OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Other Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers 1992 Rover Combat - A Suprise Packet!

Before I get to the mower in question, there is some back story to be had which links directly back to this old Rover.

Back in 1992, a few months before this lawn mower was made, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. At 6-years of age, I had no idea what was happening to me, or why my parents would later need to pin me down to administer my twice daily insulin injections. At the time, the family GP basically ignored my symptoms, sent me on my way and left me to get worse and worse until I landed in the children's ward of the local base hospital. If that had happened to today, you can be sure the doctor would have been sued, but my parents were advised not to pursue such action. Back then, diabetes wasn't well understood.

You know, there are some things that you remember as clear as day, even after 30+ years. As I lay in bed after a night spend in complete confusion, I vividly remember a man walking down the corridor and boldly announced that he could "smell him from here.......", which was in reference to the fruity/acetone aroma I was giving off due to ketoacidosis, which is caused by the body burning fat for energy instead of glucose, which produces toxic ketones. That man was the on-call pediatrician, a man who would go on to look after me until I entered adulthood. Actually, he continued to see me well after my 18th birthday, he didn't trust anyone else. This man was one of the country's leading pediatricians, a tireless advocate for children and totally selfless. In recent times as he approached retirement, he was forced to give up practicing and mentoring due to failing eyesight. A life of hard work and now mostly dependent on others to help him function.

After I left high school, I was studying horticulture part time and building a gardening business. Knowing this, my doctor asked if I'd be interested in doing some gardening as his wife was needing help keeping up with such a large space. This was circa 2005, and 20-years later, I'm still there. At the time, both were still working full time jobs, so I was given the task of treating the garden as if it were my own. I'd spend several hours there each week maintaining the garden and lawns. As the years went on, I would help them out on multiple levels, especially now as the good doctor has become disabled. In many ways, it's gone full circle. This man delivered me as a baby, then managed my diabetes for 13-years. Now, it's me who is looking after him.

Back when I started there, I would use a combination of my own and their gardening tools, in particular his Rover lawn mower. That mower quickly got sidelined as it was a bit of a pig, it would start fine and then progressively choke itself as it came up to temp. It also leaked fuel. For the better part of 18 years, the mower sat in the garden shed covered in boxes, I was the last person to use it. Fast forward to early last year, my clients were cleaning out the shed. Knowing I was into mowers, they sent me a message asking if I would like the old Rover, otherwise they (read: he) was going to throw it away. I was around there within 5-minutes to pick it up.







What we have here is a Rover Combat with the 18-inch alloy deck. Powered by the Briggs & Stratton Quantum 35 ES, the date code indicated the engine was built in December 1992, so the mower would have been made in early 1993.

Two things were at play here. Despite it being filthy from its extended slumber, I knew the mower hadn't done much work, especially considering it sat for something like 18-years. I also vaguely remember it being a bit temperamental but couldn't remember why. So, considering the condition of the mower despite its age, I felt like it was worth taking a punt on getting it recommissioned.

That same day, with some fresh fuel in the bone-dry tank and a few shots of carb spray, I managed to get the engine running again. I even mowed the lawns with it. Then I rediscovered why this thing had been sitting idle for so long. It was leaking fuel from the tank outlet, not a gushing leak but enough to empty the contents within a few hours. However, the main problem was how the engine was surging on full throttle, but would smooth out if I pushed the throttle through into the choke. So, I assumed I had two problems going on, a fuel leak and a fuel delivery/carb problem. Parts would be needed.

Now, you could assume that it's plain idiocy to clean a lawn mower, and you would be correct in that assumption. In my defense, the mower was covered in mouse droppings, so the cleaning was as much making it safe to work on as it was making it look pretty.

First port of call, I soaked the whole mower down with Shine Supply Wise Guy at 50/50 dilution. After a short dwell period, I hosed the mower down with water. This easily stripped any oil and grease accumulated on the engine and deck over the years.

https://www.waxit.com.au/products/s...1&_psq=wise+guy&_ss=e&_v=1.0







Next, I scrubbed the engine, deck, wheels, catcher and handlebars with P&S Brake Buster at full strength. This product is an alkaline wheel and tyre cleaner that I really like for its excellent lathering ability, it even has a corrosion inhibitor.

https://autobuff.com.au/products/p-...=2&_psq=brake+b&_ss=e&_v=1.0







I even used a wire brush and some Koch Chemie Magic Wheel Cleaner to brighten up the muffler.

After a thorough rinse, I applied some Carpro Hydr02 to the whole mower, which is a water-delivered/activated touchless sealant, followed by a liberal dose of Meguiar's Hyper Dressing at 5:1 dilution. I then dried it off with a leaf blower and a towel.

https://www.waxit.com.au/products/carpro-hydrolite-1l-4l?_pos=1&_psq=hydro&_ss=e&_v=1.0
https://automotivesuperstore.com.au...eionYydfVFpZ1Fd9_2QwJk7g2yRoC8P8QAvD_BwE





For some reason, the left side of engine cover/fuel tank had deteriorated at a different rate to the right side. The plastic catcher likewise faded.

With the mower clean, it was a matter of tracking down some spare parts. This actually proved to be somewhat frustrating as Rover, via MTD, have given up on the Australian market. But with some persistence, I eventually found what I needed.

To be continued...............................