Chanced upon an SB model 22, not in the best of nic but pretty much there I think. Comparing to other images on ODK I would say this is the same model as sir bat's and originally had a kick start fitted. The rear wheels which have been repaired at some point I think could be originals. I actually inquired about another mower this person had advertised and he told me he had another old mower in the shed loft which he put there some 20 years earlier but couldn't recall where he acquired it from. All he could tell me was it was orange, when he sent me a couple of pics I thought I better make room for this one.
Nice find WCE. I think you have your work cut out for you though, everything to do with the kickstarter has been stripped. Dug my little Spincut 22 out and ready to help with any measurements or photos you need.
Was good to chat with you the other day and good to see you posting again sir bat. Ill have to look you up next time i'm your area. I do think the rear wheels are a good chance of being the originals, albeit in poor condition. When looking at the images of model 22 on ODK the is one with what looks to be the same wheels and I thought, what are the odds of 2 of these mowers having the same aftermarket wheels fitted as there appears to be a lot that could fit.
Hi wce, good to talk to you too. Any chance you could get some more pics of how those wheels sit against the body? Just from the pics they look a little large and may hit the body when In some adjustment holes. I’ve attached a couple of pics of the bolt and how the bushings in mine are. Could be a case of they’re on the wrong way too. Cheers Batimus.
Maybe the mowers owner was lucky and managed to find a pair of replacement wheels when the originals wore out, then later realized the rarity of them and opted to repair instead of replacing ? Or more likely was very frugal with his money and used what ever was on hand to keep the show on the road !
Totally agree. That’s an original wheel. Would still like to know the diameter of that wheel as looks a lot larger than the ones I have, and they are very close to hitting the body in some of the adjustment holes. May be the change from the early model 22’s to the later ones. Curious to know what bushings were used in rubber wheels too.
The protrusion of the wheel centre, as shown in the above image, is the same on the inner side of wheel which maintains the clearance between body and wheel. Even with the rear wheels on mine being worn and a wobbly on the axle they dont contact the body of the mower. They are 150mm diameter with a tyre width of 35mm. Ill pull one off and report on the bush set up.
This ones aimed more at Jack, and don’t know how I missed it before, The wheels on mine are Walter Barr wheels with the felt washer in the center of the nylon bushes. Pretty sure these are original to the mower I own, being a later production model than wce’s if the number system works that way. See pictures below. As a whole I don’t believe the nylon/felt combo was very successful as all the bolts show considerable wear and by eye the bushes are like new. (Need to find some verniers to double check, but I’m stuffed if I know where I left them) the tyre markings are also very liberal with the size, 6” on the tyre and they measure just over 140mm, which is near 3/8 inch under size at a guess, and I’m sure there’s not 14mm or just over 1/2 wear in them.
The mystery of old machines, maybe the wheels on the mower I own are original, maybe not. Nothing like a mystery
G'day Batimus That's my reading too. The model 31 came out with the Walter Barr jobs, and the Model 22 kicker appeared in the same year ... 1958. The repaired wheel is from an earlier 22.
It's typical that the nylon bush wears the axle, not visa-versa. The reason, as you say, goes to poor sealing and dirt ingress. The softer material (nylon) embeds dirt to abraise the harder steel.
I feel Pope offered the best wheel seals in the day. I have covered the patent somewhere on ODK.
It may be that the Walter Barr wheel, being semi-pneumatic, have just contracted a little with age and rubber deterioration.
Anyway, it's great another SB Model 22 has been documented.