OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Other Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Unreal find today - Pope 320-04

Hello Jack,

There is still much I don't know. But I do doubt it is an -04. That manual is indeed priceless. I'll have another read and see what I've got. When I'm 100% convinced I'll get you to change the title, thank you.

So today was awesome.

I was sick of having no real luck with getting the Wipac 161 timed properly, but more so concerned I couldn't stop the flywheel contacting something. I pulled the other motor out of its box, and rather than pull everything else apart, I decided to swap the flywheel and magneto assembly over. The FW1500Z needs a separate cam to activate the points, so that was swapped out as well. A bit of grease on the felt pad, timing set as best as I could manage and we were away!

Next was trying to fit the air filter and snorkel back on and back together. Unfortunately, when I originally removed it the whole thing fell to pieces before I could see how it all went together. Turns out I had installed the filter itself backwards in the cannister. It fits fine, but clearly doesn't allow enough air through. Now we were ready to cut grass!

In my keenness, I didn't pay any attention to the height settings. Thankfully, it only took a couple of mm off the Buffalo! I like growing it long as it doesn't get much sun in winter and needs as much leaf area as it can get. And what a weapon of a machine it is. I think I was only around 2/3rds throttle and it had no problems at all. God only knows when the blades were last changed as well. This thing is a keeper, the slim chance that I'd sell it on is now absolutely zero.

Also got around to fitting some "new" treads. I'm a hubcap down, but it is so much better proportioned with the original wheels and it just seems nicer to push. They're a pain to fit, a split pin through a nut. I wouldn't want to do it too often either, I pulled a bit of rubber off on one while removing the hubcap. Day turned to night but I couldn't wait to share a photo.

Now just to decided what else I should do with it. I actually really love the used look. Thinking about just hitting it with a wire wheel under the deck, cleaning, degreasing and clear coating the living crap out of it. I need to go back to the fixing shop to get a shorter bolt for the left hand side of the handle bar so as not to foul the filter.

Here she is on the maiden mow after I don't know how long. The rattle you hear turned out to be the spanner jumping in its holder on the handlebar.