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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Old(ish) Ransomes Superbowl

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Good afternoon all, 

I have an old Ransomes Super bowl (1997) and it is pretty much in perfect working order. That is apart from the clutch that drives the rear roller. 

Basically there is no adjustment left in the cable and once the centrifugal clutch engages it slowly edges the mower forwards. All I need is 5mm in the cable and it will be fine.

Is it a case of replacing the ball and pin x2 (items 20 & 21 in the attached image)? If it is not those items I am really unsure what I can replace to fix the issue, as parts are quite limited for this machine.

Any thoughts welcomed. 

Thank you in advance for your help. 

Scott

Forums

wristpin Fri, 10/07/2020

I think that you are misunderstanding the action of the cable . To get more drive you need to screw the adjuster in. Also it will pay to check that the curved lever is free to pivot and that the two push rods and the ball are free to slide through the clutch centre - they do rust / seize up.

Scott S Fri, 10/07/2020

Hello, 

Thank you for your reply. 

The issue is that the pin is not pressed in far enough when the clutch is engaged, therefore not releasing pressure on the plate around the sprocket. 

If I wind the adjuster in, it reduces the pressure on the pin, allowing the plates to grip the sprocket more.

When the clutch is engaged the pin needs to be pressed in further. 

Hope that makes sense?

I sent the image below to a friend earlier, hope it helps. 

hortimech Fri, 10/07/2020

I think there is a bit of misunderstanding going on here, you wrote 'The issue is that the pin is not pressed in far enough when the clutch is engaged," I think you mean disengaged.

If you check your parts list, there are two small rods (number 20) with a ball between them (number 21), it is known for the ball to get lost or the rods to wear. Fairly obvious fix, add a ball if it isn't there or add another ball if the rods are worn.

The super Bowls are not a patch on the old Auto-Certes, the frames were known to bend in a slight breeze :-D

 

wristpin Fri, 10/07/2020

Yes, I read it that the drive was not taking up. As Hortimech says, the rods and the ball can wear. If, when you remove the rods you look at their inner ends where they bear on the ball you may find that they are worn slightly concave. Reversing the rods so that their unworn flat ends contact the ball may find you the extra throw that you need. Alternatively, add an extra ball.

Scott S Fri, 10/07/2020

Gents, 

That is amazing thank you. Found a site that sells both the pins and balls, but they are not accepting new orders for a few weeks. Will ensure that I order extra when they open (unless you guys know where I can get them now?).

Thanks for your replies, this forum is amazing! 

Scott

hortimech Fri, 10/07/2020

You could make the rods yourself if you can find silver steel rod of the correct diameter and the balls can be obtained from an old self-aligning bearing.

wristpin Fri, 10/07/2020

. Found a site that sells both the pins and balls, but they are not accepting new orders for a few weeks.

How odd, the pins  are in stock at my usual supplier for a very reasonable ( for Ransomes) £1.71 plus vat each. Pt Number 001434086.  Find out who is the Ransomes agent for your neck of the woods and order them. 

One other thing occurs to me is that Ransomes have traditionally specified that their machines are lubricated with SAE30/40 engine oil and not grease. If your machine has been greased it could just be that the clutch is well gunged up and could do with dismantling and a thorough wash .

 

Scott S Thu, 16/07/2020

Hi, 

Thanks for the further info. I have ordered some different size ball bearings to try from ebay as a temporary measure.

Is your usual website, obsolete ransomes parts? If so, they are not currently accepting new orders but should be open in the next week or two. They have both the pin and ball available, whereas I have only found the pins elsewhere where.

As I say I just want to ensure that this fixes the clutch issue before I strip it back to bare metal and re build it. 

Thank you for the continuing excellent advice!

Scott

wristpin Thu, 16/07/2020

No, I’ve never used those people. Those parts are sill current and can be ordered from any Ransomes dealer - none of this “ not accepting orders” nonsense. When I had my mower business we were not an official Ransomes dealer but had a good working relationship with the local distributor and always has frequently requested parts on our shelves. Single ball bearings may be purchased from any local bearing factor , no need to make a crisis out of a simple parts order.

I’m an oldie and get rather fed up with the younger generation who seem to think that if something is not on eBay , it doesn't exist . 

Scott S Thu, 16/07/2020

Ha.. That's fair enough and the first time I have been called young in a while! Could you direct me to your supplier where I would be more than happy to purchase the aforementioned parts. I have already approached Jon at Hailsham mower Centre and he does not stock them. 

Thanks, 

Scott

hortimech Thu, 16/07/2020

We didn't buy a ball bearing, we used to remove them from a worn self-aligning bearing. As I said, using two bearings instead of one should do the trick, it always did for myself.

wristpin Thu, 16/07/2020

Could you direct me to your supplier

They will only deal with trade account customers. I’ve sent you a pm with their name and it’s quite possible that your local mower shop already deals with them.

However as I suggested several posts ago (#8) just locate your local Ransomes distributor and order them - probably off the shelf, and you would have them by now !