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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Atco Standard

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Well to various reasons i had to put the rebuild on hold but now starting again, i have decided to do it in 2 stages and have taken it down to main frame leaving roller and blades attached for now and have removed the countershaft to flush bearings and repack with grease but have a couple of questions.

As per picture i have loosened the pin holding the small sprocket on but have not removed as i am not sure if the clutch will fly apart and should i use the old pin or replace with a modern split roll pin, moving to the other end i will need to remove the starting dog to get the bearing off and it appears to be a screw on type as i cannot see a pin holding it and no nut in the hole, is this guess correct.

Also anything to be aware of when dismantling the clutch apart from perhaps photos to aid reassembly.

TIA Jarrett

Forums

jarrett Fri, 06/09/2019

Put a couple of g clamps on the clutch and knocked the pin out but it did not fly off quite the opposite so does it need a puller on the sprocket to remove and perhaps some heat? loathe to use plus gas incase it gets on the friction plate, i have searched high and low and cannot find anyone who has documented the clutch removal.

Update

 Low and behold a tap with a hammer on the sprocket and it came off although the brass bush is loose in the friction plate but will take another look tommorow.

Lee Smallwood Sat, 07/09/2019

Hi Jarrett, don't know if it will help but on you tube there is a three or four part series on Atco standard restoration, I will certainly be watching it when I get round to mine. Lee

jarrett Sat, 07/09/2019

Thanks Lee,

Had a look but could not find anything detailed as most seem to show first start ups after rebuild or xyz years but have got the clutch mechanism apart and will post some photos so others know what to expect.

Jarrett

jarrett Sun, 08/09/2019

Here are some pictures of what to expect when stripping the clutch, don't know how to insert pictures to relevant text but am sure you will understand, one shows the outer bearing with thrust washer locking collar and dust caps, another is the bearing at the starting dog end which needed a vice, spanner and a good sharp whack, left a few jaw marks on shaft but these will file out.

Slightly out of focus is the spring basket with one replaced so you get the idea although this may have been stripped down before as the 2 spy holes with covers were at the bottom of the clutch cover unless they are drain holes but i doubt it, having looked at the inner bearings next to the red drive sprocket i will service these in situ as to get them off means you have to drift out the pin shown but this also goes through the key for the sprocket and it may be a can of worms so will leave alone.

Maybe this will help someone who is contemplating doing a stripdown.

jarrett Sat, 14/09/2019

Does anyone know what metal the handles are made of as one of mine is bent where it bolts to the main frame, if cast i take it im stuffed as to heating and bending back but could they be wrought iron? any guidance appreciated.

jarrett Sun, 15/09/2019

Wristpin,

I paid a visit to Copped Hall today to see Roy Osbourne's collection as featured on this site and he reckons they are cast so perhaps the quality control was not that good and a dodgy casting got through, it's not an insurmountable problem as i could pack the lower fixing hole out with washers between the handle and frame.

Have seen reference to how the metal rings when struck whilst suspended so will find that again and see what it does.

olcadmin Sun, 15/09/2019

The Atco Motor Mowers (which we collectors call "The Standard") were - apart from the very first year of production in 1921 - all made from malleable cast iron. It's a lot more forgiving than the traditional cast iron used on earlier hand mowers (and indeed the original 1921 Atco "Oval Frame" Motor Mowers). There's lots of info on malleable cast iron on the general web - simply Google it.

Over the years we have seen many disfigured and odd shaped examples of Atco Standards where the frame has become bent or misaligned or bent, perhaps through having spent years at the bottom of a scrap pile. The good news is that with a bit of heat and lots of patience, the bent frame piece can probably be realigned to the correct shape. Alternatively, there are lots of donor machines around among collectors so it might be easier to simply swap a good one for a bent one.

The videos referred to on one of the earlier posts are, I believe, our member Stan Hardwick's contribution to a TV show many years ago...

https://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/mowers/video/restoration-stan-part-1

wristpin Sun, 15/09/2019

Not sure about the sound test but the normal workshop  way of telling the difference between various grades of iron and steel is the colour of the sparks when they are held against a carborundum grinding wheel . However, I’m not suggesting that you start attacking your handles in that manner so perhaps listening to the ring is more appropriate.

jarrett Mon, 16/09/2019

Seems i may be in luck then gents, i did suspend it and it rings when struck and i also took a small twist drill to a hidden part and the swarf is curly like steel so will look for someone with a gas axe and see what happens, thanks wrispin and olcadmin will have a read up on the properties of malleable cast.

Chris G Mon, 16/09/2019

I don't know the amount of bend or the thickness of the cast but I wouldn't have thought the power of a gas axe would be necessary - I think you know that :-)