Time for a bit of an update I think, for the simple reason thaaaaaat... the beast now RUNS!!!!
I pulled the flywheel off the 8hp yesterday and it turned out that the almost total lack of spark was due to the points being gapped at over 35 thou. So anyway, with the points filed and regapped at 20 thou, the flywheel back together and the mag gap set at 12 thou, the motor had a good sized spark again and with some carb fiddling it started and ran, albeit badly. Whatever the case, it was apparent that I was on the home stretch so I put the motor back in, belted it all up (after having to adjust the PTO pulley which had shifted toward the crankcase and therefore didnt line up causing the belt to jump the clutch pulley).
I had to replace the throttle cable with one out of a wreck 8-26E as the original one snapped at one end and unwound at the other. After getting it all together and some less than successful attempts at getting it to run well, I ended up pulling off the carb and blowing it out exposing what appears to have been a blocked up correction jet, replaced the cruddy fuel line, and reinstalled it. After having to disassemble and clean out the starter clutch due to a couple of jammed balls (gummed up with grease), I finally got it tuned to a point where I am satisfied that I can use it, however in having said that, I am not 100% happy with the state of tune yet... I believe a replacement carb may be in order very shortly, at least until I purchase a new larger motor.
Anyway, having got the motor at least running and having taken it for a test run round the property to verify that the gearbox is in working order and the cutter functions as it should(and getting bogged in the slush from the rain in the process) I decided to then turn my attention today to the front end which it became apparent was in a very poor state of repair. I removed both wheels after ascertaining that the brass bushes on both were near non-existant, and removed about half a dozen flogged out washers that had been used to try and tame the bushless left wheel.
I ended up pulling the wheels of the 8-26E and using the one with good bushes and tread as it was on the right hand, but ended up taking the bushes out of another wheel and rebushing the original one for the left with them as all the other rims with matching solid tyres had either no tread or bad splits in the rubber. It was about that time that I realised the brass top bush for the top of the left hand kingpin had actually worn out and come out of the hexagonal hole. Unable to find a suitable replacement on any of the parts mowers, I have temporarily fixed it by using one of the worn out old excuses for bushes and a couple of washers placed around the pin underneath the kingpin top bush to keep it from falling back out of place. This should hold until I obtain a bunch of new bushes assuming they are available.
Now the front end is quite tight and usable, however the geometry is a bit off so I believe I will pull the stub axles off the almost identical burnt 8-30 and fit them when I get new bushes, as the ones on it are in pretty bad shape due to being run with no bushings and seem like theyve been abused a bit in their time anyway. When I fit the new axles I dare say I will end out using a couple of kingpin retainer collars to hold the wheels on in preference to the rather daggy and aggricultural use of a splitpin through the axle.
Next job probably will be to get some new paint where its needed.
Anyway, photos to come soon!
