OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Other Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers 1992 Rover Combat - A Suprise Packet!

Once the carb was back together, I installed the new tank. I cut the new hose to length and fitted it to the tank nipple. I was doing this on a rather cold winters day, so using a heat gun to warm up the rubber was a stroke of genius!



With the air filter housing reinstalled, it was then time for the new air filter.



This engine was only fitted with the one paper element, but some were also fitted with a foam pre-filter, which I decided to include for thoroughness.



The green filter fits into the plastic cover, the paper filter is then placed over that and then installed back on the engine.



I then installed the recoil cover, which this engine was missing for some reason. The throttle cable was also re-installed.





While it should have had a "Quantum 35 XE" decal, I couldn't find one for sale, so I used the Briggs & Stratton logo supplied with the new tank.





It was then time for a test run. I filled the tank with some fresh fuel, thankfully no leaks from the tank, new hose or from the carb bowl. A this point my heart sank because the thing wouldn't fire.

I removed the plug and sprayed some starting fluid into the cylinder and got it running. I then realized the choke was not engaging, causing the cold start issue, a quick adjustment to the throttle cable solved that. After letting it run for a while, I was confident the replacement fuel tank had solved the surging issues.

The engine now running properly, I decided to change the oil. I've always found these old Quantum's to consume oil, even if they don't smoke, you can smell it. As such, I tend to stick with the SAE30 mono-grade oil on these engines.



As mentioned in the previous post, the old oil that came out still had a red hue to it, leading me to a theory. I suspect this mower had been serviced before I came on the scene and was put away. Newish looking oil, brand new blades and a decent looking spark plug. I think the thing was serviced in an attempt to address the surging issue, but whoever did it didn't dig deep enough.

Because this is an older Quantum, the carby still has high and low speed adjustment screws................BLISS! Briggs frustratingly removed those on the later engines, presumably for emissions and to stop owners messing about with them. Those newer engines really don't idle, the throttle only controlling high and low speed running. But this engine can be throttled down to a nice tick over, making catcher emptying much nicer. It also has a more pronounced top end without having to play with the governor to extract those extra revs.

Top end adjustment............



Idle adjustment..............



Idle speed, a sweet tick over....................



Full throttle, 3600 to 3700 rpm -



While there was headroom to tune it higher, I decided to back it down a touch...........





So with that, the old Rover Combat was back in action and cutting grass!