OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Tip & Curb Side Finds SPFC Commando

Picked this one up a fair while ago now (thought of it as MF was saying about SPFC Charger is other Sunbeam thread)

Not deliberately trying to rub salt into Norm's wounds either (although he will probably say I am doing a hell of a job - sorry)

Pretty sure its a Commando (even though it has a Charger top - I have been told some had these from new) Has the cleanest port and nicest piston I have seen.

Another old muffler, gasket, clip, primer plate, decomp filter, scrub a tonne of grease out of everywhere, pull carby and clean, lube starter, new filter, new kill wire parts and blades, fixed catcher spring, fitted new axle clips and spacers and fitted another set of handle knobs

Scrubbed a 9l bucket full of grass off the underside

Goes first kick, perfect rev range (top is only 3150rpm but has enough guts even at that and is easy to adjust)

Overall 4 hrs work, maybe $30 max and a mower that will out last just about anything (except the SPFC Alloy deck Corvette I am yet to look at)

Currently, it seems we are at 2010 or 2011 briggs being very common. That means it 1 - 2 years, OHV briggs become common

I used to loath the looks of these mowers but have come to appreciate just how practical they are with their rugged thicker steel base combined with the final iteration of the full crank 160 motor and their higher mounted fuel tanks that help with using the last bit of fuel at the bottom instead of there always being a small pool left, inevitably turning into a thick oil during storage.
That came out pretty good Tyler.

Thanks MF - This one was bone dry (aside from thin oil film), but a fair bit of chaff in there

As you say - they don't look flash, but are some of the most solid mowers ever made (except coil/module)

Hi Tyler.
I think these are a superb mower only downside is the coil, module is easily replaced with one from a PT. I also mount the module on the the opposite side of the plate so that it gets some air over it to help cool it. When I do get one I am between a rock and a hard place, do I just rip the motor off so I can put it on a 24 slasher.

Can't coils be scavenged off far gone or straight fuelled SPFCs?

Hi MF,
every coil from a SPFC must be salvaged as they are model specific. Having said that when time permits I might see if I can convert a PT one to fit , it is a longshot but worth investigating

G'day NormK,
that would be revolutionary as there are plenty more PT wrecks than SPFC.
A module from a dead PT has already put one of my SPFC mowers on the road.

Just wanted to throw it out there as long as we're on the topic of side pull full cranks.
The green Commando was serviced last week and sold today, (I took a quick photo before it walked out the gate).
The black Wildcat?? has been sitting in my back yard for over a year, it's a points model, on the bench, cleaned the carby, replaced the primer face, re-roped the starter and fired up on the second pull. I will detail it tomorrow and post up the "after" picture.
You gotta love these old full cranks, they will definitely outlast any of the newer stuff available today.

What worries me is some idiots borrowing the mower of somebody or an ignorant owner will straight fuel it. That's the end of it.

I usually tell anybody who buys a 2 stroke, you do not lend to anybody a lawn mower, chainsaw or whipper snipper, you can almost guarantee they will come back broken

This. A bit like lending out your wife - they'll all come back screwed!

And here are the after pictures

Very nice BT. Ready for another 20 years

What did you use to get the white powder plastic stuff off the tank? I have used some penetrene and a thin wire brush in the past, but would be keen to know another method

The only choice from now on for repainting a steel base. Black!

I do have to ask, what is the riveted strip on the left side there for? is it an added protection from curb abrasion or crack reinforcement

Hi Tyler,
the strip is obviously to cover the scolloped away section. I have cut the section out and welded a new section in from a base that has rusted out on the left handle area so it isn't visible. Maybe I'm just kidding myself, not sure why I do a lot of things

Yes, exactly, a fairly flogged out skirt on that, and as for the white tank, that was easy, just replaced it. lol

MF,
I had a look at fitting a PT coil to the F/C coil frame, it fits fine but I haven't tried it on a motor to make sure it hasn't messed up the timing. Bit busy with other things at the moment but it would be a big win for the F/C's if it works. When I get time I will follow it up and let you know

You would = "the legend" if you can pull it off NK.
Oh wait you already do.