The Old Lawnmower Club
Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers
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Dating a Suffolk Punch from the Engine Number?

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Bazz B Tue, 26/07/2022

I have a Suffolk Punch, model 43DL, serial 037564 with an engine number 185861 (98cc aluminium engine part number E8207.

Can anyone tell me how old it is?  I've owned it about 30 years, but I picked it up second hand.

Thanks.

B

Forums

wristpin Wed, 27/07/2022

I think that the original A98 engine replaced the good old SIF cast iron blocker lumps in the mid to late 70s. The first version of the A98 used points ignition and an air vane governor, followed by solid state ignition and a mechanical governor. The A98 was never as smooth and torquey as the cast iron lumps that it replaced.

Bazz B Wed, 27/07/2022

Thanks for that info. This being my first Suffolk, I cannot compare with the iron engines, but I've always been very pleased with it. I paid £120 for it back in 1993, supplied second by an established local dealer. It is possible it is not an "original" machine, but is a "creation" built from salvaged parts, but I'm still very fond of it.

B

Bazz B Wed, 27/07/2022

I will blame this on having a "senior moment", but I now realise the engine block is indeed iron!

B