OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Lightning Rotary Lawnmower

Hi all, Picked this mower up, any idea on the breed ? the only wording is on the front as per picture. Kirby/Lauson vk30 4 stroke motor.

Thanks
wce

Hi WCE,

Interesting one there, low arch rear catcher with folding bars. I haven’t seen anything similar, perhaps Jack may be able to identify it.

Hi wce and Paul_c,

This mower is a Hurricane or store brand Hurricane.

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=71742

Cheers
Max

G'day Max, Paul, and wce
Great work by all here!

wce has given us a new record - the Lightning lawnmower.
I feel we are lucky to get this far on this one...

Max is a great 'mower spotter'.
Paul has given us a significant feature, for thought ...

I can only speculate here ...
The base clearly demonstrates the move from low to medium arch jobs.
I love the gradual swoop of the base towards the chute!

The Handle and bracket assembly seem Turner inspired ...

I do believe this is a Hurricane machine, but not necessarily a store brand.
I wildly speculate this was made for another OEM ... Lightburn and Company ...?

Lightburn were certainly using 'lightning' as a brand name.
And Lightburn was ambitious ... I mean, from concrete mixers, to ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeta_(automobile)

Was the mower made by Hurricane for Lightburn?
I don't know ...

Any ideas?
-------------------------
Jack

p.s. The images show the name plate is missing.
It was clearly a 'something' Lightning...

Hi Jack, Paul, Max

Had a look at my other 2 Turners, the bars and quick release fold down mechanism are the same as the lightning.

Cheers
wce

G'day wce
Many thanks for confirming the Turner components.

Quite advanced for c1964 having a rising chute and
note the double skirt at the front!

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

Hi all

Was having a look over the Lightning today and could make out on the wheels the manufacture was Walter Barr Pty Ltd. Took a wheel off and there was no manufacture markings on the rim or hub cap, hope this helps with a possible id of the mower.

Cheers
wce

G'day wce
I do want to say something about Walter Barr - an important supplier
of wheels to many AUS lawnmowers. They did a lot more too.

I'll try and get something posted in Company Histories shortly.
Maybe that will provoke some memories.

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

Hi all
Decided to have a go at getting the lightning going today as it has great compression but there was no spark evident. Put the mower on the bench to start investigating the problem, wasn't having much luck and decided to call it a day. As I turned to walk away something caught my eye on the height adjustment lever rubber, I grabbed the lead light and the word Hurricane is on there ! the rubber is in good condition and looks original. Hope this helps to put another piece in the jigsaw.

Cheers
wce

Good Morning, WCE, Jack and Maxwestern,

I would say that the mower is definitely a Hurricane as stated earlier by Max but the “Lightning” is a big red herring. Just a bit of naming to make the mower more appealing to the customer.








When new and fitted with the four stroke Kirby engine plus a rear catcher it would have been a very nice machine to own.

What's with the handlebars though? They just look odd the way they bend back twice.
The base looks good quality though.

Hello Paul and Mowerfreak.
I guess so, but the issue was whether the Lightning was a factory model or a rebrand
done by Hurricane to a 3rd party customer.

My best guess - now - is that this is a factory model.
Reason: There is a thematic connection between 'Hurricane' and 'Lightning'.
Both are weather events...

My speculation (previous post) that this machine was branded to Lightburn
was way too speculative.

The problem is finding evidence to support this.

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

Hi all

Very interesting thoughts.
Although the handle bars look at little odd Mowerfreak they are at a very comfortable height, for me anyway, and have a real solid feel with no flexing at the deck mount points like a lot of modern mowers.
Operation "get Lightning to strike again " is underway, excellent compression but no spark so off with the flywheel to check out, gee the noise the flywheels make when they pop off the crank makes my heart jump into my mouth every time. Safe to say that no lightning has come from this machine for a long period. The coil has an open circuit so need to source another. Maybe this is why she was retired. Unfortunately the starter drum is cracked also.

I knew there had to be an upside to that design wce!!

Have you considered whacking electronic ignition onto it?

Hi Mowerfreak

No I haven't considered that option and I haven't done that modification before, if I can't get a coil it might be the way to go.

Thanks
wce

Before you get too excited you still need a working coil

Hi ODK Members,

I have done some cross referencing with the coils and you can purchase new from China for quite cheap. I have ordered 2 of these to evaluate and they are on there way.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ignition-Coil-Module-Magneto-for-Tecumseh-30560A-13513990-Lawn-Mower-3-10hp-Well/332714799742?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649



Cross reference, not available through ODK store



Hope this helps.

Hi Paul

many thanks for the information.

Cheers
wce

Hi Paul

What secures the coil to the armature ?

Cheers
wce

Hi WCE,

What secures the coil to the armature ?

There is a piece of wire that you un clip and that’s it, using two screw drivers gently lever the coil off. I will have a look for a pic.

The wire may be on the underside of the coil plate out of view from the top.

All the best
Paul

Morning Paul

Couldn't see any wire clip but the coil was as snug fit on the armature post and gently pried off with two screw drivers as you suggested. It' a Tecumseh coil and ( part ? ) number on front is 30546.

Thanks
wce

Hi Paul and all
Was lucky enough to source a complete coil unit with points, condenser and the clip which holds the coil in place so many thanks to Paul for that important information, I think this is what put the mower into early retirement. It was strange that the coil is identical ( looks to be ) to the original with same name and part number but the name and number are opposite to the original.
I fitted the coil this afternoon and the Lightning now has spark ! in anticipation of a start I dropped the blade plate off and changed the engine oil. Nothing special about the blade plate, not sure what the diamond shapes in the plate are for but you can definitely fit 4 blades to the plate if desired. Luckily the blades are in good nik so will just give them a light sharpen. Need to now get a fuel bowl gasket, give the carb a basic clean, clean out the tank and fit a fuel tap, then touch wood will fire up. Picture clearly shows the clip location bottom right of coil.

Cheers
wce

Hi WCE,

That’s good news having a spark now, my Chinese coils came today and they look fine. I will fit one up to my test machine and see how it goes.

Your blade carrier is correct, the extra holes are for different manufacturers blade bolts.

Hi Paul and all

She started a treat and runs beautifully, I'm a big fan of the Kirby Lauson's, the 4 stroke equivalent of the Victa 2 stroke in my opinion. Next I installed the starter drum kindly sent from jack, installed the original impulse starter and it all works as the manufacturer intended. Great little project to get her going again and very rewarding seeing it come back to life after a long rest. Many thanks to all contributors for the assistance.

cheers
wce

G'day wce and all 'mowa luvers'
I'll put in my two cents worth here...

In lawnmowers, I guess the world was divided between the 2-strokers and the 4-strokers.
I now feel that's an irrelevant view in ... the modern world.

I mean - just like the Holden/Ford divide - the World has moved on.

I happen to appreciate the 1960s Kirbys - and I should point this out ...
1950s Victas were 2-strokes and they gave Victa ... a great reputation.
[Here I would mention robust design, swing-back blades and remote air intakes]

But Victa made its money in the 1960s using, primarily, 4-strokes!
More Victa 4-strokes were sold in the 1960s than their 2-strokes.
That's what the market wanted.

Victa clawed back - brilliantly - with the larger engine (late 1960s), and
then with governing (c1972) and then electronic ignition (c1980s).

So, I do not think any definitive statement may be made for those years.

History shows the 4-stroke reigns supreme for the moment.
But new technologies will now take quick hold, I would think.

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