdl

brucefxdl

brucefxdl

fatbat