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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Ransome Ajax 12inch restoration

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Hello everyone,

                          Completely new member here. I have two Ransomes Ajax 12 inch one is part restored the other i intend to overhaul and restore. I have managed to locate the new rollers and a guy who will sharpen the blades and overhauls them for me. So as i begin to strip this down, may i ask for any tips to rubbing and striping down the old paint, degreasing, and what to use to rub down the metal work before priming for undercoat paint. So i go for a silver and green look or chrome? 

Any ideas or advice will be gratefully received .       

Thank you again Dave         

                        

Clive1997 Thu, 26/07/2018

Hello Dave & welcome to the forum, sorry you have not yet had a response, there have been several posts recently regarding the refurbishment of Ajax's, worth trawling through them for tips.

Whist I am normally an advocate of keeping mowers original, there are an abundance of Ajax's out there, therefore customising to your own taste I feel is acceptable, there are enough of us with the rarer mk 1 & 2's etc so dabbling with the Mk3/4/5's not a problem, but its good to restore to a usable state.

As to rubbing down, if not too corroded wire brush/emery paper, as for degreasing a variety of products available, I tend to prefer the citrus ones that you can dilute to your required strength, also Gunk, Paraffin etc.

There are some useful pages on this site, and suggest if you have not already done so join the club, only a few pounds a year but lots of information etc available plus an

The alloy parts are often painted silver or chrome, but can be left original & buffed up to a good shine.

I am often breaking Ajax's so if you need any parts let me know.

 

Davel831 Thu, 26/07/2018

Clive

         Thank you for the warm welcome, i have now read the other posts and have some great ideas thank you. What a great club and i just hate to see any old mowers going away to rust! 

Please see the pictures of how it is now, i managed to strip down with fun, apart from the two rollers which i cannot seem to part? 

Thank you again regards Dave

Davel831 Sat, 04/08/2018

Hi all i just wanted to show you my work in progress 

 

 

And here as well

 

 

And here 

 

Getting there slowly, thank you for the advice and help Cheer Dave 

Davel831 Sat, 04/08/2018

Stripped down and found that using oven and grill cleaner works well to degrease

 

 

Cleaned up really well 

 

Davel831 Sat, 04/08/2018

All finished now the polished Chrome sides  

 

 

Gives a great cut very very impressed!

 

 

 

robint Sat, 04/08/2018

Would I be right in assuming there is no bearing (brass bush) inside the drum and it just bears on the steel axle and is reliant on regular oiling (not grease).  Where are the oiling nipples, what are they like - presumable straight not bulbouse like a grease nipple and require an oil gun with a half cup nozzle.  If this is right I can pass onto you a dodge I made turning a modern grease gun into an oil gun

Davel831 Sat, 04/08/2018

Hi

     Yes that is correct this model is for the oil gun. I would be very interested how you did this as i was going to post the question lol!

 

robint Sun, 05/08/2018

get one of these on ebay £1.65  and drill a 3/16" hole, you will find a readimade centre inside.  This cap then screws on a standard grease gun which you should then fill with oil (I use sae 90 but this is frowned upon by some Ecclesiastes)

 

1/8" bsp brass blanking cap

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VK10-1-8-BSP-Female-Brass-Blankcap-Plated-KE…

 

obtw, the oven cleaner is a neat idea but never let it near any ally parts - disastrous

also phosphoric acid is good for neutralising surface rust on mild steel  but its not clever on cast iron

Davel831 Mon, 06/08/2018

The finished mower with just three rollers instead of the five, also the colour is not the same but i like the mower. The sides have all been polished to give a chrome look .

 

Clive1997 Mon, 06/08/2018

Hello Dave

Excellent job another moved saved for the future, whats next??

 

Davel831 Mon, 06/08/2018

Hi Clive et al

                    To be honest i really enjoyed doing this and i would be open to any suggestions at looking to restore another hand mower. So what model of hand mower should i do nxt chaps?

Clive1997 Mon, 06/08/2018

Hello Dave

 I have many I could offer you but I see we are 250+ miles apart!! By coincidence I have just had a 1930's Thomas Greens Deluxe picked up from St Helens!!! A mate bringing it South next month. I will message you later.

 

 

Clive

Harvey Tue, 14/08/2018

Good to see yet another Ajax in use Dave and looking quite smart. You do have the 'Name Plate' bar incorrectly fitted though. It should be nearer to the land rolls; about 1/4" clearance.  I see it is wrong in your original 'as found' photo' though.

 

How about a JP Maxees next.....

 

Harvey

Davel831 Tue, 14/08/2018

Hi Harvey

                 Thank you for the message, yes i realised this after i got the handbook! All sorted now , i will check out the JP Maxees..

 

regards Dave 

Antbr123 Tue, 14/08/2018

Hi Dave - welcome to the club!  I too am a newbie and having researched around myself for my Atco projects, focussed in particular on how to tackle rust.  I am in the middle of an experiment using distilled white vinegar and it is showing some impressive results.  Just get a tray, some white vinegar (do NOT use Malt vinegar - leave that for the fish and chips!) and leave to soak for 2 days.  Rub with a wire brush/wire wool  and you will be amazed at how metal is restored with comparatively little effort.

Tony

Davel831 Wed, 15/08/2018

Tony

         Thank you for the warm welcome. I find that interesting to use white vinegar , i use deox which i found was excellent and if you left the metal to soak it really worked overnight.

Any other tips would be gracefully appreciated.

Regards Dave

 

Antbr123 Thu, 16/08/2018

FYI

I just picked up a JP Maxees for £20 quid....I already had the JP Maxees M3 - 12 inch which I inherited from my father.  Now I have the Maxees-14.  Keep looking - they seem to be out there but increasingly valued.  I cannot wait to get my hands on the new purchase....hopefully this weekend.

Tony

Alex Fri, 17/08/2018

Hi I a new member to the group and also have a Ransome Ajax mark 5, which was in working order however required some cosmetic work, before and after pics. Very happy with the end result

 

Davel831 Fri, 17/08/2018

Hi Alex

            well done and welcome to the club.. what next for you i wonder

 

Regards Dave

Alex Fri, 17/08/2018

Thanks Dave

Hopefully some dry weather to put the mover to good use. 

Regards Alex

Alex Fri, 17/08/2018

Thanks Dave

Hopefully some dry weather to put the mover to good use. 

Regards Alex

Davel831 Sat, 18/08/2018

HI Alex

            are you considering another project mower? If so what make model?

 

Regards Dave 

Triumph66 Fri, 31/08/2018

Dave, I have been following your Ajax restoration and it is something I am hoping to do myself at some point when I get my hands on a complete one. I do prefer the look of the Mk1 & 2s though I suspect I will get the same as yours. You have done a lovely job by the way. What green paint did you use?  

By chance I have an old JP Maxee which I got for nothing about 12 years ago. Solid old beast but need some TLC and a grass box. 

Andrew 

Davel831 Fri, 31/08/2018

Andrew

              The paint was from Halfords with a grey primer and a laquer overlay. 

 

Regards Dave