OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Question On Scott Bonnar Cylinder Mowers Bonnar 45 attachments?

I was wondering if someone can help with some info on my Bonnar 45. The serial tag number is 45058 serial 3981608.

I was wondering what is the year of manufacture as it looks like a fairly late model light green with a Briggs 80202 engine.

Also I am curious if it is possible to install a grooming blade onto one of these mowers?

Was one ever manufactured for these smaller machines and if so does anyone know where I can get one and an approximate cost?

I dont mind buying another mower just for the purpose of fitting a grooming blade as I can see an advantage of lawn grooming and would like to do it.

Also I am interested in a broom/sweeping attachment?

Thanks for your help and look forward to chatting.

Hi Glenn,

Our SB guru, Deejay, can fit your serial number into a sequence and probably identify some of the features of your mower, but the serial number does not give us a date of manufacture. However if you post the full series of numbers from your Briggs and Stratton engine's air cowl (beginning with 80202), we can tell you exactly when the engine was made.

With regard to grooming attachments, I suggest you begin with this thread:
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=25891&page=1

If you need more information than that, Steve, deviosi, is knowledgeable on the subject and has some experience as well.

I have never heard of a broom attachment, but Deejay will probably know if one was ever sold by SB.

Hi Glenn and a warm welcome to the forum. Its great to have another Scott Bonnar owner on board.
Re: a broom attachment for the Model 45, I personally have not heard of one being available, probably as the 45 was primarily made as a domestic machine, however it may be possible as an after-market item as Deviosi has done with his grooming reel.
Once again Glenn,

Hi Deejay, thanks for that.

Just another quick question?

I know the Bonnar purists will probably think I'm a bit of a turn coat but I need to place a new bed knife on my 45 plus sharpen the cylinder (which has only about 8mm of meat left on it) and I need to replace the bearings.

All up this appears to be somewhat costly for the exercise but I want a nice cut so it appears a must.

As an alternative I went out last night and had a look at one of the last manufactured Rover reels in 20", just curious what should I expect to pay for something like this in excellent unrefurbished condition?

Ps I won't give up my Bonnar as I love the oL gaL but I'm just looking at the overall cost advantage?

Cheers Glenn.

Hi Glenn, you have not told us the cutting width of your Model 45, it will be either 14", 17" or the 20". Could you please also post a pic. This will help us determine where it falls in the Model 45 range (ie. an early or late model).
Re: your questions, with 8mm of meat left on the reel, you can have it spin ground maybe 2 times at least by an engineer.

Regarding prices as an example..a new 17" reel will be around $350 complete with new bearings and a bottom blade can be supplied by the engineer, as the new bedknife needs to be ground also. Do not remove the bottom blade from its soleplate yourself...you can damage the cast sole plate (bottom blade holder)very easily. The engineer has the tools and expertise to do it.

Re: prices for a 20" Rover...as they were $1800+ new, prices do vary on condition...check eBay, but you will find it cheaper to perhaps purchase a new reel (with new bearings)and bedknife.

Hi Deejay,

I have tried to upload some pics but for some reason they just wont upload off my PC, have checked the "how to" and everything seems ok, not sure?

Anyway I have two Bonnars an earlier 14" (engine 822232 0138-01 8400622030 (and I think one of the last model 45's in 17" (engine 80202 2324-01 88051103) this one is light green with a Scott Bonnar shield logo on the front left side of catcher over a black stripe that runs full width of the catcher, on the right side is a script that says Model Reel 45.

Thanks for the hint on the bed knife sole plate, I did look at the original screws that hold the knife in place and thought that allen head upgrades would be a nice addition for later maintenanc.

Removing the old ones would be tricky given the sole plate looks like it is cast construction and would not take an impact driver blow real kindly so heat would be needed. But I will take the advice of experience and remove the complete assembly from the frame and send it in with the cylinder.

I was working on the ol gal today and noticed that the right side rear roller is out of true, it appears to have a high spot when rotated (almost 5mm).

The left side roller hovever is rolling true, have you seen this before?

Glenn.

Thanks for your help Grumpy, awesome stuff.

The numbers on my 17" engine cowl are 80202 2324-01 88051103.

This is a similar mower to my 17" Ebay