Hi, this is my first post here. Been buying stuff from Outdoor King for a while. I must say, Great Service.

I need some help here. Not so long back, I bought a ride on to restore to it's former glory, but I haven't been able to locate any info on it. It's a Mobilco 'Emperor', 24 inch cut, and it has a JLO, (German), 2 stroke engine. I'm actually in the process of restoration now, but would love to talk to someone who knows something about it. I've also managed to get hold of a second one, in pieces.

I've attached some pics of it.

I was just flicking through post's on Reel Mowers. Back in '02, somebody put up a post about a MOBILCO CRUISER. He said made by Mobile Industries Limited. Maybe........

Hi all, I've found out quite a bit of background on the old girl. The restoration is complete, I'll start putting pictures up later today. It drives well too, it'd nearly climb a tree in first gear! hahaha

Anyway, the history.

It appears that this mower is actually a basic version of the "Ariens Emperor", produced in America in the early 1960's. The Ariens model is somewhat more elaborate, with mudguards, a padded seat, and in some cases, a steering wheel instead of tiller steer.

Mobilco, which is an offshoot of the Mobil Oil Company, imported these mowers into Australia and rebranded them as the 'Mobilco Emperor', these mowers were assembled in Melbourne by the Mobilco factory, (hence the reason there is no Ariens model plate), 'Mobile Equipment Industries' in Mitcham, Victoria. The 'Power Farming' Annual of 1965/66 has a listing for these mowers.

The fact that they were assembled in Melbourne, also explains the use of Whitworth threads throughout the entire machine, engine excluded.

The engine, the "JLO", which is actually "ILO", (JLO is a stylised script), was manufactured in Germany in 1965, (engine is date stamped). It is a L197L engine, with a 198cc capacity that produces 7kw, (9.5 hp), at 4000 rpm. It appears that this engine is what was originally fitted to this machine, as the adaptor plate has been professionally made and incorporates additional threaded holes that allow the engine belt guide to be bolted through the punched holes of the chassis into the plate. Another reason that supports this, is that the Ariens drive plate and pully, require a specific design of the crankshaft, which this engine has. My research to date has revealed that Ariens are the only company that provided modified crankshafts for their machines, and modified crankshafts were not produced by the engine manufacturers.

ILO motuerwerken Germany, was purchased by North American Rockwell in 1959, and traded as ILO Rockwell until 1969. It was then that all reference to ILO was dropped. These engines were predominately used in snowmobiles, etc. Hence the availability of this engine in North America. New parts are no longer available for this engine, and there are only limited sources of second hand parts.

Watch this space for more................

A further point on it's rarity, I attended a historic engine/ machinery rally with this machine, and no-one in attendance had ever seen one before, or had any knowledge of such a machine. So therefore, my second machine will also be restored, as much as possible to original seeing as I don't have an original engine, and kept for display as well.

Thanks Greg, it seems you've solved the major mysteries, especially regarding how Mobilco got access to a rather advanced imported machine that no-one had ever heard of. Did your second machine also have the ILO 2-stroke originally, or did they also use some other engine? A 9.5 hp 2 stroke would use fuel in sufficient quantities to require frequent in-flight refuelling.

The 1965 manufacturing date is earlier than I would have guessed. It makes the Emperor even more of an oddity, and therefore collector's piece. It also would explain the seemingly bizarre choice of Whitworth bolt-heads: it would have been unusual, but not impossible, at that time. (Alroh were using them in the early 1960s, too.)

As far as the second machine's original engine, it remains a mystery at present. Once I start the restoration process, I may be able to determine what sort of adaptor plate, if any, was used. It seems that many American models were fitted with a Tecumseh V70 engine. The 'Power Farming' listing makes reference to a 5 3/4 hp, 4 stroke engine. Quite possibly a Kirby, but the engine brand is not mentioned.

The 5 litre ILO fuel tank actually has a reserve fuel capacity, with a off/normal/reserve fuel tap that incorporates the sediment fuel filter.

Greg, James N. Kirby only made Lauson (later Tecumseh) engines under licence in Australia for a few years in the early 1970s. As far as I know none of the Kirby-Lausons was of more than 3 hp, and I have not heard of them being exported. Hence the engine fitted to an American ride-on mower would not be branded Kirby, but might have been Lauson or Tecumseh if it was not Briggs. (Tecumseh bought Lauson in 1956 but continued the Lauson brand for a while - I don't know how long.)

Having a reserve provision in the fuel tank sounds like a good idea in a small-tank, fast-consumption situation like that. It at least gives the operator the chance to drive the mower back to base to refuel, rather than running out and having to walk back.

I notice the Tecumseh V70 had a cast iron cylinder liner, like the Briggs Industrial/Commercial product line.

Interesting, thanks. The 'Power Farming' annual, along with montly magazines, was an Australian publication.

Here's the first installment of photo's now it's finished. In the photo showing the front of the handle bar, you can see a small, copper coloured badge saying 'by', just below that there are holes for another badge. Before restoration, you can just make out the letters, _,_,B,I,L,C,_. So there was obviously a diecast metal badge saying MOBILCO.

The new MOBILCO decals I had reproduced from detailed photo's of the old. It is worth noting that the 'Emperor with crown' symbol is identical to that used on the Ariens Ridline Mower.

Most impressive, Greg. The only point that caught my eye was the housing of the recoil starter, which seems to have a chunk out of it. I don't know where you got the bits to make the whole machine look so original, but you've kept its proper look of simplicity - it takes me back to the good old days. Not a hint of a Carmen Miranda fruit-covered hat on the whole machine.

That came up really good, in not much time either!!! well done!

Okay, now in breakdown form.

The first two photo's are the steering components, in exploded and assembled form.

Then the photo showing the method of adjusting the second belt for the cutting deck. The disengaging of the cutting deck is via the first belt. Shown later.

The next photo is the clutch/ brake pedal. The first half of travel disengages the friction wheel, and further travel operates the brake.

Following, is the views of the business end, disassembled. The views are as if you had the machine turned upside down and looking down on them.

Assembly of the drive into the chassis.

Shown is the components of the cutting deck disengagement. A single pivot assembly, that has an over centre operation in both directions.

The following photo's are in order of assembly.

1. Assemble the engine, belt, intermediate pully assembly, and the disengage lever into the body.
2. Install the gearshift in place.
3. Install the intermediate shaft, then the final drive shaft.
4. Install the primary shaft, ensuring the rose joint is connected to the sliding assembly, then the brake band, drive chains, etc.
5. Fit the hub drive covers and drive gears. Note, the wheels are shimmed to provide clearance for the drive gears.
6. The inside of the drive wheels showing the 58 tooth hub.
7. Drive ratios shown in schematic form.

The Cutting Deck.

This series of photo's shows assembly of the cutting deck. Too many parts to lay out and fit in one go.

The final photo is of the deck ready to fit to the mower chassis.

Now, putting it all back together.

Slide the front end assembly into the rear and locate in place with the collar and pin.

Then working at the forward end of the cutting deck, locate the front pivot assembly into the carrier.

Adjust the carrier to eliminate the deck being able to lift out.

The final photo shows the intermediate pulley assembly, with the primary (top) and secondary (bottom) belts fitted. The belts only drive the cutting deck.

Hi Greg,

I do not generally have too much to do with ride-on mowers (hopefully one day) but I have been quietly following your thread here, and I would just like to add my congratulations on a beautiful restoration, of a great, and rare, machine.

Is there any chance you also took some 'exploded' images of the engine, while you were restoring it? I would love to see some more detail of this particular engine, if possible.

Again, Congratulations mate, it is good to see a hard to find piece of history, like this one, restored rather than lost.

The piece that is missing from the starter is the part the starter rope should come through. This starter cover is reversible so that the engine can run in reverse. It's one of those pieces that I will endevour to obtain. At the moment it is extremely easy to brake the rope. That's experience talking, 4 times in 2 days!!

As for the rest of the parts, I was lucky in that the machine was complete, and as I disassemble with care, there was only one bolt that sheared off. It may sound drastic, but I also make use of an oxy/accetylene set to dismantle old equipment. Not to cut, just to break the rust.

With my trade being a Fitter/ Machinist with small engine qualifications, I have performed many restorations over 35 years, of all types of items, and have many techniques that help the job along. I do all the work myself, and have almost all tools and equipment that are needed to complete the task.

Thanks. To be honest, I didn't disassemble the engine for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because of the extreme dificulty of obtaining replacement parts, and secondly, because the engine turned over nicely with a quite large amount of compression.

I have purchased a parts/ workshop manual for this particular engine from the US, printed in 1968, and I am waiting for delivery. Once it arrives, I can then provide more details.

Cheers.

Thanks for all the compliments everyone.

Can't wait to restore the second one and have a pair now!!

Here's some pics showing my other one, third cutting deck, and ID plates. The third cutting deck is a slightly later model with a different style ID plate and larger wheels. The diferent style ID plate may be able to give an indication of the age. It also has a disc with 4 blades, where the one still to be restored has a single piece slasher blade, and the restored one has a two piece slasher blade.

The serial numbers are:

The unrestored mower- 271

The restored mower- 524

The third cutting deck- 765

An outstanding job of documenting, Greg. Nice pictures, well captioned. That would give the next person to need it, something closely approximating a workshop manual.

I think you made a good decision not dismantling the engine, since things like gaskets and crankshaft seals would probably have to be hand made.

Thanks Grumpy,

I'm more than happy to assist anywhere possible. I am not of the throw away society, and strongly encourage restoration of rare machinery/items. Let it be known that if anyone would like to ask questions about restoration techniques, I am happy to assist.

brilliant resto!!!congrats

Fantastic stuff.

Wish i knew where i could get my hands on a few of those motors.
Or even a whole mower the same.

Awesome restoration, it came up a treat

Cheers
Shane

Thanks, got me all excited for a moment there! Thought someone might have seen one before.

Not that I'll ever sell it, rather curious to know what it'd be worth.

Ok, below is an email I recieved back from Ariens in America. I sent them the link to the post. Ummmmm..........

Greg

We have no records of our Emperor mower being relabeled under the Mobilco brand name.

It does look like an Ariens machine which we did make. All product from Ariens Company brought into the export market always had the Ariens name on it and not completely removed. We in the past did not sell our product under other names.

Daniel C. Haese



I have since found this picture of one, "Ariens by Mobilco". However the Mobilco logo in the bottom corner of the ad is similar to the logo on the latter ID plates I have, not the earlier plates.

The mystery continues........

Lost records perhaps?? Someone has to know something somewhere!!

Still doesn't answer the fact I've got two!!

Possibility 1: Ariens did not know that Mobilco was initially expunging their logos and only using their own (perhaps because the Ariens decal was taking up the very real estate where Mobilco wanted to put their own decal). Mobilco may only have done that for a short time, then stopped.

Possibility 2: If I recall correctly, there was no chassis ID plate on your mowers when you obtained them, but was there a plate earlier? In other words, are there pop-rivet holes in the vertical web of the frame rails, or wherever Ariens puts their ID plate? If the mowers originally had the Ariens ID plate, but no logos, that would meet the Ariens requirement that their brand not be expunged "completely".

Possibility 3: There was an Ariens decal on the machines when they were sold new by Mobilco, but it fell off or was removed subsequently.

Essentially, I doubt that Ariens had much knowledge, or control, of what their machines looked like by the time Mobilco sold them back in 1960.

That guy in your picture looks like he is setting out to mow the entire Nullabor Plain with a 20" mower. Lucky he's young, he could be out there a while.

Thanks, I've emailed him back with this picture anyway.

I was thinking that if it was just a decal, a decal on valuable realestate theres nothing stopping someone from putting their owan over the top of it.

It'd be easy to do that, granted, but when I restored it, (back to bare metal all over), there was no evidence of any other decals, colour, or postitions of ID plates. Pictures of the ARIENS model do not show ID plates where they are on the Mobilco.

The ARIENS model is predominately red.

Greetings, folks.
Outstanding restoration there, Greg. Very well done and documented.

Well, I'm a bit late to the party here, but can correct some erroneous info, at any rate. Background: My family had a farm/garden machinery business in the '70's and '80's, and were agents for Mobilco, among other firms.

Mobilco had no connection whatsoever with the Mobil Oil Co. The name was a contraction of the earlier 'Mobile Equipment Industries Co' name. I'm not familiar with the early history of the company, but by the 1970's it was a subsidiary of the Pizzey Limited Group. This was a publicly listed company, with operations in paint manufacture, leather manufacture/wholesale, and of course Mobilco.

Mobilco was a:
manufacturer - farm machinery such as grain augers, tractor carryalls , drain delvers, super spreaders, rotary slashers, swing saws, hay bale loaders/stackers; yard/block machines - the Heavycut slashers
assembler - the Emperor ride on and Jet tiller/rotary hoe, both Ariens sourced
importer - Bamfords UK hay machinery [rakes, mowers and balers]; Danuser US post hole diggers; Kohler US and Kubota Japan small engines; Kioritz Echo Japan chain saws etc.; and some earlier saw brands like Canadien, Tas, Mono and Be-Bo.

Most of the imports were rebranded as either 'Mobilco', or in joint names. 'Mobilco Yellow' was the standard paint colour for the machines made or assembled here; red was/is the Ariens colour.

I still have an ex trade-in 1970's Mobilco Echo 601VL chain saw, BTW. Still goes well, though I need to put a carby kit through it, when I get around to it.

Their main factory/warehouse was at the Whitehorse Road address, but they had country and interstate branches as well. We mostly dealt with the Shepparton, Vic branch.
Exactly correct on that one.

The connection there is that Ariens also made snowmobiles, using ILO engines. The later Mobilco assembled ride-ons had Tecumseh engines, but yours is probably an early model original. Tecumseh also produced 'modified crankshaft' engines for Ariens. I recall having to get a Briggs crankshaft machined to do an engine swap on one of these, after the original Tecumseh put a leg out of bed.

Mobilco changed from assembly to direct import of Ariens machines in the early-mid '70s, due to changes in import tariffs and exchange rates. It became more profitable to do that, and the import machines had a better feature set, and a much greater product range. For example, the higher-end Ariens tillers used a 'special' Tecumseh engine with an auxiliary PTO from an extended camshaft, which gave them power reverse.

The demise of the Pizzey Group came about because the asset value of the company far exceeded its sharemarket capitalisation [i.e. the total value of all of the shares was much less than the assets/properties would fetch]. So it came to pass that an 'asset stripper/corporate raider' bought up a controlling interest in the group in 1976, and it was all shut down and the assets sold off. Happened quite a bit in the '70's.

It was a bloody shame, because Mobilco was a very good company, with great people. I attended a few of the Echo service schools they ran.

There are still some 'Mobilco legacy' companies around though. Heavycut Machinery was formed by Mobilco's sales manager, who bought that part of the production machinery. And Allpower Industries was started up as 'Ariens Echo Australia', by former Mobilco managers. They would all be retired now though. Keith Billing was the last of the old crew.

Wow, thanks Gadge, I knew there would have to be someone out there that had seen one of these before! I know of a "Ariens by Mobilco" machine in Hamilton, Vic, and as I suspected, and said by you, is a later machine. Something I have omitted from the thread, is the rear tyres have the date stamp of "1866", so I know they were made in the 18th week of 1966.

Thanks.

Here's a little something I picked up for the Mobilco at Warracknabeal!

Rather happy considering there was about 150 entrants in the category!

Jolly good show.

Hi greg first all before i throw some fuel on the fire. i would like to say thankyou for all the info and pics u have gathered and listed here as it has made me become a member. Because like u i have been trying to find info on this ride on that i required a couple of years ago.

Well here comes the fuel for the fire. I seem to have according to the stamped serial number 525 model EM in orange with a Tecumseh engine? Which i am guessing is the next one of the line after yours.I will see if i can see a date on the tyres tomorrow. But i was wondering do u know how much this would be worth restorted? It is missing the mowing deck due the person i got it off took it off because his kids used it ride around the yard at there holiday house.

G'day folks,

I'll now lock this topic, as is the ODK practice.


If necessary, the topic can be unlocked by contacting a Mod.