OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Edgers Two Stroke Edgers Joe's tilt a cut resto...

So a few weeks back I bought this from the tip for $10




So first things first, it was missing the blade cover and blade, the new cover was actually cheaper than the blade itself, also straight away got the circular blade.. Cover $14 blade $24




So I removed the engine from the frame and pulled the engine down to see why it was stuck. Not a fairytale ending for this motor, it will be replaced with another series 70 motor from a lawnmower usingthe tilt a cut flywheel. Also broke my damn flywheel puller, just what I needed.








One thing thats worth noting is there is no engine number, must be a tilt a cut only thign as I have always seen them on other engines. All 3 main bearings were seized, little end was seized and the big end was pretty stiff, although seeming so much water got into things the magneto still works great after testing.

More to follow when I get some more spare time.

Hi Joe,
I am sure this one can be returned to its former glory. I realy like these machines.

Pity about the damage. Best thing is the engines are interchangable as long as the flywheel is ok!

I am curious where you got the new blade cover from for such a good price I need one to finish a similar unit - My one is the electronic ignition model. One after yours I believe.

I also got a new belt and installed it and the damm thing is really noisy. The bearings had no play in the shaft so the noise has me stumpted.

I dont suppose you have encountered this before?

Good luck with yours.

I just got the cover from the local shop while talking to them about another matter, he had them on the shelf! apparently the cover is the same for the old ones right through to new.

As to your noise, my other one is always noisy, but I know the bearings are very rumbly but still have no play.

Im on the hunt for a good motor up the back this arvo, definately will have one, its just a matter of picking through the many dozens of them for a good one

What a great project Joe!

I love the idea of rescuing machines destined for landfill to restore, especially something with as much potential as this tilt a cut! Well done mate, look forward to seeing your progress

Cheers, Michael

Cheers mate, located an engine up the back that seems to have potential, pulled it off a scrap pile probably 5 years back and stuck it under a tree up the back, still turns smooth with compression Ill bring its sorry mess down to the house tonight for a pic.

Engine will get a stripdown and check, new gaskets and seals, perhaps rings but time will tell when I pull it down... In order to make some dough on it I need to keep costs under $100, I think I can squeeze all that in along with paint and new primer, at a stretch to top it off a new muffler, otherwise I'll try and find one thats not rusted out here...

New motor, under all the greenwaste all over it its very good, happy with this one, turns smooth, good compression, piston looks like new through the ports. Not sure ill get to tear it down tonight, might leave it until tomorrow, flywheel came off easily, boss came off easily, its ready to strip!

inside the new engines crankcase was very good, its recently been rebuilt by the looks of it 60thou oversize, fresh crosshatching in the bore, as new rings, great bearings....



this is the crankcase with a quick rinse with diesel.

Anyhow, I found this attached to a self propelled victa at the tip yesterday....




So the idea is is set in cement, the head and exhaust is coming off the (virtually new condition power plus motor (it looks new without even a wash under the covers, still has all paint on the exhaust) and place them on the new tiltacut motor with the 60thou oversize...

A hotted up motor should show some sign.....





Enjoy

sweeeeeeet , you must have some real edging too do there hahaha that would cut through blackberrys no bother at all ,good looking engine too easy fix at no outlay always a good thing :cheers2:

Funnily enough I dont have any edges, I poisioned the lot so I didnt have to get my other one out! that engine red is so bright its near impossible to get a good pic of it. BIggest outlay for the engine will be seals and gaskets... I may have to replace the crank again, it has a little rust right on where the seal runs, I will pay closer attention on assembly, if the rust runs where the lip of the seal does, the crank will take a leap into the back of the ute with my other scrap...

Engine seals fitted today, and sealed up the crankcase, I have to clean the exhaust port before refitting the cylinder properly as its just sitting together...

Stuffed up buying paint, thught I bought silver heatproof paint for the crankcase and had bought "cast iron", oh well it looks pretty good in that colour.

How good does the red look

Nice work Joe!

She's a real hotrod Joe....
Well done mate!

Now that's dedication Great work mate

Cheers mate, hopefully I can get some more done over the weekend, going to do a matching orange utility after this one

Painted up engine cooling cowling today, cleaned and painted then fitted the head, found a brand new NOS starter cowling (New, didnt have a rope in it never had a decal on it or a screw to mount it on anything) dummy assembled everything for a photoshoot. Tomorrow I hope to fix up the ignition and flywheel and fit the decompressor.

gave the frame its initial wash, wheels are like new with good tread and bearings, will find some better hubcaps around the spares pile.

Toying with the idea of a different exhaust, will keep that one to myself as if it fits and works it will really top it off.

Hi Joe, this one will fly, just like a torpedo....straight edges and a great finish!!
Well done mate,

Been a bit slack on this one of late with other bigger projects moving forward, I hope to fit up the ignition and flywheel tomorrow time permitting. That being said, costs on this one have stayed within budget so far....

How much have repairs set you back in total?

Edger $10, blade and blade cover $38, paint $10 (I use heatproof paints on lots of things, probably used half a can all up), seals $14 gaskets $5.

Going to be a bit of a squeeze to get a new primer cap and belt in there to come under, but one way or another itll get done.

It doesn't sound very profitable, Joe. If you can't make at least $40 per hour spent on it, you are going out backwards compared with spending your time on something else. Don't forget that it has swallowed up a good full-crank overhauled engine you had in stock. If you add in the cost of the rebore and new parts in that engine, this TAC owes you a lot of money.

It can be a tough call, especially when you involve a passion, I would always find myself breaking my machines into 3 catagories, Collection, Shop, and Training. Collection was usually not about keeping to a certain value even for the potential sale of a restoration, at the end of the day, it was about projects for me, and yhe time spent was enjoyed, and reward in itself, as of course was ghe finished product, kept in most cases for myself. Sale was anything that came in, was cleaned, repaired, and prepared for sale, so it always had to be worth it, and some repairs just arn't. Training was interesting, this usually involved models thst were not rare, but offered th opportunity for me to gain knowledge or experience in repairing them, this usually meant running at an overall loss on the machine, but furthering my abilities, or even just satisfying curiosity.

I agree, Ty - I had guessed that Joe was building that one to sell, but I'm probably wrong. If I look at that TAC project as a fun one, it looks very much like something I'd do, if it were a Honda mower instead of a TAC. So, we all seem to be pretty much on the same page.

Personally I never sell outdoor machines, and I keep dismantling the same ones to change components, just for fun. There is no "labour budget" involved, because it is recreation to me. I try pretty hard to buy as few new parts as possible, though.

The total cost of a restoration for collections for me comes down to weather or not I would pay for the item in final condition, I.e, if i came across this machine, restored for this price, would i think it fair. Whereas the value of a machine used for training/experimenting can be less restrictive, usually just what i can reasonably afford at the time in conjunction with the best value parts.