OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames 1988 Rover 20" turbothrust rebuild or replace?

Hi guys, I have a small dilemma. I have a 1988 Rover turbothrust, whilst it's nothing special it has been in the family since new, with myself owning it for the last 12 years.

I really now need soemthing with a mulching plug, any ideas where i could find one?

Anyway it is in reasonable condition but has the following problems:
* deck does not sit level, even with replacing the plastic rear wheel spacers i cant get it right.
* the lower peice of metal that the catcher sits on has recently snapped off.
* engine (b&s quantum 4.5hp) blows a bit of oil on start up and wont start without using start ya bastard/aerostart, runs fine otherwise

If i didnt have an emotional attachemnt to the mower i would just replace it, but it had been very reliable over thew last 25 years.

I was thinking of maybe having a new engine with a bit more power fitted or rebuilding the old one, just depends on the $$ difference.
I'would have someone else do all of the work to the chassis as well as fixing the engine. A mulching plug is also a necessity and if i couldnt find one i would propbably just buy a new mower.

What sort of ballpark $$ do you think i would be looking at to have the above work done and who in Brisbane would it be worth taking it too? I live in Greenbank but dont mind travelling to take it to the right person.

I figure if i can have it as good as new for under $700 then i would be happy to have it fixed.

cheers

Millsi, this comes across as a really strange project. First, I do not think your mower would bring $20 on ebay, it is in worse condition than most of the ones abandoned by the roadside. Second, if it were miraculously repaired to good condition for a Rover of that model, it would probably only bring a bit over $100. Now, I've had a Rover like yours, in good condition, and I rather liked it, but I would never have spent more than say $100 to repair it - if it fell in a heap I'd have replaced it. In fact, I walked past a good one like yours, thrown out on a nature strip, a few weeks ago. (I've moved on from Briggs engines, I only like OHV Hondas now.)

The point I'm trying to make here, is that the practical, cost effective way to fix your Rover is to replace it with a much less knackered Rover, for $100 or so. If you see one on a nature strip of course, it will cost nothing.

It's because it has sentimental value and it should last another 20 years once fixed.
Still need a mulching plug though