I didn't think I would ever see the day when I would come into the possession of one of these, I have never been a fan of the cox design, fixed and driven too many rough ones. However. When one comes up for $250, looks original, is close enough, and has an extra part to go with it I couldn't not go get it!
He had advertised that it had a drive problem (chain related - more to that!) and that it would need a carb clean - normal stuff, and that it came with a dozer blade! So I jumped on the internet and did some research, found one photo on cox's facebook page of an early tractor with a blade. this one would appear to match!
So I went and got it. it is bloody tidy! Shedded all its life, stickers and badges all in great nick, needs a good service and cleanup. Engine is dated 1976, which according to the parts manual is a 928 series 1. Few things a bit different about these machines, the blade clutch is a tiny little lever, operates much the same as a rover. Quite different to the greenfields/rovers of the era. haven't had it running as yet, pulled the carby off to give it a clean fuel was very stale.
onto the drive problem, fella I bought it off pulled the chain and sprocket off, found missing teeth and went no further. One look and I knew 3 missing teeth on a drive sprocket won't stop it. However, this machine has something I've never seen on a cox before. The drive axle with the discs doesn't go straight to the chain. It appears to have a 2 speed reduction gearbox! I haven't looked much further but it appears to have a low or crawler gear and a 1:1. My guess at the moment is it had probably dropped into neutral in this little gearbox stopping drive. everything appears in working order.
Later in the week I will clean the carb up and see if she goes, then I will investigate/clean the little reduction box and she should be a goer!
after I clean it up I'll take some photo's, whens the last time anyone saw a 70's Rover, Greenfield and Cox in the same place?
I'm not a Cox man so you'll have to forgive any silly questions or observations. I've never seen that particular body shape in a Cox. Does the body shape match the engine age?
The idea of a creeper gear intrigues me. The idea of dozer blades and other attachments on the early ride-ons was all the rage and a bit of a gimmick (?). But if you were to get serious about trying to use a blade attachment then a creeper gear is very much needed! Assuming it's a factory thing and not somebody's very clever modification, I'm guessing it's pretty rare!
Something I've noticed about your collection nath is that you have an excellent collection of rare items........and attachments!! You have a gift for knowing what's collectable. I suspect this Cox falls in this category.
I think I'd like to know more about this machine.
Well done!
Cheers,
P.S. Thinks: hmmmmm, the Cox brand has not been explored very much at a history level in these pages........hmmmmmm
I've never been interested in cox myself, fixed a few and never liked them. This one caught my eye though. Not only does the body match the engine, the model pre dates greenfield and the rover rancher by quite a lot. I was surprised by the parts manual, which I found in the manuals section, actually has some info on the model years. i've attached the cover of the manual, and a banner cox did recently, i wish it was higher resolution though.
I am also luck enough that the second mower shop in town sold these back in the day and the shop hasn't changed much sice. I'm sure there is a large picture of one of these on the wall in there. I will hit them up on the weekend, see if they have any info on these early ones.
I know the americans loved creeper gears, their cub cadets and other garden tractors had them, but i've never seen it on an aussie model. I need to clean it up more, but I think it looks too well done to be a modification. I love the idea behind it though. Ranchers 1st gear is basically a crawler anyway but greenfield and cox never had that luxury. I've seen many a cone & corks that have been completely buggered by towing and pushing heavy things. it obviously never really caught on though.
Thanks, Yeah its taken a long time, I can remember studying the rover parts book, wondering if I would ever find all the bits, slowly but surely they do pop up, I am still looking for a few bits though. I've more just been in the right place right time. I'm not entirely sure any of it will be worth anything, to most people its junk, but I'm not about the value, I love the history that's in them.
I've noticed cox doesn't have much of a presence on here, the forum hasn't been posted in in years! would cyberjack possibly have any info?
Cox do seem to have a fair facebook presence, and appear to be somewhat interested in their historical models, I'll hit them up see if they have some info.
Hi Nath., I like the idea of the front mount slasher, that would be good for reaching under hedges and fences, I can only suppose that you have to drop the belt from the mid mount mower deck and run it foreward to the slasher. Have you had it rigged up yet??
