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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Atco Standard clutch material

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Hi all

Halfway through the restoration of a 16" Standard with a plate clutch (I'll put up some progress shots in general discussions some time!).

My existing clutch friction plate is beyond use. The brass/bronze centre has worn badly and become separated from the plate itself. This has left a big hole in the plate so it doesn't sit centrally in the clutch, and will be causing wear on the clutch shaft I imagine. Part number is 5048 on the parts catalogue.

Now, I'm pretty certain I won't be able to find a replacement so I was wondering what others had used as an alternative? Im guessing the original is asbestos or similar? I've considered cork or heavy rubber? Also maybe copper as I have some thick plate and could easily solder in a bronze centre but would this be "grippy" enough? the springs are pretty good.

Haven't got a good picture of the knackered plate until tomorrow but for now here is a couple of shots of where I'm at with the project. I'll put up a built post in general discussions some time.

 

Forums

wristpin Wed, 06/02/2019

Looks as though you may be familiar with the vintage vehicle scene. The answer to your problem may well be with a friction material supply who already caters for the needs of vintage bikes and cars.

Bramley Wed, 06/02/2019

Thanks Wristpin, not a bad idea that, I will ask my classic car club about suppliers.

I am up for being creative though to keep the cost down, the aim was to keep the whole project as affordable as possible. I'm sure other people will have encountered the same issue.

Here's the damaged plate:

gtc Wed, 06/02/2019

Google clutch & brake relining service in your neck of the woods. They should be able to come up with some suitable material and attach it for you.

Here's an American one. Photos give an idea of the range of materials and sizes available. UK probably has similar:

http://www.allfrictions.com/productsservices.html

 

wristpin Wed, 06/02/2019

You could perhaps lay the plate and bush on a flat surface,  centre the bush up by eye and fill in the gap with JBWeld or some similar product.

 

Bramley Sun, 10/02/2019

Thanks all for your advice. I asked a few car friends and there are clutch lining places about but I haven't contacted them yet... In the interests of keeping a tight budget (and the fun of being creative) I thought I'd try this first:

I found a piece of Tufnol about the right thickness kicking about which is a phenolic resin bonded cloth. It's quite shiny so I have coarsely serrated it with a small slitting disc and roughed it up with a sand blaster***. Made the brass centre a tight press fit and put it back together... If it works then happy days, if not it's easy enough to take it back down and get hold of some 'proper' clutch material.

Obviously I won't know how effective this is as a friction plate until the project is more complete... still got to do the front rolls, main roller drive and cutter assy yet, I'll let you know how it works out!

Got the clutch shaft all fitted back into the frames and hooked up with a new chain so it's ready to fire the engine up for the first time, just need to get some fuel in it! 

***Worth being careful grinding and cutting Tufnol as the dust is not healthy, (possibly also carcinogenic!) so be safe and sensible with PPE.

 

hillsider Mon, 11/02/2019

Re the use of Tufnol as a clutch disc by all means try it now that you have made it but I would be surprised if it grips as it should, I think the suggestion to try suppliers of brake and clutch lining materials is probably the best way forward.

Many years back before modern plastic wear pads became available it was used as an anti friction wear pad on the linkspan fingers of Car Ferry loading ramps.

Yes great care should be taken when machining it we were told that dust from it is carcinogenic, unless of course a safer form of the material has been developed since I last used it.

wristpin Mon, 11/02/2019

Many years back before modern plastic wear pads became available it was used as an anti friction wear pad on the linkspan fingers of Car Ferry loading ramps.

On a somewhat smaller scale the Atco Deluxe machines of the 60s-80s used a Tufnol thrust washer in their traction clutches. Again making use of the material's anti-friction properties. 

Bramley Tue, 12/02/2019

Yep I'm sure you're both right... It's fairly slippery stuff (hence the attempts to rough it up). Should be long lasting though anyway! We'll see how it performs. I've nothing to loose anyway and it didn't cost anything aside from a few minutes cutting it.

In other news the engine now runs (not brilliantly yet), a little fettling and we'll be there. Inspiration to get n with the remaining repairs, grass wil be growing in a few weeks (we hope!)

Bramley Tue, 21/05/2019

Cut grass today for the first time! My homebrew Tufnol clutch plate works surprisingly well! Wasn't expecting that. 

The only problem with it is its a little thinner than the old one so the left hand clutch level adjustment screw fouls on the inner clutch plate occasionally.

Thanks all for the advice :)

OLC Shop Wed, 22/05/2019

Would you like some new transfers to complete the restoration ?

Please feel free to email direct to discuss.

Colin

Bramley Mon, 27/05/2019

Cheers!

 

Might think about transfers once the grassbox is done too :) 

 

Quick question - what's the cutting height range supposed to be? I made the front rolls as big as feasible without fouling on the scraper bar but my adjustment seems to be about 5/8"at max height and negative at its lowest so something's not right there! scalped some bits off the lawn already aha