Hi Grumpy and Deejay,

This machine was most definitely a captive cotter clutch issued machine. When I picked it up on Saturday the previous owner was still using it with the fully flogged out clutch and the cotter pin pulled out, thus no clamping force on the output shaft causing the excessive wear on the clutch bore and finally out of balance vibration which is causing fatigue failure of the under strength poorly designed rails. I have seen a repair done where a 5mm plate the size of the engine base is welded between the two rails, this way it can't be seen but adds additional strength and stability.

Anyway those are my thoughts I'll let the photos do the talking on how bad the failure of this machine is.

Also while I'm at it, would I be correct in saying that about 6 out of 10 machines that are being flogged off via Gumtree and eBay are suffering from this symptom as they seem to be the machines that never have any maintenance done on them and just been dumped in a shed and forgotten about, much of this was cause by the drought and many people not watering and looking after lawns and older people getting their lawns professionally mowed ?

Cheers to all you guys at Outdoor King,

BB.

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I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.