OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Scott Bonnar Model 45 - Restoration - Hooksey

Just saying g'day and posting a couple of photos of my latest verge side collection. My neighbour was kind enough to pick this little beauty up.
She�s currently not in working order but I plan on doing a least a bit of restoration..

Can anyone please provide a bit of background to year, all original parts etc.?

Cheers Hooksey

Great score Hooksey, it looks very restorable, Welcome to the forum.
I'm sure the gurus will be along before long.

Thanks Bushie - I'm new to this site and I think that I may have posted in the wrong forum. Having done a bit or research during today i think my starting point will be to check that i can get the engine up and running.

Apparently she has been sitting outside for the past 2-3 years with no use and I've tried starting her with to no luck. Would anyone have an step-by-step guide / ideas to get her back up and running?

@Moderator - please fee free to move this thread i you think it is better suited in another forum.

Cheers Hooksey

I've moved it to Scott Bonnar cylinder mowers.

Hi Hooksey, and a warm welcome to the forum.It's nice to welcome another Scott Bonnar Model 45 owner on board.

Your machine is a 14" Model 45, manufactured in the Thebarton Sth Aust. factory and would have been made in late 1974-1975 and it is featured in the model range for those years (Model 450407). It would have had a Kirby Lauson (Tecumseh) engine fitted originally and is a Series 2 chassis have the twin rail engine deck.

It has been fitted with a Briggs and Stratton engine at some later stage; if you can post the complete string of numbers stamped into the metal air cowling (adjacent to the carby inlet manifold) that should read Model, Type and Code, we can tell you the date the engine was manufactured.

Grumpy is our resident Briggs engine guru, and I'm sure he will chime in here and give you some ideas on how to get it running sweetly.
In my opinion, this machine would make a nice restoration...once you get the engine running, I will help you with any faram and chassis probs.

Once again Hooksey, to OutdoorKing.

Thanks very much Deejay - I don't think I've ever owned anything older than me

Ive had a good look at the engine and i can't seem to locate the string of numbers. Would anyone have a photo that can direct me to where exactly i should be looking?

To the left hand side of the Les Smith sticker follow the cowling down a little bit and look towards the rear edge of it and you'll find a series of numbers stamped into the sheet metal.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
BB

Hi DeeJay,

I'm not sure if it actually had a Kirby fitted originally as it has the lower legs on the handle bar bent to suit the rear mounted tank on a Briggs engine. The Kirby fitted machines didn't require this as the tank was forward mounted, thus having straight lower legs.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Cheers,
BB.

thanks guys. I dropped it in a local mower repairs early today to get a feel for how much it would cost me to get it back up and running. $520 incl get...! at this stage i prob can't justify that much so will ask for a list of bits and pieces that require replacement and I might give it a go my self...

will keep you posted re engine number when i pick it up.

Hi BB, from my records, the model 450407 was originally fitted with the Kirby Lauson...whether this machine actually was....remains a mystery....as it has a later model Briggs fitted....
You are correct about the lower legs...but I have seen another machine on this forum, with supposedly the original Kirby, had the bent lower legs of the Briggs version.
Maybe when the machines were erected, they just grabbed what was to hand...

Yes you are probably right, without knowing someone from within the SB factory that actually had an interest in what was going on we'll probably never know so many things.

I must admit there must be someone still alive that worked at the Thebby Factory.

Hi BB, yes mate, there probably is...It is a shame that their not a member of ODK, we could surely pick their brains....

Hi all

I have the engine numbers:

Model 80202
Type 8079-01
Code 81081003

i guess it's not an original engine then?

Hi Hooksey,

Well the Engine was made on the 10th of August 1981 so that sadly doesn't give us the correct date. One thing that is odd about this machine and that is it has the Rover-Scott Bonnar Catcher rubbers fitted which is strange.
I'm starting to wonder if this machine has been repainted at some stage as the bearing housings on the reel have also the same colour on them as the chassis when they should be in fact natural die cast, but that double ID plate arrangement is earlier than Rover Scott Bonnar days..............

DeeJay what do you think ?

Cheers,
BB

thanks everyone for responding. Ive had a good lock around various threads on this page and Im keen to a resto of my little beauti.

I just working through a few plans and will likely return with more questions.

Hi Hooksey,

I am doing a similar 45 restoration though my chassis needs a bit more work than yours;(cracks/fractures on engine rail)

This is my first time on the tools so I plan to share all my trials and tribulations with the forum, who knows maybe I can bounce a few ideas your way.

Good luck with the restoration!

Hi BB,
Looking over the photos again, I feel that the bolted on catcher rubbers were the result of a previous tenants 'improvements'. Maybe one of the spot welded lugs separated from the side frame, and they decided to change both to bolt on....
It is definitely an early Scott Bonnar Model 45, Series 2 twin rail chassis, as evidenced by the double riveted ID plates, and I agree with you that it has had a repaint at some stage as well as a after-market (or homemade) catcher fitted.
It appears it has had a hard life...but can be restored to its former glory with a little TLC.

May i please confirm the exact model of the Briggs and Stratton engine currently on my SB.

my research suggest this is a 4 stroke with 3hp. is that correct?

And while I'm at it - much appreciate if someone could direct me to / post a photo of an 14'' with the original colours. Also, I'm trying to understand the pros and cons of powder coating vs non-powder coating. Would be great if someone could elaborate.

The more i read on this forum the more tempted i am to restore it. I love the videos re engine, soleplate etc.

Cheers

Yep, correct on both. Briggs engines of that era are all 4-strokes.
From



Model 80202: this translates as [in order by digit] 8 = 8 cubic inch displacement [this is a 'class', rather than exact figure, approximately 131cc]; 0 = Basic Design Series 0; 2 = Horizontal crankshaft with Pulsa-Jet carby; 0 = Plain main bearings; 2 = Rewind starter.
Info from the 1981 B&S Service & Repair Manual.
This thread, which I see you've posted on, has very good info on the drawbacks of powder coating SB45 components. https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=59261

Rover used it after they took over manufacture, and it wasn't a success, in durability terms; whatever its production advantages may have been.
Powder coating is most durable on rounded forms; with no sharp edges, where it tends to crack and hold moisture underneath it. Which then becomes a corrosion hotspot...

We'd like to encourage you in that; it's what we like to see, and help with!

Thanks - so it looks like the orginal 14'' had a non-painted engine on it. hmm - food for thoughts.