OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Question On Scott Bonnar Cylinder Mowers Model 33 - Kirby Motor - warwick87

Hi all,

Not sure if this is how i do it (im new to this stuff) but ill give it a go...

I have got a Scott Bonnar 16 inch cylinder mower, it has a "Kirby tekumesh" engine on it. I recieved it from my dad about 3 years ago after he found a newer Scott Bonnar in a skip bin with the briggs motor. he had it for about 25 years and thinks it may have been about 10 years old when he got it. Does anyone have an idea what sort of build year or model this is??

THanks heaps

Wazza!

Welcome to Outdoorking, Warwick. To talk about your Scott Bonnar usefully we need to know what model it is, and the best way to sort that out is for you to do two things: first, post a couple of pictures of it here (use the fifth icon from the left in the row of icons right above where you type your messages), and second, find the manufacturer's model and serial number plate on the side of the mower, and post that information or better, a picture of the plate.

The Kirby Tecumseh engine, also known as Tecumseh or Kirby-Lauson, was fitted to SB mowers and some others at the end of the 1960s until the early 1970s, so your mower will have been made in that period. It was an American engine normally made by Lauson, a subsidiary of Tecumseh, but the ones that are found in Australia were made in Sydney under a licence agreement by a local company called James N. Kirby, hence the Kirby on the engine identification plate.

Hi warwick87, and a warm welcome to the forum. Its great to have another Scott Bonnar owner on board.

Being a 16" machine makes it a lot easier to identify but a photo or 2 from different angles will confirm it.
I believe that your Scotty is a Model 33 (first introduced in 1960) with a Kirby-Tecumseh HK 25, 2.5hp, 4 stroke engine.

If it is confirmed that your machine is a Model 33, there is a Parts List in the manuals area for that model which you can download after subscription.
Instructions for doing so are contained HERE

The Model 33 is unusual in that it is driven by both a V belt and chains....
Once again,

Hi lads,

Thanks for that, i will try and get some photos up asap

I didnt realize how old it was, i thought maybe early 80's...
Can i get rebuild kits for the Tecumseh kirby still???

regards

Wazza

Hi Guys,

worked it out - this is the big girl shes a bit of a weapon...i think.
i didnt know the model plate exsisted but the serial number (if you cant see it in the photo) is 07659

Wazza

Hi Wazza...ahhhh...I was right....she is a Model 33 and number 7659 in the series.
Unfortunately, the serials don't relate to an exact date, but from her appearance, I would guess that she is an early one.
it is a grand machine, and properly maintained will give you hours of mowing pleasure...

Oh mate, she has already given me hours of mowing pleasure!

Thanks a heap for your help!!

Wazza

Warwick, I don't think there are kits for the Kirby-Lauson, or Lauson, engines but various individual parts are often available. Try the Outdoorking online store, and Tecumseh and Lauson on US sites for new parts. Try Outdoorking members or local mower wreckers for second-hand parts. I believe few if any parts are different between the Lauson and Kirby engines. Kirby didn't even make all the parts, just enough to get it classified as Australian-made so there wouldn't be import duty on the imported parts.

Hi Wazza, Grumpy's given you good advice there, and I hope you find some parts for it...if not you could always replace it with a Briggs or a Honda, down the track.
As this thread is complete I will now close it.