Just moving this thread over to the correct place.

The restoration of my three 18s got hung up a bit because I couldn't get the Blade Holder Retaining nut off any of the mowers - tried penetrating oil, heat,breaker bar etc with no luck.

After some advice from the guys here I bought myself a Rattle Gun - and bingo - off they came as easy as anything - great bit of kit - should have bought one years ago.

So here is the current state of play:

[Linked Image from i941.photobucket.com]

Today I'll get the wheels/axles etc off, and then start cleaning and off to the Sand Blaster....

A question though - the Muffler Plate (under the Blade Holder) - two of them came off with no issues, but then I took the third off I found this....

[Linked Image from i941.photobucket.com]

[Linked Image from i941.photobucket.com]

Is there some kind of cardboard separator or gasket or something tat goes in there? Or it that just a huge carbon build up after years of use? Obviously the outside is all black/carbonised, but inside looks like some kind of board.

In any case I gather its not needed, because 2 of the three mowers didn't have it, and this mower only had about 1/3 of it in place

The top photo shows where it was actually located, bottom photo give a better view of the "thing" itself.


Polybus