OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Other Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Boundy Lawn Scout Mk1

Good Evening ODK Members,

I have been on the lookout for a Lawn Scout for quite a while, they don’t seem to have been made in large numbers probably due to the similarities it shared with the Lawn Patrol. As chance would have it a friend tipped me off to one not to far from Brisbane being at Gatton.

It had been stored for a number of years and most of the chassis paint had been eaten away by possum urine, the tank and bars were in great condition.





I did get it running but it seemed a bit unhappy



There was a vibration up through the bars and it wasn’t easy to start, if I removed the muffler top and air cleaner it started fine. I figured the crank seals were dry and a bit worn but it did have compression. As I planned on restoring it I would also pull down the engine for a look through.

Looking pretty decent, Paul. Shouldn't take too much to get it looking good again? If you hadn't mentioned possums, I would have told you someone spilt some acid on the base! Not far off, really! The fact that it runs is great.

Hi Paul
Great images and video! Great for the record.

Damn that Possum urine! That's an odd name for Queensland beer ...

From my research, it would appear that Scouts appeared for just a couple
of years. They sold alongside the Cub, when the Patrol name was dropped.

My best guess is that the Scout appeared to camouflage the bad
rap that Patrols were having due to 'engine issues'.

By late 1958, the Scout name disappears, and the Patrol name re-appears.

The Scout, then, was a Patrol by another name.

Please keep us informed about the Callaghan Collection.

Cheers
-----------------------
Jack

p.s. I notice a special Victa there. I'm a big fan of those...

Hi Mystyler and CyberJack,

Very sad that the original paint and decals did not survive as well as the bars, Jack thanks for clearing up the timeline for me. A lot must have happened in the space of a few years that’s for sure. I do believe that there were two models of the Scout, the Lawn Scout and Lawn Scout Deluxe. Deluxe having the 8 bolt crankcase used on the Gold Cheetah engines.

The base is looking better now having been stripped and repainted, the Lawn Scout decal is not commercially available as yet so a friend made me up one. Grant aka Silensmessor produces a variety of Boundy decals but not yet the Lawn Scout.









Base came up really nice, next job was to have a look inside the engine.

All the best
Paul

G'day Paul and all Boundy Boys
Many thanks for reminding me of the two Scouts.

As best as I can tell, 1956-57 for the first Scout;
57-58 for the Scout De-luxe.

Absolutely fantastic images Paul!

For folks that may not have noticed, Paul is a careful
and thoughtful restorer. A full restoration is a last resort,
and only when the patina loses significant information.

Note how this is a careful restoration ... the base having
significant restoration, but the handle and tank receiving
sensitive restoration. Brilliant!

How many lawnmower collectors think this way?

-----------------------------
Jack

Good Morning ODK Members,

Moving on to the engine now, the external components of the ignition system are the points, coil and condenser. I have not seen a set of new old stock points anywhere for these but good news is that Victa coils fit and work very well. I have noted that the central post that holds the coil can be found in two sizes. Lucky Victa used two different size coils, one larger one on Rotomo and one smaller one on the Specials. Good to know when your Boundy has no spark from a dead coil.

Pulling down the engine is easy and no special tools are required, no blade boss to remove either.



On inspection of the crankshaft the cause of the vibration was quite clear



Cracked right through! I would say this was caused by one of the magnets working its way proud of the crank and hitting the inside of the crankcase. It would have made a bit of a noise. I suspect that the engine was looked at and then put back together to continue on in service.

That's a wierd setup, magnets inside the crankcase. wouldn't the points get oily?
Maybe weld the crack and use a punch to lock the magnet in place.
good luck
speedy

Hello speedy
Whilst the magnets on the crankshaft was novel, many small engine
makers ran points from the crankcase - Briggs and Villiers surely did
on some models.

The points and condenser were isolated via a plunger and seal.
This gave quick access to the points and condenser.

Boundy's patent may be found here: -

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/91200/re-boundy-patent-magneto-c1955.html

Also check out this memoir of production issues: -

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...tshire-boundy-the-bob-davies-memoir.html

Hi CyberJack and Speedy,

2 types of set ups for the points

Points above the crankshaft operated from a conventional cam with the coil mounted at the front


And
Points fitted above the coil at the front with the points being operated by a pushrod from a cam on the crankshaft.



Part of the service with the front type was to remove the cover and wipe away oil residue with a rag.

G'day Paul and speedy
Paul's concise summary of the two Boundy magneto
systems is the best I have seen. Thank you.

John Boundy presents as an unconventional thinker.
The move from a top-side points and condenser system
to a crankcase-mounted design meant something significant ...

A low silhouette engine!
[low silhouettes have styling advantages]

Didn't Briggs do this in the 1960s with their 'Quiet Engine'?
Didn't Victa do this a couple of decades' later with the power torque?
[Yes, I know they moved a conventional flywheel magneto below the crankcase].

Nonetheless, I think John Boundy's early solution was pretty clever.

Cheers
----------------------
Jack

Thanks Jack.
I will have to keep my eyes open, there must be some old machines in farm sheds up here...
speedy

Good Morning ODK Members,

The crankshaft had been repaired somewhat and put back into service, I have a spare crankshaft so I used it instead. I am gong to section a Boundy engine to display, I think I have enough unserviceable parts to do it now.

Engine went back together well with new bearings and seals, a light hone to the cylinder and all is good. I have found that there has been modifications to the piston style and cylinder porting over time which I will document a bit later in another post. You can swap cylinders etc but you must keep the piston and cylinder as a matched set. Bottom ends are pretty much the same, having said that there are differences such as early engines the seals are fitted from the inside and number of case studs being 4 or 8 in the Gold Cheetah units.





I mentioned the Victa coils earlier, large and small. Some coil posts are large and some small, I don’t know why yet, it might just be a production cost saving with a smaller coil being cheaper than a larger one. Incidentally most coils are fitted and held secure with thin wooden wedges.



All back together with head left off to do the timing









That’s all for now 👍

Hello Paul and all Boundy Cubs, Scouts and Patrolers,

Paul, very good info for the record!
From what you say - and evidence says - the Boundy engine
was developed and improved over its lifespan.

It appears the Gold Cheetah was introduced in late 1958, and
it was used on mowers and outboards.

I note that this engine was exported too: ...?
[where's that story! ...



I have come to appreciate the brilliance of Boundy mowers.
For me, the Gold Cheetah engine was superior to the Victa design
of the day.

I guess that the Gold Cheetah morphed into the BMS 10 when
the Lawn Scout was retired and the Lawn Patrol was re-born.

It would appear that the significant change, between the two,
was the BMS 10's air filtration system. Brilliant!
Any ideas?

------------------------------
Jack

Good Morning ODK Members,

I thought I had finished this thread but must have gotten side tracked somehow. Mower is finished and runs well. As CyberJack previously stated I have not touched the bars as they are in excellent shape.



Here is a short video of the Lawn Scouts first run 🙂👍

Hi Paul
This is the best record on the first Lawn Scout.
You gave us the first detailed - and quality - images of the
engine and chassis.

... And you always give us rewarding resolutions.

Sincere thanks
-----------------------------
Jack