Hi Jeff, now this machine is fit for purpose, it starts easily, a bit heavier than a standard PT but that is to be expected but to achieve this you need to add at least 800 grams to the crank. Not a problem for the factory to do it but they were obviously happy to sell these machines that were near impossible to start. I now need to find another one just to prove my theory. Good news is they can be fixed. I just have to keep on the lookout for small barbell weights
A dumbbell weight is a smart idea! You're using it for it's purpose, just not how people expect! Good to hear the despair cine to an end thanks to exercise equipment!!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Even better news is that the weights are only a few dollars on eBay The one I was looking at was cast iron with a steel sleeve and rubber coated All of which you do not want $3.00. Our PT does have a slightly heavier pulley but nothing like 800g
It kicks a bit but not too bad We are used to pulling pretty hard to start it It can stay as it is for a while at least until I get to Eden next which won't be anytime soon Well done Max & Norm in solving a very long standing problem Jeff
Good to see it worked out well Norm , I hope the quality of the metal weight is high quality and doesn't fracture and explode at 3500rpm ,it sounds like good steel as it was blunting the lathe tool ,for safety I would normally like to know the quality of the steel if spinning it up to 3500rpm .
Hi Max, I would be more concerned about cast iron exploding, being a barbell weight I would expect it to be made from scrap metal and that means many sorts of metal in the mix. All I know is it just took the edge off a brand new carbide tip and all it did was take the paint off it The main concern was that it might have been too hard and brittle but as it is only spinning with no load on it it should be fine, besides it is up inside the bodyso reasonably protected from any flying bits
As far as I know the barbell weights are made mostly from cast iron, I am also guessing it will be ok but I can't say I have seen a cast weight welded to a crankshaft nut before ,cast iron is used extensively for flywheels so I can't see a problem with the weight it's just the welding that needs to hold long term. .
It would not be that difficult to turn something up from 12mm steel plate 2 thicknesses should do.
I have always been told not to try to weld cast iron although I have a couple of times with reasonable results. Those weights I was looking at with the steel sleeve might be OK Could weld only to the steel sleeve. You are supposed to preheat cast iron I think
I don't think there is much of a safety issue If the weld breaks the weight will just fall on the ground
I had blade disc fall off when I broke the end of the crankshaft off
It just fell on the ground . I didn't even notice until it appeared out the back of the mower
Discussing it with a mate last night, he gets a lot of stuff laser cut and we decided it would be easier to get 2 pieces cut, one piece 3mm thick with a hole to suit the boss and the 12 mm piece with a hole bigger than the socket that fits the crank nut and then weld these together on the outside and that way you don't have to do any turning to get the nut to fit. Just have to see how much they will cost and how many I/we are going to need. The more you get cut the cheaper they get, but how many of these PT machines are out there and is it all worth the effort. At least we now know the fix if anybody comes here having problems with one.
That sounds pretty good Just need to work out the diameter needed to get enough weight.
What about maybe Rover blade disc . I doubt you would have room for the whole disc but a turned version or 2 might work I think the nut and wavy washer a 3.mm disc plus the pulley would all fit with nyloc still working.
Yes Jeff, not sure how I can work out the weight out I night be able to use a 1 inch undrilled flange if I can find them, they would be fairly cheap and I could then get the 3mm discs made the same size and just weld them together. The OD is not critical because I think I could go up to at least 200 diameter without any issues. As long as I end up with at least 800 grams +
Hi Steel is 7800 kg per cu m. A 200mm disc, 25 mm thick should weigh 0.1 X 0.1 x .025 x 22 / 7x 7800 About 6 kg unless I have missed a decimal point or something
Ok so now the big question, am I a mug or am I up for the challenge.This morning a bloke brought over a 24 with no motor on it, somebody had fitted a Briggs on it but he wants a 2 stroke fitted. Am I game enough to try a PT or just fit an F/C and not complicate the issue
Well NK, since you have made some inroads into solving the kickback issue and the bolt pattern is likely compatible with one, I'd use this as the chance to see if you can get a PT to work on a super duper 24.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
We have been able to get a PT to work reasonably well on s FC 24 Be better with more weight on the motor pulley. Bit it's quite a big job which only is worth it if there are no FC's around. If you could get hold of one of those high output PT's might be different. Late. model, straight. manifold etc
If I was converting another FC 24 to PT I would mount the engine straight not crossways like I did.
Hi Jeff, The base dropped off here yesterday is one of the later ones that I think a PT should bolt straight on. It had the adapter plate to take the F/C but had had pieces added on to take a Briggs
