There is a chap l have been writing to at MTD, he writes to me....quote 'Hi xxxxxxx Yes the 18188 manual is the same as the 18189. That manual will be fine.'
Then l asked about a list of old Model numbers hoping that there was some type of a list maybe somewhere, ect... he replies...
"Sorry, but there not a list like that. We even have a bit of trouble finding some of the old Rover models.
Information on old Rover is a bit limited. "
Several months earlier l rang to them asking about a different manual for an old Rover Rideon, the young fellow said that when the takeover happened alot of the old manuals were 'discarded' and there is no back up left of the ones deleted.
I can give a bit of insight into Rover Model identification. It has remained largely consistent.
The first two numbers were the chassis model. The last digits always designated the engine. A number or numbers were inserted between these two groups when changes were made to the original design series.
Example. The great 3210 first appeared in the 1960s. This was a Model 32. chassis coupled to a 10 Series 4hp Briggs.
Later a 13 series [5hp]engine was added: this was the 3213.
By the late 1970s the chassis was redesigned with a high arch. A number [1] was added in-between the two groups.
Thus the new designation for the 5 hp became the 32113. When the 13 series gained industrial/commercials the engine number had to be changed. Thus we had the 32123.
Under successive owners, Rover seem to have somewhat retained the original Rover Mowers model identifiers. First numbers deal with chassis and changes to it. Last numbers are allocated to the mated engine used.
The last numbers are now arbitrary [factory allocated]. They may designate ancillary changes [starting], hp changes, or engine make changes.
Rover were hopeless with records, after being sold in the 90's then again to mtd in the 00's, then a couple of factory site changes, so much was lost. kind of surprising as according to their brochures from the 70's it was computerized back then!
but it happens so often, greenfield are the same way, their excuse was a factory fire..
Worst part with Rover is I have never even heard of anyone other then Theo Reinhold from the early days. I would love to know more of the history of the brand but no one seems to know anything...
Wow, thanks for the great replies all, l have an attachment of the parts book, but hunting for equivalent owners manual... 52144 another one ot follow later...
