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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

ATCO Engine Repair

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I need a little help.  I plan on cleaning the engine and replacing the Head, Exhaust, Valve Cover, and Sump gaskets on my ATCO mower.  The engine number is A678773 and the model # B23.  I think it was manufactured around 1967/8.

 

I would like a repair manual showing how to assemble/disassemble this cast iron engine, please let me know how I may obtain one or if anyone can tell me the torque ratio to use when assembling the cylinder head and any of the other parts of this engine.

 

I do not know the engine manufacture so I am including a picture to help in the identification.

 

Forums

P-1 Adolescence Tue, 09/08/2016

Wristpin, thank you very much.  This will be beneficial in restoring my mower.  Do you know if Suffolk put out a shop manual for this mower.  I will ask Jon about such a manual when I contact him about gaskets.

Thanks again.

wristpin Tue, 09/08/2016

I'm not aware of there having been any official workshop manual. Most manufacturers communicated with their dealers via periodic service bulletins covering in service concerns and updates , some being better at it than others.  Up till around the 1960s the owners' manuals supplied with machines and engines were fairly comprehensive but from then on things went downhill. 

I know that Haynes do a lawnmower or small engine manual but I've not seen a copy,  and way back Readers Digest did a fairly superficial mower maintenance book , so maybe keeping an eye on auction sites fo an old owners' manual is the way to go. 

P-1 Adolescence Mon, 29/08/2016

Thanks for your help wristpin.  I am having another problem with this engine, it appears that gas is not flowing freely from the gas tank to the carb.  I replaced the black gas line with a clear plastic one and when I turn on the filter to gas line, some gas will flow but not enough to fill the line.  When I start the engine it will only run for short periods.  The gas is new, the carb has been cleaned, and my next step is to swap the gas filter.

When I pull the recoil starter some gas escapes from the gas cap. I tried putting a gasket, but it prevented the free flowing of gas.

Any advice on resolving these problems.

 

wristpin Mon, 29/08/2016

The situation that you are describing almost suggests that the engine is pressurising the fuel tank which is rather strange and would suggest an inlet valve problem . However before exploring that somewhat odd possibility try a couple of simple tests.

Remove the fuel pipe from the tank and place a fuel proof container under the tap outlet, turn on the tap and watch the flow for half a minute. If it falters or slows down check the vent hole in the tank cap and try again. If there's no improvement remove the tap and check the interior of the tank and the gauze filter on the tap.

With everything clear there should be a continuous full flow. If that doesn't sort the problem it may be time to check the inlet valve seating and tappet  clearance but hopefully that won't be necessary.

Edit. Re-reading your post suggests that you may have an additional, non standard, filter between the fuel tank and carburettor. If that is the case I suggest performing the flow test at the carburettor end of the fuel pipe . Assuming that the standard tap filter is in place and intact I would remove any additional one.