Ransomes marquis restoration

Welcome, a good choice,the Marquis, quality and simple construction. Your cylinder adjuster probably just needs a new nyloc nut, 5/16 UNF .

When you say " restoration" , are you just after a reliable working machine with age related battle scars  or is it to be a full repainted job. If the latter , perhaps a full strip down in the winter.

If the engine is running I'd just treat it to an oil change , suggest SAE 30 , but in the future you might consider replacing the contact breaker points and condenser with a solid state trigger module for reliability and no further need to remove the flywheel.

One thing to note is that Ransomes have always specified oil and not grease got all the points with lubrication nipples as there is a tendency for grease to dry out and block the lubrication passageways. While on that subject, check that the two rear roller sections can move freely and independently when turned backwards . They are lubricated via access holes in the roller sections and if neglected the rollers will seize on the shaft and there will be no differential action to assist turning.  

The positioning and number of the lube points is dependent on the width of cut (18/20") and age of your machine so an image of the ID plate and a couple of the machine will be useful if you require further advice . 

For now an oil gun and perhaps a Ransomes peg spanner for moving the traction clutch to adjust the chains should see you set up for some quality mowing.

Wristpin , many thanks for your reply, some great advice there, il be getting myself a couple of new bolts and nuts tomorrow hopefully.

 In terms of a restoration or use as is I'm more swayed over to the restoration idea, my garden is probably a little small for the mower to be used on the lawn, but I hope to move in the next year or so... Hopefully it'll be a nice addition to a larger lawn ;) 

 I think the solid state trigger module has already been fitted, I am told the mower was previously owned/used by old Trafford cricket grounds... Not into cricket atall but I'm sure they would have looked after their machines.

Rear roller all seems correct and present.

 Il have to work out how to add photos, and update as I go along.

Surprised at a cricket ground using a Marquis  rather than its fine turf relation the Auto Certes but in maintenance terms much is the same. Looking forward to some images.

I am with Wristpin, I do not think any cricket club would have a marquis, not saying they wouldn't have, but it is unlikely. They would have an Auto-certes fitted with a shaver bottom blade (a blade so thin, it would usually not last a cricket season). A Marquis is easy to tell from an Auto-certes, is the rear roller made from cast iron or Aluminium ? How many blades are there in the cylinder, 6 or a lot more ? What is the front roller made from, wood or metal ? Finally, are there ankle breaker shafts stuck out of the rear roller ?

If the answers to those questions are: cast iron, 6 blades, wood and no ankle breakers, then it is a Marquis ;-)

Hi hortimech, thanks for your reply, I was unsure of the differences but it seems like there are a few defining differences, there are alot more than 6 blades, the rear roller is aluminium, front is metal. Haha ankle breaker shafts is exactly right... On the rear roller... I wonder if there has been a mix up in grass boxes... The box is in great condition with the emblem and 'marquis' in perfect order... However from what you have said it seems like it may actually be a auto Certes? 

 I wonder if either of you could point me in the right direction, iv had the cutter out today having a play around, I hope you can see clearly enough from the Images iv provided, but I'm wondering how the gear comes of the shaft of the cylinder, seen best in the last photo under the spring and again on the second photo far right. I'm only interested in taking this off so I can get the cylinder cleaned and re sprayed

Thanks again for your help

Think by gear you are referring to what is more commonly called the drive dog. It is screwed onto the cylinder shaft with a left hand thread , i.e. Unscrews in a clockwise direction.  In the absence of a purpose made tool to grip it a blunt cold chisel or drift into the base of a " tooth" and a sharp smack with a lump hammer should get it on the move.

Yes that is an Auto-certes. To remove the thing you call a 'gear', you need to turn it in a clockwise direction i.e. in the opposite direction to a normal nut, this is because it has a lefthand thread. I have a tool I made myself to do this, it is pretty basic, an old one of the things you can see in your third photo, welded to a thick piece of tube (about 3 inch long) and with a thick piece of round bar welded to the other end of the tube (90 degrees to the tube). I just jam the cylinder (to stop it turning), fit the tool to the 'gear' and then sharply hit the round bar (in a clockwise direction) with a hammer, this loosens the 'gear' and you can then use the tool to unscrew the 'gear'.