Thanks for the feedback guys.

Ross, I have had a look at the photos of your lawn and that is exactly what I am after. I think that my lawn may be too thick (thatch) at the moment to achieve the rolled flat look and I am wondering how to remove it. Should I go all out and hire a scarifier to remove it, use the rotary and cut the grass nice and low to scalp it off or just use the newly restored mower and gradually lower the cutting height?

Deejay and grumpy, I will take some new photographs tomorrow of the sprockets and bottom blade, but being an avid cyclist I can already predict the outcome of your observations and I am starting to feel the pain in my hip pocket of this restoration!! a new set of sprockets and chains is going to blow out the budget but I guess I will have a very nice mower when its all said and done!!

Today I painted a few more things and the mower is really starting to look fantastic now, I pulled down the drive roller and inspected it for wear and I was pleasantly surprised that there was very little, I pulled out the bearings, degreased and repacked them with grease and they were nice and smooth again. The bushes seemed ok so I gave them a bit of grease too.

I'm hoping to start putting this thing back together soon.... (before I forget where all of the bits go!!!) [Linked Image]