OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Scott Bonnar-Morrison 14" Reel Mower

I've inherited a 14" cut Scott Bonnar mower from my Uncle. He bought it new in the mid-70s and used it regularly until his health deteriorated and since then it has been sitting in his garage. The motor is a 2HP B&S with a build date in 1975. I haven't found a plate on the mower body that identifies the mower model, though I'm assuming that it is a Type 45. The mower drive is via a belt rather than a chain(s) and the cutting blade is quite blunt. If parts are available, I'm wondering whether I should strip and restore it.
I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow.
Chris

If it is belt drive it is not a Model 45, or 33. If there is no chain at all, just a belt, it is probably a 430 or 590. We have a number of threads here about both - you might find them informative.

It would be helpful if you post a picture, which will show whether it is a 430 or a 590. Most parts are difficult to get for both, but the most crucial ones should be available.

Hi Chris and grumpy....we need photos here guys to identify the machine.
Its definitely not a Model 430 or 590; as they were only ever built in 17" cutting width with a 3HP and 2.5HP B&S engines respectively. The Diplomat series was not introduced until late 1976.
Chris, pics please, from different angles and specifically of the chain case, and belt set-up

Thanks for your rapid responses and obvious knowledge of these machines.
I've had the mower for a couple of weeks and have dismantled it, taking lots of photos along the way, though unfortunately, not one of the complete machine
I've rebuilt many B&S engines over the years and have stripped this one - it is in quite good condition and will rebuild without any problems.
However, my experience with SB mowers is limited to watching my Uncle mow when I was a kid, so I'll need your kind guidance and assistance.
I've attached various photos of the bits of the mower that may assist in identification.
Chris

I haven't seen one like that before, and as Deejay said, it obviously isn't a 430 or 590. Deejay is the SB guru, I'll be interested to see what he makes of it.

Hi guys, I was almost tempted to say in my first reply this morning, that I suspected that Chris's machine was not in fact a Scott Bonnar....what sparked this idea is that as far as I know, Scott Bonnar did not manufacture a cylinder mower in Adelaide that had a 2HP Briggs factory fitted.
Also the belt issue had me tossed; though the Model 33 had both belt (primary) and secondary chain drive.

The machine is actually a Morrison, made in Hastings New Zealand and badge engineered as a Scott Bonnar.
This machine is also badge engineered itself; it started its life as a Victa Imperial!

[More is known now about this machine. It started life as a Ransomes!]

Here are some pics;

Thanks for the above. I guess I now have more questions.

Is my 14" cut Morrison Frankenmower worth restoring?
Where do I get parts? I've found the Morrison NZ website and will contact them.
Does anyone know how to get the reel and blade out so they can be sharpened? The bolts are welded, so I guess the pullies must unscrew from the shafts ??

Any help is appreciated,
Chris

Hi Chris, yes mate, I think it is worth restoring.
To remove the cutter pulley, place a piece of wood through the reel helix to stop the reel from rotating, place the correct socket on the nu welded to the pulley, and it should unscrew by applying gentle force in a clockwise direction. (This is a left hand thread....ie in the opposite direction of the normal rotation of the reel)
You do not wish to damage the reel by applying too much force on the piece of wood....
Let us know how you go.

Done - thanks.

I figured it to be LH thread as the rotary motion will tend to tighten it under load but it was nice to have it confirmed prior to attacking it.

Now to find someone to sharpen the assembly. I've discovered that the cutting reel, blade and bearings are a single unit made my Ransome. The bearings feel OK, so I may either leave them or gently try to open the housing and repack them.

Now to the barrel .....

Chris

PS: I've nicknamed the mower Jim after the famous Doors frontman.

Thanks for those pics Chris....that's answered another question I had about the removal of the reel....it comes out as a single unit and manufactured by Ransomes....that is interesting. That is a company with a long history in lawn mower manufacture.

I've completely stripped the mower and bead-blasted some of the components. I'll do the rest tomorrow prior to priming with a base coat of rust inhibitor. The mower gives the impression of being generally looked after though the catcher needs some minor panel beating before I paint it.

I've emailed a few people regarding spares and sharpening - I'll no doubt hear back next week sometime. Next week I'll go down to the local mower place and order some new bearings and oil seals - they should all be still available as they look like fairly standard parts.

If anyone is keen, I'll keep posting photos as I go along. I realise that this is something of a 'lesser' mower when compared to the Scott Bonnars, but it may hold some interest to a few subscribers out there.

Chris

I'm not sure yet it's a lesser mower than the much-admired SB45 Chris - this project can help us find out. Personally I dislike the use of chains and sprockets in a wet, dirty environment, and perhaps the most important feature of a reel mower (apart from how nice it is to operate) is how well, and how easily, the blade can be adjusted. We'll need to know a lot more about it to answer either question (nice to operate and reel adjustment), and especially we'll need to understand the setup of that Ransome reel-and-bedplate unit.

I think this project will be very interesting, and informative. Please keep posting, including explanations and photographs.

Hi Chris, I would like to support grumpy's sentiments, this restoration will be great for the forum archives as not much information on this particular model of Scott Bonnar exists here. I look forward to seeing the pics as you go along; this will be a great learning curve for all of us especially when the Ransome unit is disassembled and we can see how it all pieces together.

Hi Chris,
Keep up the good work looks like a little beauty. Looks like it would be a great mower in tight yards. How do you adjust the blades deejay I can't figure it out..

Hi Jason, this machine was made in New Zealand by Morrison mowers and badged as a Scott Bonnar. It shares some of its heritage with the Victa Imperial. Its reel assembly is manufactured by Ransome (of which we have no information, as yet)
As I said in my previous post, it will be a learning curve for all of us.To answer your question specifically, I haven't got a clue, mate!
However, with Chris's help and pics, once the unit is disassembled, we may figure out how it is adjusted.
This will make a very informative archive.

I've uploaded a few photos of the reel/blade assembly.
Cutting adjustment is via a pair of long screws that alter the distance between the reel ends and the fixed blade. If the reel isn't bent, the adjustment should be uniform along the length of the blade.
As to disassembly, the unit seems 'sealed for life'. The blade is permanently riveted to the base of the reel and the reel hubs are similarly riveted to the frame - I've tried to show this in the last two photos.
The bearings are sealed and seem OK.
There is plenty of depth left on the blade with a lot of adjustment still available. If I can get it sharpened, it'll be serviceable for years to come.
Hope this helps,
Chris

Hi Chris, I have done some research on the Ransome cutter unit, and it still appears to be in production on the Masport/Morrison Olympic models 400-500-660. It is not a sealed unit....the rivets on the knife-blade can be removed and are listed as a spare part....the bearings can be replaced also.
Here is an exploded diagram of the unit disassembled....

Hoping this helps,

I've contacted a company in Western Sydney who assure me that they can sharpen the blade. The guy I talked to seemed to know a lot about these reel assemblies and said that the blade was normally firmly riveted on to the base of the reel assembly. They will drill out the old rivets and either sharpen or replace the blade. Hopefully, they'll do a good job.

I've a mate who is a panelbeater and he let me use his shot-blasting cabinets to clean up the major parts of the the mower base last night. I'll prime and paint the pieces during the evenings this week.

Chris

Hi again Chris....what I was getting at is that both the cylinder reel and the bottom blade can be removed from the assembly for sharpening by the engineer....
Also, don't forget to remove, clean and inspect the reel bearings and re-pack or replace as necessary....these are critical to to the reel to bedknife clearance adjustments after re-installation on your machine.
Please let us know how you get on.

Thanks for the information and diagram - very helpful.

The problem I have is with bolt #12. The small square shaped head has been sheared off at some stage and the top part of the thread bore knocked in. When I get it back I'll drill out the screw and retap the thread if it hasn't already been done by the guy in Sydney. I'll then have the opportunity to check the bearings.

Chris

I've just had a closer look at the diagram on the Masport website. The 'bolt' that I thought was a retainer is actually a redundant grease nipple, so it seems that the assembly is press fitted. I'll try to 'unfit' it tonight without launching the two little tensioning springs through me and into orbit.

Chris

Hi Chris, the redundant grease nipple that you are referring to was obviously from a time when the reel bearings were the open type....I notice that sealed bearings are noted in the spare parts list now.

Just give all the parts a good soaking with WD40 or Penetrene and take care, hoping is comes apart easily for you....
Also Chris, just a tip; if you intend to blast, prime and repaint the reel, and the rest of the assembly, the time to do it is before it goes to the engineer for sharpening... Don't forget to mask off the press fit areas, prior to painting.

Darryl,

Thanks for the advice. If I get it all apart (it's soaking in WD40 now) I'll certainly do all of the priming & painting first.

I've developed quite an interest in these mowers in the last couple of weeks and as it happens, they seem to attract others. A neighbour was walking his dog past my house the other evening and he saw me in the garage and asked what I was doing. I explained the story and he then told me that his Dad has an old SB 45 in his garden shed not five minutes from where I live. The mower hasn't been used for years and would be for sale. I'm going to look at it on the weekend

Chris

Hi Chris, a great score if you can get your hands on the Model 45 mate....all parts are readily available, separate cutter clutch, and a very popular cylinder model, that, well maintained will give you hours of mowing pleasure.
Here is the specs;

Good luck with it...If you get to bring it home....we're all looking forward to the pics.

If I do buy it, I'll certainly post some photos though probably in a new thread.

Just for my information, some of these old mowers are fitted with original non B&S engines, eg: Kirby/Tecumseh. Was this something that SB in Adelaide did as a routine? Are these still considered SB mowers? What is the parts availability for these engines?

I'll stop asking questions soon

Chris

Hi Chris, the first model Scotty Model 45 was introduced in 1968. It sported a Kirby-Tecumseh HK30, 3HP 4-stroke engine. They were manufactured at Thebarton in Adelaide SA. They are all original.

Exactly when they changed to the Briggs and Stratton is not known, but as a guess I would say the mid 70's. Parts for the Kirby-Tecumseh are not easy to come by...whereas the Briggs and Stratton is, Tecumseh has folded operations in USA and no longer manufactured.
Reproduction stickers and decals are now being produced for all models of Scott Bonnars.

Depending on the price they want for this Scotty, even with the Kirby engine (if indeed it has one) we can help with advice to get it running sweetly if it hasn't got too much wrong with it....They were quite a strong engine in their day. Or, if you decide, you could perhaps re-engine it down the track with a Briggs or, as I have done with my 45...wack a Honda on it.
Here's mine....

I've sent the complete cutting assembly away to be professionally disassembled, cleaned and sharpened. I'll let you know how I get on.

Meanwhile I went to see the other mower this morning. It's a 14" SB45 fitted with a Kirby 2HP engine and for not much money brought it home. With the old cars and now old mowers, my good wife is starting to shake her head

I've started a new thread (with pictures) for the other mower.

Chris

Hi Chris, good stuff mate....It will be interesting to see how the cutting unit comes apart....are they going to send it back to you for painting prior to sharpening?

They will prime and paint it prior to sharpening - or so they say. I guess I have to trust them.

Chris

Hi Chris, have you seen any of the work that they have recently completed? If they are doing a lot of work, chances are your unit will be perfect on completion.
Pics please when you get it back, mate.

They were recommended by a well respected Mower business where I live. I'll let you know how it all transpires.

Chris

Thanks Chris, I'm looking forward to how it comes up as well mate!

I got the cutting assembly back yesterday.
Stripped, cleaned, painted, sharpened, reassembled and adjusted - they did a good job. I also got them to fit two new bearings while they were at it.
I'll put it all together this weekend.
Chris

Might sound like a silly question, but when you removed the cutter pulley was it right or lft hand threaded? My victa imperial is somewhat different (has chains) but I do need to unscrew that gear without damage

Joe,

Not a silly question at all - it is left hand thread so that the pulley tightens on the shaft when under load.

Chris

Cool bananas, thansk mate, I want the lawn of all lawns this summer and the imperial might just be the one for the job

Fitted the reel/blade assembly into the mower this morning.
There was a slight hitch as the guys who sharpened it reassembled the reel the wrong way around so the drive shaft was on the incorrect side of the mower
I pulled it all apart and assembled it correctly then fitted it to the mower and did the final adjustments.
The handles will go to the local electroplater soon and when I've finished the engine it'll go on as well - I've decided to fit it with a Kirby engine from another mower. I've managed to find a US distributor who stocks Lauson/Tecumseh/Kirby parts so a new gasket set and a few other bits are winging their way to me.
This afternoon I'll strip and clean the front rollers and treat/seal the timber parts.
Chris

Hi Joe, don't forget we want to video your Imperial coming apart. It will be great for the archives.

Dont know if youve attempted it or not yet joe but i made up a spanner to remove the sprocket from my imperial.

All finished though the engine is only held on with 2 bolts at present as I may yet swap it on to my other mower.
It runs, it cuts but it is really a cheap imitation - apologies to my Uncle.
I'm not sure what to do with it as I also have a 'proper' Scott Bonnar and not a whole lot of grass to cut.

Chris

It looks very nice indeed, Chris. Please don't mow with it without a full set of engine mounting bolts, there is way too much risk of cracking the deck under the engine. Note in regard to your SB45, the ones like yours with the two-rail deck are prone to cracking the front rail at the inboard engine mounting bolt, so keep an eye on it and treat it reasonably gently. Sometimes it seems that most of the running changes made in the SB45 during its long production life were for the worse.

Very nice job on that one, mate!

Yeah I wouldn't mow with only 2 bolts either....

Kori

I started it and mowed about a meter of grass just to make sure it would cut, then shut it down and hosed it off.

Fear not, if I use it as my main mower, I will finish the restoration properly

Chris

Hi Chris, on a great restoration there mate, she looks just like a bought one! Whatever you decide to use as your main machine...you can be proud of the work you put in there.

Thanks - your compliments are noted and appreciated

At some stage I still intend to write a thread on the Kirby engine in an appropriate part of the forum. It took me sometime to do the research and source parts, but I did have success in the end.

Chris

Hi Chris, for your thread, the appropriate forum would be: Repairs and Maintenance > Questions on Engines > Questions on Tecumseh / Kirby Engines.
This will be very handy for the archives, mate!

Started writing it today.

Chris

Hi murphy, and welcome to Outdoorking. Please post pictures of the mower and the engine. At this point we aren't clear on what you have there.

Hi Murphy, and a warm welcome to the forum. It's great to have you aboard. We all like to learn new things and tinker here.

Murphy, you haven't given us any information to go on, we need you to post the make and model; any serial or model numbers on the machine and to post a series of pics from different angles of the machine, including the engine.
We can then assess what needs to be done and which manuals you may need.
Murphy, to upload photos, just use our in-line uploader, its the 5th icon above in the post toolbar (with the blue arrow) For instructions, Click HERE

Once again, to the OutdoorKing forum.

Hi guys I really appreciate this thread as I have a Victa Imperial 24" in my collection that I was unsure about, but with the quality of the information here I am sure I can get it running now. Thanks to everyone especially Mr Bonnar for sharing this,
nice resto...

And a nice collection of mowers you have there mate! Pics please of each, from different angles....these would be brilliant for the archives!

What is disappointing about this thread is that Murphy never came back to the forum.

Shame about Murphy he did a nice job...

Thanks for the photo request Deejay I will work on the pics next week end and do as you suggested with the angles, there might be a few though as I am a bit of a Cylinder and Bonnar nut.

I'll make sure I put up some photos of my neighbours mint condition electric model 17 supercut, absolutely gorgeous....

Regards Glenn.

Hello all

For the record, this is a Scott Bonnar-Morrison.
When NZ's Challenge Corporation acquired Scott Bonnar from
Electrolux they slowly - then quickly - changed the Scott Bonnar range.

Challenge Corp - who had acquired NZ's Morrison Mowers, introduced
Morrison products into the SB range.

This particular machine was inferior in its design when compared to
the Model 45 14".

Nonetheless, these Model 69 machines - in 14", 16" and 24" were branded
here as Scott Bonnars. The first machines had green hammertone finish; later
machines were painted orange.

I date this machine to c1975 (given the Briggs Code numbers).
That fits the history nicely.

---------------------------------
Jack

This topic is an important one for history.

Mr Bonnar has most certainly helped others here, as have all
the contributors.

It is an old topic and should be locked now to preserve
these historical posts.

----------------------------
Jack