OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Ransomes Minor Mk 7

For years I drove past this house and watched this mower sitting at the side of it, quite a few months back I decided to go knock on the door and ask about it. The guy said "You can have it mate, I keep meaning to put it out on the kerb collection"
I said thank you very much and brought it home. As you can see it was pretty sad there was no spark plug and the piston was seized solid, fortunately it was at tic.
On arrival home I tried a bit of force to move the motor but it was solid. Over about a four week period I tried, trans fluid and thinners, peretrine and a number of others with a air line connected to an old spark plug through a air fitting welded into it. It still refused to move so in desperation I threw it into a bucket of diesel and left it there for over four weeks.
On taking it out I made a mess with diesel but on putting the motor in the vice and applying a bit of force it moved and I was able to get the cylinder off the piston. To my surprise the rings were in tact and after a light hone the cylinder had no rust pits and the rest of the motor had no sign of any damage.
After a really good clean of the motor and the Carby it was reassembled and a new crank seal fitted points cleaned and set it started 3rd kick of the starter.
Once the motor was running the mower was disassembled and I made a caustic Soda bath and bit by bit most of the mower was put through to get the rust, as the parts came out they were pressure washed dryed and undecorated.

At the moment I have no catcher for it but the guy I got it from said it was somewhere I am hoping that when I take the photos to him it might induce him to look for it (I hope)



All bearings in it were also rusted and the self-centre ones in it are now not available so the neatest fit was a Nachi bearing No RLS5ZZ.

Hi exfarmer,
You have done an excellent job on your mower, I hope the catcher can be found.

Hi exfarmer and Paul

I concur with Paul - what a brilliant job!
This is the only 'Australian' Ransomes, and the first residential
machine from this famous maker to have two separate clutches.

I love the before-after images.
A credit to the great restorers... and another one saved!



https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=61630

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

Thanks Paul & Jack

I really enjoyed this one. The Paint colour I used was Old John Deer Green and the lawn it is sitting on which is Buffalo was mowed by it just before the pic's were taken using a Morrison catcher which I found fitted. It will be retired to the collection now.
The next job is to restore the AV Everyman and after that the Royal Enfield. Then I will look for the next project.