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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Atco 14” rear roller issue

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Good afternoon everyone

Recently joined the club so thank you for accepting me!

 

I’ve been restoring a 1953 14” Atco got a little while and have noticed the rear roller locks on when it’s rolled forwards. 

I have another identical unrestored 14” Atco which only locks the rear roller when it’s rolled backwards..have I done something wrong?! I’m very sure the roller shaft can only be installed one way so I’m not sure what’s going on 

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you. 

Forums

wristpin Thu, 15/03/2018

I’ve not got any parts or operator’s manuals , so a bit of guess work. Is there a ratchet on the cutting cylinder shaft ? If there is, your problem is possibly just over tight chains from the cylinder sprocket to the roller - is the intermediate sprocket adjustable when the nut on its spindle is slackened?

If there’s no ratchet, and you have the clutch lever reassembled, all the chains back to the cone clutch must be free to rotate. When disengaged that clutch must not bind.

AlexInDevon Thu, 15/03/2018

Thank you Wristpin..

 

i did wonder if it if it was something to do with the ratchet on the cylinder shaft. So I removed the chain that is connected to the rear roller so it’s not connected to anything else..but it still locks when you roll it forwards but not backwards 

wristpin Thu, 15/03/2018

So the roller locks when not connected to anything? Does its shaft run in bushes or ball bearings. If the latter it’s possible that one bearing is breaking up and the balls are jamming.

AlexInDevon Thu, 15/03/2018

They’re actually brand new bearings..

think I’ll have to strip it all down tomorrow night to find out what’s going on. Will report back 

thanks Wristpin

AlexInDevon Sun, 18/03/2018

Problem solved..

The cog inside the roller had been inserted the wrong way so was locking in the wrong direction. 

Slotted it the correct way, made sure the pins were facing the right direction and we’re good :-)

 

 

 

 

 

wristpin Sun, 18/03/2018

Finger blight!!!

Pleased that you've fixed it.