OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Cylinder Scott Bonnar Model 40 Cordless Electric Reel Mower

An elderly friend of mine asked me if I was interested in an electric mower that he had, I went and came home with this










After half an hour he pulled out this





He had it on charge for a while and the battery came good, not bad for three years of sitting. It was a new battery when he stopped using it. I tested it out briefly when I got home and it all works :-). Will give it a tidy up and look into getting the reel ground etc.

Hello Paul and ODK members

I'm glad you were interested.

These are the sleeping guns in collectability: because Scott Bonnar
were one of the earliest manufacturers to offer battery power, in
addition to their mains electric machines. The Model 40 is the one
that did this in Australia.

You are also lucky because you have the SB accessory battery charger.
I have never seen one of these in such good condition.

Thank you for saving this one.
---------------------------------------
JACK

A few pics as I was cleaning things up today

Drive train



Lucas electric motor and solenoid




Safety catch on drive lever



I cleaned up the battery box which was pretty rusty in the bottom, it's made of thick sheet metal so there is plenty of meat left. I loaded it up with bi carb of soda to neutralise any acid left in it and flushed it well. Getting closer to having it sorted :-)

Hi Paul_c,

If you were closer to Adelaide I'd actually offer you some money for this part of Australia's Lawn Mowing History.

Cheers,
BB

I found another post for the Cordless mower here by dansblackcat dated July 2012

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=38204&page=1

This example has a charge indicator decal



Not sure if mine had one originally or not, can't see a decal in the advert above.

Hi Paul

Your appears not to have been repainted.
I guess that dealer sticker is the original one from new...?
Perhaps a running addition, then, for the factory decal...?

It would appear that the first battery (cordless) electrics
did not have a charge gauge either.

All very interesting.
--------------------------
Jack

Hi Jack,
The sticker is from the original mower shop where it was purchased, my paint is original but has some staining from battery spatter when charging. I need a chain case plug for mine, it measures 30mm in diameter. I wonder if these plugs are the same size for all models ?

Hi Paul

So I guess you're saying the factory sticker was not on your machine,
but was included later. It could be important for dating machines then.

That the indicator was made by VDO - and, perhaps, a custom for SB is
also interesting.

I would say the red plug is the same: reason - the Model 33 was the first
to use the red plug, because it was the first to offer the edger attachment.
That red plug fits the 33 and 45, so ... should fit the 40 too.

Perhaps a member could confirm the 30 mm size.
The Online store lists the plug as 32 mm though ... HERE.
[Perhaps that is the OD]

-----------------------------
Jack

Hi Jack,
My measurement is of the case hole, 32mm would be right with 1mm either side to secure it. There is also a manufacture date on the VDO gauge, I will post a pic of that tomorrow, it might be of some interest.

I wheeled the mower out onto the grass this morning with a full charge in the battery, a few pics after its tidy up





Side case decal



Grass catcher sits down into grooves in the side frames



Wheelie bar to stop battery acid spilling out



Charging point



Time to mow

[video][/video]

It's a good unit to use and is easy to manoeuvre, you get the most out of it by using the clutch sparingly. It's light enough to push without the clutch engaging the roller which saves the battery. Great fun :-)

Hi Paul, Mod BB, Members and Guests,

These are some of the best detail shots on this model. Thank you!
The video adds another dimension to the experience - and the record.
It has also fostered some extra thoughts and questions:-

[1] Your mower number is 08812. The link you supplied to Dansblackcat's
machine seemed to indicate (upon photo enlargement)a number 14474.
I wonder, then, whether the charge info. decal was added later ? - as seen in
Dansblackcat's later machine (higher mower number).

[2] I note the fixed bar behind the rear roller.
I guess this is a simple safety device - to prevent the start trigger
from engaging, should the operator tilt the machine back (for adjustment).

[3] There are two triggers on the handle: LH one for powering the reel; the
other, RH one, powering the landroll. The LH one appears to have a lock
mechanism (your photo). Is this a 'dead-man' control?

All very curious.
-----------------------------
Jack

Hi Jack,

I would say that the decal was added later as you suggest

I think that the rear bar is to prevent the spillage of battery acid in the event of mowing on a slope or moving the mower

The motor and reel is controlled by the lever on the right hand handle bar, this is the lever that has the lock fitted. It is a simple lock that when engaged prevents the lever from moving. The left hand lever engages the roll.

It was a good day mowing as I used all my Scott Bonnars



I used the rotary to tidy up where the cylinders couldn't reach

Hi Paul

A mower collector with a nice lawn
Good, credible explanation on the rear bar.
I wonder whether it did offer safety too...

I will ask this:-
The lever lock: does it lock the lever disengaged or engaged - or both?

p.s. I've met the Herman Brothers: John and Hank (as I recall).

Cheers
-------------------
Jack

The safety pin locks the lever in the disengaged position ie you can't squeeze the lever to power the motor which engages the reel.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for that.
I don't want to appear too anorak but I will ask a supplementary question:
does the safety pin automatically engage, making it a true deadman control?

Cheers
--------------------
Jack

Hi Jack,
Completely manual and not very secure at that.

A History Record is now available for the Model 40...
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...DEL_40_-_14%22_Reel_Lawnm.html#Post84251


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