Greetings all,
Hi all, just new to the forum and came across these posts. Have tears running down my face seeing the date of the first post -
I have just redirected a Masport mower on its way to landfill sans catcher!
This Masport has a quantum b&s, without primer bulb feature, engine code says '92 production date. The body is an alum. silver 600 and has a made in AUS label on it, but unfortunately the mower serial # appears to only have been put on the body as a small paper label, long since illegible - but I'm guessing its about a '94 build going by any online manuals I've been able to find. Chrome handle is uniformly rust brown now, but otherwise mower is in fair condition given our humid climate - some of the fastening hardware still has visible zinc passivation present.
And a warm welcome to the ODK Forums, Dr Z.
, from a fellow Masport owner [~2001 Maxicatch 550 alloy deck]
For sure, chromed handle finishes are not long-lived, in a tropical coastal environment. My 550 has black paint handle finish, with a 'soft grip' sleeve over the 'hand grip area' top part.
The 1992 engine YoM makes it a USA-made engine, which is a good thing - production of Briggs' side valve engines moved to China ca 2002, with the usual initial QC/QA problems that go with Chinese factories.
Your mention of the term 'passivation' sparks my professional interest here; does it reveal an acquaintance with corrosion chemistry?
My own 'past life' background in that field is in the offshore oil and gas industry; 6+ years with Baker Hughes' then Baker Petrolite Oilfield Chemicals division.
As BH at that time had 8 operating divisions, I used to say that I was with the 'oilfield chemicals tentacle' of the Baker Hughes octopus.
