OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Scott Bonnar Queen 24

Hi , I picked up a SB Queen 24" yesterday fitted with a BS 5hp, she's in average condition but she runs and cuts, and for $150 I was pretty happy with the purchase. She had no catcher, so I'm on the hunt to locate one, if anyone in WA knows the whereabouts of one for sale, let us know !
So I'm gonna simply tidy her up and make her reliable, do all the basic stuff and fit a throttle on the bars,if any one has any advice on this model I'm all ears.
Cheers

Hi peettee, and a warm welcome to the forum. It's always nice to welcome another Scott Bonnar owner on board, as we all like to learn new things and tinker here.

The Scotty Queen has been the favourite of Bowling Clubs all around the country for decades, and it may be to your local Club you should turn to help in your search for a catcher. Many clubs may have an old catcher hiding behind the shed.

Once again, to OutdoorKing.

Thanks Deejay! I will make a few calls see what i can find.
Heres a pic.

Decided to give her a run....i raised the cut by 10mm from what ever it was set at and held on tight...she wheel stands when clutch is engaged so i will need to make a few adjustments....all in all pretty happy. Blade needs to come down a touch but it was 40+ today....

What a beast great score peettee.

Nice lawn too

Wat are your plans for the macine

Gday Mick, im just gonna clean her up and make her reliable...add a throttle and shapen her up. Dus any one or has anyone set these up with a feather clutch ? At the moment its either on or off, havnt had a look yet but it could be a simple clutch adjustment. Looks like someone has fitted it with a massive gear on the drive so she runs pretty fast even at low revs, so i either gear down there or on the motor.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks for the comments.

I'm told that nearly all Queens were electric, because that is what the bowls clubs prefer. I think they also prefer the very low speed over the ground, hence the low gearing. With an electric motor you may have just started the motor with the clutch engaged, which should give a fairly smooth take-off despite the low gearing, because of the low starting torque of induction motors.

If you post some pictures of the clutch and the linkage to the operating lever, maybe Deejay or Willingworker can fill us in on whether it is original. If necessary we can invent a progressive linkage, but IMO it is better with antique machines to leave them as original as possible - or at least, with only "temporary changes" and the original parts preserved unmodified for later reinstallation.

Hi Peettee,

Nice pick up. I will say the more I look at this unit the more I feel that it was originally an Electric unit that's been converted to petrol. I may be wrong and I'm sure Deejay would be able to correct me if I am, but the drive setup on this machine looks so similar to my 20" Supercut that's an electric unit.

Cheers,
BB

Hi Peettee and BB,

I would have to agree with BB here, it does look like a conversion from electric to petrol has taken place at some stage....Here is an image of what it may have looked like in an earlier life....


You will notice that this Model 16 'Queen' was first introduced in 1950 and this image is from 1951
Quite an old lady.