OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Supercut 20 inch Model 17

Hi all, I guess it was time to share what I have done with my Supercut. It was purchased as a non runner from Geelong. After pulling it apart, head, sump and carby, the inlet valve was stuck open. I used it for a while and decided to restore it.


It will be painted eventually in Hammerite Green and Fire Engine Red. Not sure about the engine.

Here are most of the components which have lived in molasses, sandblaster and been under coated. Most things.

The reel gave me trouble. After some advice, It turn out the ends were left hand thread. I found an interesting imprint on the reel. An elephant with the word NONPAREIL. From what I can find, Wiliam Tyzack, Sons and Turner were a business making saws in Sheffield from 1879 - 1974.

You will also notice I have lost a tooth. Any spare in the world, it would be appreciated.

The clutch, which engages the drive to the rear drum is unique. It has two clutch plates which are riveted to the other side.

Items, which I'm not happy about, are as follows:

The brass Rear Drum clutch lever guide.

The right hand frame. Part of the frame has disappeared, which supports the rear drum bearing carrier.

From a previous post, I asked about removing the drum/sprocket from the left hand frame. Using some heat and turning it the correct way, right, it has now been removed.



This mower's serial model number is 07445

Hi Drew,

Well haven't you got a challenge in front of you ?

Missing tooth, broken Chassis side and a lever guide that's been mucked around with as it shouldn't have that "V" cut into it.

The only way you are going to secure parts for your machine is at the death of another machine, yes this is most certainly a sad situation but rest assured there are still quite a large number of "Supercuts" out there rotting away quietly in old sheds just waiting to be found. It's probably even better if you found a harshly neglected machine that's been left out in the weather and is good for nothing more than being an organ donor to your machine. That's what I did for mine. $50 and endless parts for my good one. There are absolutely no new components available what so ever.

But please don't let this discourage you as we need more people to refurbish these superb examples of Australia's mowing Heritage

Changing the subject to your reel, it's almost finished with no meat left on the blades to machine, also I note that this one has the anti-clockwise engine on it as the norm for petrol powered Model 17's is that they have the Villiers with a chain drive on it and not a single V belt set up on them. Even the electrics used a Dual V Belt drive set up, so this leaves me to believe that someone has changed a few bits and pieces on it, but I may be wrong as Model 17's were one of the most adaptable machines and were made in so many different configurations to comply with the purchasers requirements. As far as we know there were about 32 variants of the Supercut. The mind boggles doesn't it ?

Cheers,
BB.

Hello Drew,

Great timing! (For me at least) You may have noticed from recent posts that I have just commenced a restoration of an Electric Supercut.

This weekend is one that I do not have to go to work so was planning to spend time in the top shed pulling the bearings off the reel Is this (or should I say, are these) what you refer to as being LH thread? I have hesitated to commence pulling at them as I don't want to cause unnecessary damage.

Thanks - great work by the way, I can appreciate the time and effort that you have put in thus far.

John

Hi John,

The reel is left hand thread. Sprocket at one end and a nut at the other.

The reel is reversible.

Below is what I call the Reel Drum, which drives the chain, which drives the reel.

I assumed since the reel was left hand thread, the Reel Drum would be the same. It is not. I can't remember my rules about driven and driver .

Hi BB,

Yes it is strange how many model 17 versions there are.

1707445 is not listed in the archives but 1707448 is. Mine is 20" Villiers 412 H/2RG Eng with 10 Blade Cutter. Not sure about the Low Cut Blade?

I was initially baffled by the mounting of the engine 180 degrees different opposed to the 45s. I wanted to replace the engine with something more modern but the anti clockwise direction is a problem. When I was pulling it apart to see why it was not a goer, I noticed the reduction gearbox and hence the reverse direction. There is no idler. Mine is Fig 7. Why Scott Bonnar did this, I can only guess. Maybe shifting the drive closer the the right hand side evened up the load on the two outer bearing?


Would you have a spare reel with more meat?

Hi Drew,

The Model 17 was basically a commercial grade machine and not designed for domestic use, thus why so many different variants were made for so many different applications.

Both my two machines are both powered by the exact same engine as yours is but without the reduction drive attached thus I have a standard clockwise engine output opposed to your anti-clockwise. Also my 412 Villiers are mounted the opposite way to yours.

The second machine has a great reel in it but it is an 18 inch machine, thus it's no good to you.

Depending on how much needs to be machined off your reel you might be lucky enough for just a light lick that needs to be machined so as to salvage the reel for another round so to speak. Honestly there will be quite a few more Supercuts that will surface for sale in the next 12 months and you won't have to pay any obscene amount of money to secure one, thus this will give you far more options in your rebuild.

Cheers,
BB.

PS. BTW where did the RG parts guide come from ? Grant ?

Thanks for your input, Drew.
I had in mind the end bearings on my supercut electric, as BB would know, I hesitated to remove them by using a puller for fear of damaging the brass, however, as the attached pictures should show, all has not been lost. A light tap with a thick pursuader and they came off without incident.
What has been a surprise are the number of whitworth fittings.
Complete strip down now done and ready for some repair and a trip to the molasses barrel and then the sand blaster.
John

While I think of it, would any of our "Supercut" owners be able to provide a close up of the adjusting mechanism of the front roller please? Mine has suffered at the hands of a welder which shall have to be dealt with, but I have no idea of what such an adjuster would look like.
I'd appreciate any help.
Thanks
John

Hi John,

I'm hoping for it to be a tad cooler tomorrow (30) as we had 41 degrees here in Adelaide today.

If that's the case I'll pull out my good Supercut that's in a row of Elephants, trunks to tail in the left side of my garage and take some shots of that area for you. If there's anything else please advise and I'll do that for you as well while I've got the machine out.

BTW You'll find the Supercut and earlier machines were all Whitworth equipped, thus I have a large contingent of BSW & BS Sidchrome tools along with the standard Imperial and Metric that's required for other brands.

Cheers,
BB.

Hi John,

Do you mean the adjustment of the reel or the front roller?

Cheers
Drew

Hullo Drew,

The adjustment that I'm referring to is for the front roller, yes. The roller adjustment mechanism on this one has been welded to a fixed height

Thanks

John A

Hullo BB,

yes, it was hot! My neighbor has air cond in his shed so I was tempted to visit him rather than swelter - but mowers wait for no man according to my wife ...

I have been building up a collection of whitworth tools since commencing a rebuild on a little Land Rover (which has been put aside since I got this blasted Scott Bonnar bug.

I've replied to your kind offer on my last thread, (not quite knowing what a PM is)

J

Hi John,

Sorry but I just realised that you are also in Adelaide and not in Melbourne as there are two of you guys doing Supercuts at the same time, thus it's easy to get the two situations confused.


A PM is a "Private Message".

Just click on the ID of the user that you want to send a direct message to and a box will appear and the second one down of the four options that appear is "Send a PM". Click on that and the rest is self explanatory I guess.

Cheers,
BB.