Here's hoping someone can help. Just found in a pile of junk a Rover base less motor it has a big timber plank bolted to it with some sort of homemade air compressor on it. The Model tag is unreadable except for a 10 as the last 2 No's, the serial No stamped in the aluminium base is 10157 It has side discharge. Looking through the forums I found a brochure with a pic of a 3210 Super and it looks very similar. Couldn't find much else. Would it be worth trying to salvage and restore one of these or not. If it is a worthwhile project I will chase up the owner and go from there. If pics are needed for better identification I can try and get a couple.
Hi Mich, No idea if they are collectible but I sold a couple of them a year or so ago for $50 each without catchers. They sold quickly, of course they were serviced and running well. Like most things we restore it is to get an end result and has nothing to do with the value, they are usually only of value to whoever restored them. They know what it cost and the hours spent restoring it.
I've seen quite a few good complete self drive Rover mowers for $10 to $50 and I have a few good Rovers so if i see any I don't bother getting them ,but I did sell one a few years back that was serviced , had no catcher and it sold for $120.
If the base isn't damaged it may be worth collecting as I've collected at least 5 that had broken bases.
There were only a few bases made by rover, Pics will definitely help. If its side discharge it will be either high or low arch, 21 or 19" cut. The low arch hit the market around 1965, and was replaced around the early 70's by the high arch (sold together for a couple years). both were optionally self propelled.
If it is only the base without any cracks or damage it would be perfect for a restoration if you had one complete with a broken base. Otherwise as far as rebuilding it would go I would not say it would be worth it, There just isn't the following or call for the rovers to make it viable
Not looking to get anything out of it, just never seen one before, thought they might be a bit of a rarity, found another brochure I think it might be a 1410 super (not self drive).
Unsure how easy it will be to find an original type 10 series B&S to suit.
Anywhere I can go to look up owners or parts manuals that you know of?
Hello Mich, Nath, Norm and Max The 3210 [pronounced as thirty-two ten] was an extremely popular mower in the day. It was the choice for many contractors.
It was Theo Reinhold [AKA Mr Greenfield] that designed the Posi-Traction drive, a simple but robust system, when he was at Rover Mowers.
It was an enduring design too - with the chassis being updated to a high-arch with plastic side catcher. This was the 321 chassis.
Got the Base for free but had to return his compressor (less junk lying around Ya)
Took some photo's still unsure what model it is. Is not self drive so wont be a 3210. Found a photo of what looks the same with a Kirby engine but can't see anything in the brochures that relates this base with a Kirby engine. In Max's photo of the base only it has different engine mounting holes (flat as against raised) compared to mine.
Hi Mich, Give it a measure across. Looks to me like a 19" base.
They were fitted to several models dating back to 1965. Most of the later ones had a Briggs, earlier ones in the 60's were common with kirbys. Super 4, Rapid, Tiller mower for a few. Looks to have had the later shape badge, but with the earlier style tyres (ribbed not studs). Looks to have the wrong handlebars on it, and does have the cover for the belt cutout. Would be a perfect donor for a restoration
Thanks for the info will keep looking for more parts Not sure where you measure correctly but inside to inside of the base tight is 21&3/8 inches Handlebars are definitely wrong.
