OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Other Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers The Rotoscythe - Rear Catcher Model

Well, after weeks of saving and waiting, and one heck of a road trip, here is the Rotoscythe!

I Dont know too much about it, Its from the 50's, BUX engine, Zenith Carby, Self Proppelled, Alloy frame, soild and BIG!

Even the fuel cap is a heavy solid brass peice!

More photo's to come.

Heres a few more:

Certainly a different machine! everything made when this was was built solid unlike plastic rubbish these days. What a score!

It sure is soilid, Very Heavy!!

The 3-blade disk has the blades welded on, instead of removeable blades, you replaced the rivited on disks at the end of each blade.

Have a 4 page Parts List etc 26 inch Whirlwind Rotary Sctyhe will put on Ebay tomorrrow along with some Victa parts tags . This model was from the U.K and later made under licence by Whirlwind at Mentone

Thanks for that Joe, Mine is only a 16" But i will be interested to see what you have.

I will soon be starting a restoration, It has 2 concerns, the air filter is missing, this is something i will be able to come up with an alternative for, until i find an original.

The second issue is the Ignition, apparently the coil is dead. I will be doing my own tests, and seeing what I can do, however, due to the obscurity of the machine, I may have trouble replaceing the coil.

Does anyone know weather there are other, in production coils, that may suit this engine, or, alternativly, how would one go about re-winding a coil?

Here is a couple more pics:







The fella who restored this one made sure to leave the lid for the inbult tool box, and the instruction panel, as-is, the lid still has the originall transfer, both of these have been clear coated, and nothing more.

Looking at the panel, it mentions a peice to be used when the catcher is not, so I will try and find out more about this.

Looks like I'm a step closer to completing this one, I have the correct air-filter on it's way, which will leave me with just the ignition to worry about.

The coil looks shot, and the condenser seems missing, plus i need to work out the timing, hopefully when all this is overcome, it will be ready to run!

I'm also starting to hunt for it's accessories, including the large rear wheels that can be fitted for non-propelled use on rough ground, and the deflector panel for when the catcher is not wanted!

Seems like nearly all the work has been done, Ty, but there must be some reason he didn't deal with the last couple of details - like, those bits weren't to be had? It's an interesting machine, with a lot of the characteristics of low production British engineering from the 1950s.

I think it was just a matter of patience and space, this was part of a particular group of restored mower in his collection, he sold 2 villagers, and then sold me the rotoscythe and the lawn cub, the remaining members of the lot were simply thrown into a scrap skip when they did not sell.

The coil is fairly simple, and I may be able to look into having it re-coiled, it is also similar to some other coils, and may be able to be adapted from one.

From what i can find out, the condenser is nothing specific, and should be replaceable with one of a number of different condensers, at least till a more suitable replacement part is found.

Rotoscythe - County Model
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=69693


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