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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Ransomes Marquis Mk 4A chain adjustment

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Hello,

I have recently been renovating a Ransomes Marquis Mk4A which had been resting for over twenty years in a dry barn. It all runs perfectly now but I just can not loosen the clutch to make the adjustment to fit the new cylinder drive chain I have bought. The last chain must have been very slack as the clutch has been set so far back to tension it.

I have made a couple of pin spanners but neither was strong enough to loosen the nut. It has been soaked in Plus Gas, any ideas or just make a super strength pin spanner? I did one of these a couple of years ago and had no problem at all with this adjustment.

Thank you

Forums

wristpin Mon, 22/02/2021

The official Ransomes tool is still available and is fairly robust with large diameter pins where they are welded into the cross bar just thinned down at the ends where they engage the circular nut. It’s not unusual to have to use a “ cheater” - a big adjustable on the end of the cross bar.

If all else fails, remove the clutch pressure plate to expose the circular nut and engage one hole with a big punch and hit the punch with a decent sized lump hammer. Yes, it will mark the nut, but needs must.

Osborne Mon, 22/02/2021

Thank you wristpin I will try that. It was the pins bending rather than lack of leverage.