Looking to buy and restore a single cylinder classic.
Discussion
I had a Suffolk Punch given to me when I was 11, and while I wasn't the most mechanically minded at the time I did get a bit of an intro to basic mechanics (and also pistol shooting) from it. Didn't actually use it - first time I did, I was pointed towards a lake and frankly I wasn't expecting the old thing to move of with such alacrity - but also, there was a perfectly decent modern Qualcast with all the bells and whistles to do the job instead.
Sorry if this is a bit off topic.
When I was about 10 years old my dad bought my brothers and I a home made kart propelled by a Suffolk Colt engine.
We used to blast up and down the pavement outside the house and great time was had by all, it seemed to travel at lightning speed with your backside 1/2" above the floor but probably did 15mph max.
This machine started continuing interest in all things petrol powered and probably led to my younger brother owning his own garage business.
Later I owned another Colt, sadly it was stolen before I could take it to bits, but I now have a Ransomes Crawler to restore.
When I was about 10 years old my dad bought my brothers and I a home made kart propelled by a Suffolk Colt engine.
We used to blast up and down the pavement outside the house and great time was had by all, it seemed to travel at lightning speed with your backside 1/2" above the floor but probably did 15mph max.
This machine started continuing interest in all things petrol powered and probably led to my younger brother owning his own garage business.
Later I owned another Colt, sadly it was stolen before I could take it to bits, but I now have a Ransomes Crawler to restore.
Well I've had a right result!
Whilst trawling throught the internet I found a local decal company so emailed a query with regards the Suffolk Colt sticker. Within the hour I got a reply stating they had the design which they're still working on but should be ready within 2 weeks.
http://www.machinerydecals.co.uk/contactc.html
I'm very happy, It was going to be the one thing that stopped me finishing it to the standard I wanted.
Whilst trawling throught the internet I found a local decal company so emailed a query with regards the Suffolk Colt sticker. Within the hour I got a reply stating they had the design which they're still working on but should be ready within 2 weeks.
http://www.machinerydecals.co.uk/contactc.html
I'm very happy, It was going to be the one thing that stopped me finishing it to the standard I wanted.
OP. I have a Qualcast Commodore from 1960's sitting in my back garden in Middlesex. You can have it if you can collect. Or anyone else for that matter.
It has not run for a few years but is mechanically sound. Just a bit rusty. I even have the original owners manual!
http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/moms/mom84-qualc...
It has not run for a few years but is mechanically sound. Just a bit rusty. I even have the original owners manual!
http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/moms/mom84-qualc...
john2443 said:
I've always fancied one of these, no reason to have one unless I save up to buy one......and a house with a huge overgrown garden!
Is that an Alan Scythe? Scourge of frogs and grass snakes, plus you don't mow in your flip flops either! I used to trundle one around the place I used to live, an excellently effective, but lethal bit of kit!prand said:
Is that an Alan Scythe? Scourge of frogs and grass snakes, plus you don't mow in your flip flops either! I used to trundle one around the place I used to live, an excellently effective, but lethal bit of kit!
No!As it says on the wheel it's Allen........sorry but as my surname is Allen it's one of those things that bugs me.
Anyway, many years ago I got to use an Allen scythe and as you say they are a lethal bit of kit.
But very effective - paddock about 4/5 foot high with brambles, weeds, small trees etc. The thing just chugged it's way through leaving devastation in it's path!
OP sorry about the thread hijack - please keep us updated with the mower.
skeggysteve said:
No!
As it says on the wheel it's Allen........sorry but as my surname is Allen it's one of those things that bugs me.
Anyway, many years ago I got to use an Allen scythe and as you say they are a lethal bit of kit.
But very effective - paddock about 4/5 foot high with brambles, weeds, small trees etc. The thing just chugged it's way through leaving devastation in it's path!
OP sorry about the thread hijack - please keep us updated with the mower.
My mistake, apologies, couldn't read the image on my poxy phone. In miigatn it was a long while ago when I was let loose on one of these, and we jokily used to refer to it as "The Beast, Alan".As it says on the wheel it's Allen........sorry but as my surname is Allen it's one of those things that bugs me.
Anyway, many years ago I got to use an Allen scythe and as you say they are a lethal bit of kit.
But very effective - paddock about 4/5 foot high with brambles, weeds, small trees etc. The thing just chugged it's way through leaving devastation in it's path!
OP sorry about the thread hijack - please keep us updated with the mower.
And I sympathise, everyone spells my name with an A not an E too!
Back to mowers - sorry...
OK time for an update.
I've had a good look at what's good, bad and ugly.
Lets start with the good.
My new mower retains it's original brass fuel tap, most of these seem to have been binned in favour of the nasty plastic type. I know which I prefer..
I've fitted the new gaskets to the Zenith carb, it's now good to go.
OK now for the bad.
As you can see from the picture above, the original exhaust is shot. You can't get these new anymore and I've never seen any for sale on the web... we have a problem.
The original cast aluminium pull-start casing has been replaced with a horrible plastic affair. Not a massive problem as I've seen these on ebay for about £15.
You may also be able to see that the fuel tank has been stood on and dented. Something else you can get on ebay for around a tenner.
So I've got all these missing parts that I need to source, so what do I find on ebay just around the corner from me...
Two mowers, one of which has all the original parts that I'm after. I got them both for £30, result!
Excellent exhaust.
Uncracked aluminium cover (compare it to the nasty plastic one).
And a mint fuel tank.
Now that I've got all the correct bits together I can get cleaning and painting. I've not been able to get anything blasted yet as I was missing the fuel tank so this is something I'll be able to get done this week.
As suggested above I may got for a standard matt paint finish, just need to get the orange and green matched.
That's it for now, anybody want to buy a mower?
Flip
I've had a good look at what's good, bad and ugly.
Lets start with the good.
My new mower retains it's original brass fuel tap, most of these seem to have been binned in favour of the nasty plastic type. I know which I prefer..
I've fitted the new gaskets to the Zenith carb, it's now good to go.
OK now for the bad.
As you can see from the picture above, the original exhaust is shot. You can't get these new anymore and I've never seen any for sale on the web... we have a problem.
The original cast aluminium pull-start casing has been replaced with a horrible plastic affair. Not a massive problem as I've seen these on ebay for about £15.
You may also be able to see that the fuel tank has been stood on and dented. Something else you can get on ebay for around a tenner.
So I've got all these missing parts that I need to source, so what do I find on ebay just around the corner from me...
Two mowers, one of which has all the original parts that I'm after. I got them both for £30, result!
Excellent exhaust.
Uncracked aluminium cover (compare it to the nasty plastic one).
And a mint fuel tank.
Now that I've got all the correct bits together I can get cleaning and painting. I've not been able to get anything blasted yet as I was missing the fuel tank so this is something I'll be able to get done this week.
As suggested above I may got for a standard matt paint finish, just need to get the orange and green matched.
That's it for now, anybody want to buy a mower?
Flip
Another exciting update on mower news.
With three engines now to choose from I had to pick which one I'd be using in the rebuilt mower. I decided to stay with the original as it seems the least worn.
The only real job it needed was to check the points (fine) change the exhaust over and give it a final clean ready for paint.
Points and electrics hiding behind the flywheel.
New exhaust fitted and painted with POR15 heat resistant paint.
Engine is as clean as I can get it, ready for paint when I can find the right colour.
Everything is now cleaned and ready to go. Alloy starter case looks a lot better after some work.
Remains of the spares mower. No point in rebuilding it, I'll keep some spares and bin the rest. It turned out to be in much worse state than the first one I bought but luckily supplied me with all the parts I was missing.
This lot now needs blasting and painting.
Not heard from my sticker guy yet but as luck would have it some have turned up on ebay (from Australia of all places) so I now have options.
Right, time to clean all the s
te off the floor of my garage 
Flip
With three engines now to choose from I had to pick which one I'd be using in the rebuilt mower. I decided to stay with the original as it seems the least worn.
The only real job it needed was to check the points (fine) change the exhaust over and give it a final clean ready for paint.
Points and electrics hiding behind the flywheel.
New exhaust fitted and painted with POR15 heat resistant paint.
Engine is as clean as I can get it, ready for paint when I can find the right colour.
Everything is now cleaned and ready to go. Alloy starter case looks a lot better after some work.
Remains of the spares mower. No point in rebuilding it, I'll keep some spares and bin the rest. It turned out to be in much worse state than the first one I bought but luckily supplied me with all the parts I was missing.
This lot now needs blasting and painting.
Not heard from my sticker guy yet but as luck would have it some have turned up on ebay (from Australia of all places) so I now have options.
Right, time to clean all the s
te off the floor of my garage Flip
megaphone said:
OP. I have a Qualcast Commodore from 1960's sitting in my back garden in Middlesex. You can have it if you can collect. Or anyone else for that matter.
It has not run for a few years but is mechanically sound. Just a bit rusty. I even have the original owners manual!
http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/moms/mom84-qualc...
If anybody is interested here are some pics of my lawnmower. Free to anyone who wants to collect, it's also on eBay so you'll need to be quick..It has not run for a few years but is mechanically sound. Just a bit rusty. I even have the original owners manual!
http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/moms/mom84-qualc...
davidd said:
megaphone said:
If anybody is interested here are some pics of my lawnmower. Free to anyone who wants to collect, it's also on eBay so you'll need to be quick..
ooo, where are youWell I've found a local blasting and powder coating company just down the road, dropped the bits off this afternoon.
It's going to cost £75 which I didn't think was too bad.
All the green parts are coming back bare so I can finish them to a decent standard. The engine cover, fuel tank and handle bars are being powder coated orangy red. The blades are going back to post office red.
Although I'm getting the grassbox blasted it may be past saving. It's out of shape and a bit dented but I'll see what I can do with it. I've seen a decent one for sale not too far from me but it still seems to be attached to a mower.
Still not sure where to get the engine paint from. It's a strange shade of light greeny grey. If the worst comes to the worse it's getting sprayed black.
Flip
It's going to cost £75 which I didn't think was too bad.
All the green parts are coming back bare so I can finish them to a decent standard. The engine cover, fuel tank and handle bars are being powder coated orangy red. The blades are going back to post office red.
Although I'm getting the grassbox blasted it may be past saving. It's out of shape and a bit dented but I'll see what I can do with it. I've seen a decent one for sale not too far from me but it still seems to be attached to a mower.
Still not sure where to get the engine paint from. It's a strange shade of light greeny grey. If the worst comes to the worse it's getting sprayed black.
Flip
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