OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers SB 45 RAT REEL - Rebuild First Timer

Hi all. Regarding the bent lip bed knife. I have had one on my 14" SB for about 2 years now and I don't notice any difference to the cut, however as my reel had run out of adjustment due to the reel been sharpen many times, by changing the flat bed knife to the lip type allows you to raise the reel up by around 10mm. This then prolongs the life of the reel.

At first I thought the bent lip would restrict at how short I could cut my lawn. But it doesn't. My back lawn is couch and I can cut it very short. I doubt bowling green height, but short enough for home lawn.

Also, to add to the can of worms, I prefer to have slight contact. If you google this there are many websites that are for and against this. As said, it's all down to what makes you happy.

Polished some bits...chromed a bit and got some grips.
GX120 arrives next week...reel, sole plate and drums at PC's
Nearly time to put humpty back to gether !

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Wow Pete, that is stunning attention to detail and no expense spared. If there was a Ridler award for mowers, this would be right at home! I love how you've chromed many parts that you wont see once reassembly is complete, that's the kind of attention to detail that top show car builders employ It gives the build a real impression of absolute quality and integrity with no stone unturned. Awesome!!

Hi again Pete,
There is only one word for this...Awesome!

Agree. My wife thought I was pedantic on how I'm rebuilding my mower. Im now where compared to this rebuild. Awsome stuff mate.

Absolutely nuts, you make it look like I'm not even trying to restore a mower

Congrats keep the picutre coming

Mick

Can anyone help me find or point me in the right direction for a Stainless steel bearing style front roller for the 45 ( same as Jamskin )Ive search High and low to no avail .....Ebay etc

Other wise I will have to machine one up at work.

Hi Peettee,
You will find that Jamskin got his from eBay, that's the only place I have seen them...Unfortunately I don't know the username of the guy that sells them.

Here is a link to Jamskins thread on his front roller...
HERE

Ended up going with the 160...bit over powered but dimensionally same as 120...i couldnt go past the extra ponies.

Hi peettee, you are definitely not "sparing the horses" on this restoration....is this mower going to be a display piece, or are you actually going to use it on your lawns?
You may need to get a logo embossed Connolly leather cover made for your machine mate.

That's like shoving a V8 in a Corolla. Nice!

peetee, you probably don't care at this late stage, but it isn't a good idea to chrome plate springs. Chrome plating causes hydrogen embrittlement of the surface of the steel, and because springs have extremely high surface stresses, they are likely to crack and break when fully compressed. There is a way to post-treat them to overcome this - it involves holding them for some hours at an elevated temperature.

To illustrate the point, long ago my father had a Henderson 4 cylinder in line motorcycle. (I did say it was long ago - it was a modern machine at the time.) The bike was designed to have no cover over the valve springs and tappets, so he decided he needed to have the springs chrome-plated. Having done so, he ran a standing quarter mile, just once. The run was slower than normal, and at the end of it he found out why: 5 of the 8 valve springs were broken, from that single run.

Here is approximately what the bike looked like (I don't know the actual model year):
http://www.hendersonmotorcycle.com/History%201918_files/image004.jpg

Correct, i want planning on using the springs and a few of the other parts chromed, i just threw everything in a box and got it all chromed.
And yep, im going to use this !

COLOUR: Orange. XT15

Wow, i'd like to say(and i'm not a scotty enthusiast) that your mower is absolutely awesome. Looks like a meticulous rebuild with no expense spared and no shortcuts taken. i look forward to seeing pics of the completed unit!
Once again, WOW and keep up the good work.

Drum assembled !

Looking good peettee, cant wait to see it fully assembled.

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Hi Pete, this one will have to be called...The Jaffa!

But to be honest mate, this is a fantastic restoration that even surpasses all expectations... But I do also respect the guys, who do the hard yards, and restore their machines to the original specifications, to preserve their machines (as original) for future generations, but can never go (where no one ever has gone before) as you have done....You have brought the Scott Bonnar Model 45...kicking and screaming into the new age, and produced a magnificent example of 'Malcolm's best!
Malcolm would be proud and so are all our SB aficionados mate,
Well done!

Wow! The attention to detail and the quality of the build are outstanding.

Excellent job, keep the pics coming.