OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Question On Scott Bonnar Cylinder Mowers scott bonnar 45

Hi all,
Im doing a rough restoration (paint and drive line parts and service) and was wondering wether there was an original manual for the Kirby engine floating around. Its model number is hk30 spec no: h4-4 serial no: v1110171.
I sharpened the blade and adjusted it so its quite stiff against the bottom blade but it still turns and cuts a piece of paper roughly. Is this ok?
I was also wondering what is the top price I would get for it on eBay? I know that the Briggs ones pull allot more!
Although I love the engine so much I don�t think I would sell it. I left it for 2 years and went to start it yesterday and it went after I pulled about 200mm of cord! Better than Honda ide bet Joe! Lol.
Anyway any info appreciated
pics to come
Regards Jay

mowernut,

1. How did you sharpen the blade?

2. The blade should not be tight against the bottom blade.

3. If sharpened correctly it should cut paper easily.

4. If the mower looks ok you should get around the $300 to $400 price min.

The manual is in the parts list and manuals area of the forum.

Thanks Bruce,
I found the parts list but no original Scott Bonnar 45 Kirby manual.
I sharpened the blade with a hand grinder so the edges were square and had no burs. i then straitened the bottom blade to absolute straightness and squareness(took soo long!) I have used this procedure on other mowers, and got an reasonable cut. I am aware that you should send them off to a mechanist to do it properly but im cheep and eventual find a method of doing it my self thought many hours and often $$ of trial and error! . I do have the blade fairly tight, but not to tight.
Any tips would be greatly received, as im more accustom to rotary!
Also the paint im using is defiantly not original colors and the motor is a little smoky but runs great. Will this still fetch the $$. If not ill problem just keep it for myself!
Thanks allot
Regards jay

Hi Jay, I hate to burst your bubble, but there is no way you can sharpen a cylinder reel by hand. The reason for this is in the design of the reel itself...the blades are not straight; it is a helix spiral and therefore has to be ground in a lathe whilst it is spinning at a precise RPM, and the grindstone, also spinning, has a perfectly flat face and is introduced to it.

The botton knife blade which has to be perfectly flat, is also ground, then lapped to the cylinder reel to ensure perfect contact. This ensures perfect allignment with one to the other. This cannot be done by hand. The machinist I use here in Wagga charges me $70 and in my book is money well spent.
When replaced on the mower (assuming the reel bearings are in perfect condition) the resulting adjustment is relatively easy, (though a bit tricky at first). The reel should spin quite freely by hand, yet able to cut paper along its entire length.
Hoping this has been of some help to you Jay,

Hi all,
Thanks deejay, I do know that there is only one �proper� way to do it but hey I'm cheap and there is no way I can justify $70. I have about 10 mowers I keep for my own use and literally would not spend $70 on them in a year! I even machine up my own blades at times!
I have done a considerable amount of engineering and machinist work and know exactly what you are saying but im happy with the cut I do have, its defiantly not top but it will cut news paper over the full length of the blade so im happy.
Anyway I will see if I can post pics of the �project� some time.
Thanks again regards jay
P.s. Bruce, do you have the chain joining link for the main engine to reel chain? I have looked though the shop and could not find one. I have other bits and pieces I need for it, so if you do have it, I can buy it all through you and support the site rather than the rouges in the local mower shops!

Hi Jay, I'm looking forward to seeing the pics!!