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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Atco Commodore B14

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Hello friends,

I bought my dream mower, an Atco Commodore B14 and I am very happy with it. It is in great condition, no starting difficulties, overall very well maintained. Unfortunately, the previous owner couldn't tell me anything about the mower's history or the engine, he just mowed ;-).

I would be happy if one of you could say something more about the mower based on the pictures. I am very interested in that!

Thank you so much!

Forums

Clive1962 Wed, 15/04/2020

Hello,

I'm thinking this must be one of the last of the line of Atco Commodore.?  If the date letters continued in the same form from the info' posted in a thread by RedLeader a few weeks ago, then it could be that letter R is for 1994.??    When was it though that they launched the Balmoral model.? https://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/large/pub…

I left the mower world in mid 1991 and never got to see the last version of this Qualcast/Atco A114 engine...but I believe it would have their second type of electronic ignition and I'm assuming this is the Tillotson carburettor.?

C.

wristpin Wed, 15/04/2020

Does it have a belt or a chain drive from the top shaft down to the cutting cylinder?  The  parts books show export models with a belt and home market machines with a chain. 

Clive1962 Wed, 15/04/2020

That will be interesting to see about the drive train.  

  We used to have a mid 1970s Suffolk Super Colt locally that had been purchased new by its owner whilst on detachment in Germany it had the toothed belt rather than chain.   This must have been demanded by laws of the land of sale...would that have been to do with noise levels.?   I believe also Super Colt/Punch models into Germany also had a proper stop switch...fitted in the holes on the carb side of the cowl.

 Apologies for the thread digress...but all interesting stuff :)

C.

Markus1510 Wed, 15/04/2020

Many thanks. The cutting cylinder is driven by a chain. Can someone tell me what oil I need. I read 20W50 in a manual, but is that correct for a 1994 model?
Here is a photo of the drive.

Chris G Wed, 15/04/2020

That's a super clean one!

The A114 engines I have had have all had B&S SAE30 for oil changes with no issues, yours is later tho so not sure about 20w/50??

That looks like a toothed belt. 

Markus1510 Thu, 16/04/2020

OK thank you. Even after this instruction manual, the 20 W50 oil is the right one, then I will take it.

villiers98 Sat, 16/05/2020

I would agree this looks like the last of the line . Never seen a heatshield on the silencer before and sure this is the Tillotson carb. The Commodore came out about 1983 and was replaced by the one with the plastic drive gears and Tecumseh engine in about 1995 . It looks remarkably clean and tidy !