The Old Lawnmower Club
Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers
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Help with JP Super MK4

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Retired Rob Thu, 19/01/2023

Hello I have just recently joined the club, and although tinkered with motorbikes and cars, have not previously had any experience of old lawn mowers. I now have my late father’s lawnmower which I know was refurbished in about 1977 when my father retired as head groundsman from Kodak in Wealdstone and it was given to him as a retirement present.
He had been working for Kodak as a grounds man since 1937 for 40 years and he used this mower on the Bowls Greens and other special grass areas. Unfortunately, he did not have any grass areas at home big enough to make use of the mower so it has been stored away in various garages of our family ever since. Father died in 2011 aged 94 without ever using it. Now I have it and it is in a poor looking state with some rust I am going to try and tidy it up and hopefully get it working. I have attached 2 pictures. One is of the plate on the lawnmower and one of the plate on the Villiers engine. The original grass box is with the mower.

I think, from using the club website that the mower is a JP Super MK 4 size 15 inches manufactured in 1958? and has a Villiers MK 10 4 stroke engine could anyone confirm if this is correct please. Any tips on things to do before I attempt to start it would be much appreciated
I am very impressed with The Old Lawnmower Club as I have already been able to download an instruction and maintenance manual for this mower and purchase some stickers.

Robert Heaslewood

  Plate on engine   

 

Forums

wristpin Fri, 20/01/2023

Welcome. Its possible that the engine will be stuck , so if you’ve not already tried to rotate the engine, don’t , until you’ve done this .

Remove the spark plug and good squirt some thin oil, or lots of an WD40 type product or even diesel oil into the cylinder and leave it to soak for a couple of days. Then after you’ve removed the engine cowling, grasp the flywheel and see if you can gently turn it in very small amounts back and fourth . If it moves, add some more thin oil and gradually increase the movements until you have a complete rotation. If it resists rotation , don’t try to force it. A bit of dismantling will be required.

That will be enough for now, but it will give an indication of what you may be up against.

 

 

Henry Ellis Sat, 28/01/2023

Hello Rob,

Welcome. The photo of the brass plate with the serial number is not clear, can you tell me the number, please, and then I can confirm the date it was made. Super Mk IVs were made between 1956 and 1963. If you need help with any dismantling just let me know.

Henry Ellis

Retired Rob Sun, 12/02/2023

Hello sorry for the delay in replying. Thank you both for your advice. The unit number on the brass plate is  U15/7/2F     1

I have removed the spark plug and turned the engine by hand and it turns very nicely. I will have to take some of it apart as the petrol tank is leaking at the tap and the carburetor needs removing and cleaning.  However as it is so cold out in my garage I have decided not to go any further until the weather warms up ! 

Thanks again Rob