Lots of options Max, I stripped down a Bolens rideon last week and the transmission out of that is here, but a lot of work setting it up and it is much wider than the Ranger
Yeah I wouldn't swap it to a transaxle Norm as it's too much work ,I've changed transaxles when they are similar.
I would just do what ever is the easiest and the least amount of work ,I don't mind picking up the right part if you find something to swap with the guy as he didn't want to sell it but probably will swap it for some old part.
Old impulse starter and cup 2 stroke Villiers parts old motors or old recoil starters for Villiers ,2 stroke amal carby ,torque major ,torque master parts ,he might take one of those old heavy cast iron briggs horizontal shaft motors but would be a hassle to deliver , if you can find a few parts that will fit in a $12 post bag I can post you the friction drive to save time..
Some old part that is under 5 kg and fits in a small $12, pre paid post satchel would be easy ,it won't take long to get, I may take my old worn out friction drive pulley tomorrow and swap it on his compressor so I can get some pics of it and then just work out the easiest way to get it to you
If you swapped it for a $10. . Villiers mower with a torque major or master motor or something heavy then it's going to need to be picked up.
I think it would be easier if it's smaller for postage ,if you want to go for a drive to get it straight away that could be arranged.
I may be able to get the drive for free as I know he wanted a part machined on a lathe , easy job but I'm not sure if your small lathe would do the job ,it was a 4 inch pole that needed turning down on one end about 5 inches to be tuned down on one end but the total length of the pole is about 4 foot so you would need a centre steady.
Just Looks like a high temp ,high strength woven material Norm but can't find anything online that tells you exactly what the material is.
Possibly Ceramic or Composite Materials, In some designs, friction materials may incorporate ceramics or advanced composites for improved wear resistance and heat dissipation.
As one old enough to remember relining drum brake shoes the lining material came in rolls of different thicknesses and grades and it was just a matter of rivetting it on to the metal shoes. In the 1960s a company in Melbourne developed a method to stick the lining on without rivets (Raybond) and did very well.
I just searched "brake reline friction material", the material is available. I did some work on a Cox ride on with the variable drive system recently, the friction material looked just like brake lining.
I'm not sure how old the friction drive I have is as it doesn't look original ,it looks like a replacement so if it's an old replacement then likely has asbestos.
I looked at all the friction material ages ago but the problem was finding one that was suitable for an aluminum wheel as you can't use normal brake lining, I'm sure some manufacturer will have Ceramic or Composite Materials that will suit but it can't be cheap going by the replacement change over part.
Max, I will have a chat to the blokes at BGT brakes and clutches, they have been in this game for as long as I can remember, they must have some idea. One of the reasons that new part was so expensive is because you have to buy the whole assembly not just getting the existing pulley rebonded with new friction material
Talking about brake companies, I recently bought a set of brake pads online from RDA. I couldn't believe how bad they were. The metal locator tabs that fit into the center of the caliper pistons didn't fit at all. When I tried to install the pads, the three metal clips would get damaged and start to break. In the end, the only way to fit them was to use pliers to bend the three metal locator tabs. I'm not sure if the pads were seconds from a questionable seller, or if they are all this bad.
"The metal clips are made from really poor-quality material and are nowhere near the size needed to fit the caliper piston properly."
I do buy some new parts these days that are listed for what I want but they don't fit without modifications but the sellers don't tell you that.
I'd never seen such low quality pads ,I now see what's happening ,the pads were for an old car so now the higher quality suppliers don't make the brake pads anymore.
Hi Max, with pretty much everything you buy on ebay you take a chance but overall you can save a lot of money over time with only the odd thing catching you out. In Casey at the moment there is a shitfight going on because they have brought in a permit system which you have to apply for, wait 2 weeks and pay $150 so you can work on YOUR own car in YOUR own driveway. You have to have a permit ( all costing $150) for a caravan or unregistered vehicles parked on YOUR property. The troops are not happy down Casey way
With the friction plate I guess I could cut a piece out of an old car tyre and glue/rivet that on. And another way may be going back to the idea you had about using the timing gear and belt, I guess I could cut strips from a car tyre and glue/rivet that to the ally wheel. At least with doing it this way the motor doesn't have to come off if it needs replacing, just glue/rivet another strip of tyre on. Got nothing to loose if it doesn't work
Yep I've had to get a few refunds on eBay when buying new products from China when they aren't fit for purpose ,there are a few sellers that say the buyer has to pay return postage but that's not eBay's policy so you can get a full refund without paying to return an item that doesn't match the sellers description.
The City of Casey say on their webpage ,Unfortunately, in recent days, our Customer Service Team has been subjected to threatening behaviour as a result of inaccurate information. I've always wondered when we will be taxed for breathing as we get taxed for almost everything else ,I guess a pollution tax is as good as a breathing tax.
I didn't know how many things now require a permit in Casey Norm ,I guess if you work inside a shed /garage where people can't see there shouldn't be a problem.
In a few weeks I may be down your way Norm to drop off some scrap ,I can drop off that friction drive I have here if you want it at no charge ,I realize you may not want to use it if it has asbestos in it. Up to you.
Thanks Max, Happy to pay you for the friction disc, that will get this great little rideon back into service. Seemed to be a terrible waste to just scrap when it has years of service left in it not to mention the fact it is helping the environment by recycling/repurposing items