Came across this place while looking for parts on a SB45, as I decided to fix up the one I have.

had the mower 20 odd years, and it was old before that, been trying to find out the year it was made. seems that is difficult. its a 17 greeen with orange reel (was), black catcher, 3hp BS orange also. doesn't have the original handle bars when I got it.

It pretty much done now, got a brand new briggs 3.5 engine OHV, had to enlarge the clutch to fit the bigger engine shaft, and make a new key to fit. was going to get one of those cheap Honda 5 hp copy motors only $110, but got the new Briggs instead for $275 delivered.

Front roller was a bit loose so rather than get new plastic ends i made a bigger shaft for it.

Bought a new accel cable before the motor turned up, but new motor doesn't really need it as it has an accelerator lever on it. So I thought bugger, take it back who needs one now, one less part not really needed. Motor has a manual choke and fuel cut lever as well. starts first pull, so it should.

Chain was a bit loose to the blades, as in very loose even on full adjustment it was hanging down. so removed a link, big error, far to tight now, so bought a new chain. New drive clutch cable also fitted. Whole thing stripped and reassembled without any instructions on how to do it

cleaned it up somewhat for another 20 years service i hope. Bit dirty just tested it here after the chain finally turned up past the expected delivery day. Was hoping to complete it last week to mow last weekend, but had to use the push mower because the part was late. Only had about 4-5 hours on the rebuild in total after work over a week.

Oh the green hammer paint is a bit brighter than original but ok for a quick grab from bunnings, yellow blade paint is a rust proof paint rather slow drying stuff.
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I know someone who has this mower. i assume it a fairly recent one with the black briggs motor (one before the current motor I just got I assume), a rover not a scott bonnar or are they the same thing? Was trying to find some model history on all the 45's for some sorta time line of when what came out.

[Linked Image from i179.photobucket.com]


How are the blades done when sent away, on a lathe or bed grinder? The sole plate is easy, just not sure on the blades. Saw on here you say ground to match? I assume they are both just done perfectly straight which will match, then backhoned on the mower to match, or some sort of jig made up. however a jig won't mean you get a perfect match when fitted back onto the mower. you need smooth straight edge blades that rotate to a perfect distance to the sole plate all along it. To get that the final hone should be on the machine, well thats my thinking without any manual or instructions on the process.

LOL my latest almost new push mower hit something the other day, snapped off the plastic blade adjuster and bent the blade and bottom plate. with a spare adjuster off the last push mower, and fixing the blades I finished the last 2 metres. Who knows what i hit didn't see anything.

Last edited by grumpy; 23/12/11 05:29 AM. Reason: Rename thread