OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames Rover Deluxe

Hello all,

Thanks to none other than our own CyberJack and his tireless listing of models, brochures and parts catalogs, I have come across what I reckon is a Rover Deluxe.

It looks like it's all there, except for the side catcher, blades and some metal from the deck.

Which has me asking, is the deck steel or alloy? Some decent 50c sized holes. Half thinking about launching a rescue. Bear in mind I need another mower like a hole in the head. I don't have a Rover in the fleet (unless you count the SBs. Tip: they don't count) and was kinda saving space for a Suzuki 2 Stroke powered one.

But these early machines just have so much style for something so utilitarian!

Save me from myself.

Need some pictures, I'd love to find some more early Rovers

Hello nath, see how these grab you.

Looks like she's got three deck holes and missing a starter bolt. And the more I look at it, the more I'm convinced the deck is alloy...

Hi Mystyler,
Deck is alloy, done a bit of work on sandy soil, just worn through. Next depends on what you plan for it. If you want to restore it what you can do is clean the inside around the holes, file around the edges of the hole so you are back to clean ally, tape over the hole on the outside and fill the hole on the inside with JB Weld and feather it around the inside edges . How you finish it on the inside depends on whether you want to paint it and make it a showpiece. At least if you use JB Weld moisture won't affect it if you decided you wanted to use it. A quicker cheaper way is to just use body filler but I wouldn't try using it after this method

Ah, thank you Norm. I had not considered that an option. I have some fibreglass left from when I used JB Tank Weld on a leaky Briggs metal tank. Perhaps that, incorporated into the method you describe, with either JB Weld Autoweld Epoxy Putty Stick or JB Weld SteelStik Epoxy Putty Stick products would be the go? While the Tank Weld worked a treat, it doesn't give you much working time.

It'd have to get used to justify its space. Would prefer one with a catcher, but hey...good luck with that.

I've done a bit of reading on early 4 stroke Kirby-powered rotaries. Doesn't sound like a super gusty unit? Looks great though.

Hi Mystyler,
Go with the fiberglass on the inside and finish the surface off with the JB Weld, sand it back and paint it and you will never know it is there

Hi Mystyler,

It’s a pretty original mower, I would just detail it and get it running right. Leave it as is, it has a good coat of original paint and the scars are just a result of its working life. It won’t be your everyday mower.

Here is a short video of mine



All the best
Paul

Thank you Norm and Paul.

Paul, that sounds great. It would only be suitable for the back lawn, so certainly not a workhorse (anymore), as the front get covered with twigs and Box Tree nuts. I've also just spotted what I think is a Pope 320 for sale as well.

I assume you can still get blades for the old Deluxe...?

deluxe n catcher

That's it - I love side catchers!

I like it when you loose the catcher........
speedy

G'day Mystyler and all catcher lovers.
This was a particularly special catcher ...

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...re-rover-tip-to-empty-catcher-c1959.html

Cheers
----------------------
Jack

Jack, OF COURSE there is a history record of this catcher!

I had missed it, thank you for bringing it to my attention. I had wondered if there were drawings around so someone could engineer a replica, and I was curious on how the "Tip to Empty" bit worked.