Looking to buy and restore a single cylinder classic.
Discussion
75cc of British wonderfulness...
A 1960s Suffolk Colt.
My Grandfather bought one new in the 60's. I was 3 when he passed away but my Grandmother kept the mower right up until she died in 1994.
When I was young it was my job to cycle to my Grandmothers house where I'd proudly fire the old Colt up and cut the lawns for here.
The mower eventually passed to my father who gave it away when he moved to a smaller house. I thought he'd kept hold of the old Colt and was gutted to find out he'd left it behind when he sold the house.
To my shame I've been using an electric Flymo for the last few years, hate using the thing and it gives me a bad back.
Which got me thinking, I want my mower back! Now I can either keep an eye out on ebay and Gumtree or could be really cheeky and asked for my Grandfather's back? (it has been 6 years since it was given away).
The plan is (when I do track one down) to do a full restoration.
Right, I'm just nipping down the road to my dad's old house....
Flip
A 1960s Suffolk Colt.
My Grandfather bought one new in the 60's. I was 3 when he passed away but my Grandmother kept the mower right up until she died in 1994.
When I was young it was my job to cycle to my Grandmothers house where I'd proudly fire the old Colt up and cut the lawns for here.
The mower eventually passed to my father who gave it away when he moved to a smaller house. I thought he'd kept hold of the old Colt and was gutted to find out he'd left it behind when he sold the house.
To my shame I've been using an electric Flymo for the last few years, hate using the thing and it gives me a bad back.
Which got me thinking, I want my mower back! Now I can either keep an eye out on ebay and Gumtree or could be really cheeky and asked for my Grandfather's back? (it has been 6 years since it was given away).
The plan is (when I do track one down) to do a full restoration.
Right, I'm just nipping down the road to my dad's old house....
Flip
Edited by Flipatron on Monday 27th May 15:19
Yep there's a few on ebay and Dusty964, that's a really kind offer but I'm after this exact model. The later ones have the fuel tank on the bars and a manual rather than centrifugal clutch. I think the casing is also a little wider.
The one pictured above that I'm after is the earlier model of Colt complete with fuel tank atop the engine and centrifugal clutch.
There's one quite local to me for sale but it's already been 'restored' and seems to have parts missing? Doesn't inspire confidence TBH.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281112651594?ssPageName=...
The one pictured above that I'm after is the earlier model of Colt complete with fuel tank atop the engine and centrifugal clutch.
There's one quite local to me for sale but it's already been 'restored' and seems to have parts missing? Doesn't inspire confidence TBH.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281112651594?ssPageName=...
Well a bad back has put a stop to me playing this weekend so I'm putting my efforts into sourcing the bits and services I need.
Looking to buy a light grey, heat resistant engine paint (aerosol). A few on the bay but they look too dark for what I'm after. May try Halfords and see what they have.
Also need to find a local blasting and powder coating company. Seen one or two locally but could do with a recommendation TBH. The plan is to hand all the metalwork over as a job lot to have it blasted and painted.
My biggest headache is the 'Suffolk Colt' stickers for the side casing and grass box. They don't produce them anymore so would have to get the image reproduced. Any idea what this would cost to get done?
Looking to buy a light grey, heat resistant engine paint (aerosol). A few on the bay but they look too dark for what I'm after. May try Halfords and see what they have.
Also need to find a local blasting and powder coating company. Seen one or two locally but could do with a recommendation TBH. The plan is to hand all the metalwork over as a job lot to have it blasted and painted.
My biggest headache is the 'Suffolk Colt' stickers for the side casing and grass box. They don't produce them anymore so would have to get the image reproduced. Any idea what this would cost to get done?
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.
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
Well 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
Time for an update.
We have paint! And if I'm really lucky, matching paint.
Well, this seems to match the original.
The engine paint was the biggest worry but the colour is spot on. To think I almost painted it black.
A few more warm days and it'll soon be time for the rebuild, shouldn't take long either.
Still waiting for a number of new parts from a local supplier. Ordered last Tuesday for next day delivery... still waiting.
We have paint! And if I'm really lucky, matching paint.
Well, this seems to match the original.
The engine paint was the biggest worry but the colour is spot on. To think I almost painted it black.
A few more warm days and it'll soon be time for the rebuild, shouldn't take long either.
Still waiting for a number of new parts from a local supplier. Ordered last Tuesday for next day delivery... still waiting.
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