OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Scott Bonnar-Morrison 14" Reel Mower

I've inherited a 14" cut Scott Bonnar mower from my Uncle. He bought it new in the mid-70s and used it regularly until his health deteriorated and since then it has been sitting in his garage. The motor is a 2HP B&S with a build date in 1975. I haven't found a plate on the mower body that identifies the mower model, though I'm assuming that it is a Type 45. The mower drive is via a belt rather than a chain(s) and the cutting blade is quite blunt. If parts are available, I'm wondering whether I should strip and restore it.
I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow.
Chris

If it is belt drive it is not a Model 45, or 33. If there is no chain at all, just a belt, it is probably a 430 or 590. We have a number of threads here about both - you might find them informative.

It would be helpful if you post a picture, which will show whether it is a 430 or a 590. Most parts are difficult to get for both, but the most crucial ones should be available.

Hi Chris and grumpy....we need photos here guys to identify the machine.
Its definitely not a Model 430 or 590; as they were only ever built in 17" cutting width with a 3HP and 2.5HP B&S engines respectively. The Diplomat series was not introduced until late 1976.
Chris, pics please, from different angles and specifically of the chain case, and belt set-up

Thanks for your rapid responses and obvious knowledge of these machines.
I've had the mower for a couple of weeks and have dismantled it, taking lots of photos along the way, though unfortunately, not one of the complete machine
I've rebuilt many B&S engines over the years and have stripped this one - it is in quite good condition and will rebuild without any problems.
However, my experience with SB mowers is limited to watching my Uncle mow when I was a kid, so I'll need your kind guidance and assistance.
I've attached various photos of the bits of the mower that may assist in identification.
Chris

I haven't seen one like that before, and as Deejay said, it obviously isn't a 430 or 590. Deejay is the SB guru, I'll be interested to see what he makes of it.

Hi guys, I was almost tempted to say in my first reply this morning, that I suspected that Chris's machine was not in fact a Scott Bonnar....what sparked this idea is that as far as I know, Scott Bonnar did not manufacture a cylinder mower in Adelaide that had a 2HP Briggs factory fitted.
Also the belt issue had me tossed; though the Model 33 had both belt (primary) and secondary chain drive.

The machine is actually a Morrison, made in Hastings New Zealand and badge engineered as a Scott Bonnar.
This machine is also badge engineered itself; it started its life as a Victa Imperial!

[More is known now about this machine. It started life as a Ransomes!]

Here are some pics;

Thanks for the above. I guess I now have more questions.

Is my 14" cut Morrison Frankenmower worth restoring?
Where do I get parts? I've found the Morrison NZ website and will contact them.
Does anyone know how to get the reel and blade out so they can be sharpened? The bolts are welded, so I guess the pullies must unscrew from the shafts ??

Any help is appreciated,
Chris

Hi Chris, yes mate, I think it is worth restoring.
To remove the cutter pulley, place a piece of wood through the reel helix to stop the reel from rotating, place the correct socket on the nu welded to the pulley, and it should unscrew by applying gentle force in a clockwise direction. (This is a left hand thread....ie in the opposite direction of the normal rotation of the reel)
You do not wish to damage the reel by applying too much force on the piece of wood....
Let us know how you go.

Done - thanks.

I figured it to be LH thread as the rotary motion will tend to tighten it under load but it was nice to have it confirmed prior to attacking it.

Now to find someone to sharpen the assembly. I've discovered that the cutting reel, blade and bearings are a single unit made my Ransome. The bearings feel OK, so I may either leave them or gently try to open the housing and repack them.

Now to the barrel .....

Chris

PS: I've nicknamed the mower Jim after the famous Doors frontman.

Thanks for those pics Chris....that's answered another question I had about the removal of the reel....it comes out as a single unit and manufactured by Ransomes....that is interesting. That is a company with a long history in lawn mower manufacture.

I've completely stripped the mower and bead-blasted some of the components. I'll do the rest tomorrow prior to priming with a base coat of rust inhibitor. The mower gives the impression of being generally looked after though the catcher needs some minor panel beating before I paint it.

I've emailed a few people regarding spares and sharpening - I'll no doubt hear back next week sometime. Next week I'll go down to the local mower place and order some new bearings and oil seals - they should all be still available as they look like fairly standard parts.

If anyone is keen, I'll keep posting photos as I go along. I realise that this is something of a 'lesser' mower when compared to the Scott Bonnars, but it may hold some interest to a few subscribers out there.

Chris

I'm not sure yet it's a lesser mower than the much-admired SB45 Chris - this project can help us find out. Personally I dislike the use of chains and sprockets in a wet, dirty environment, and perhaps the most important feature of a reel mower (apart from how nice it is to operate) is how well, and how easily, the blade can be adjusted. We'll need to know a lot more about it to answer either question (nice to operate and reel adjustment), and especially we'll need to understand the setup of that Ransome reel-and-bedplate unit.

I think this project will be very interesting, and informative. Please keep posting, including explanations and photographs.

Hi Chris, I would like to support grumpy's sentiments, this restoration will be great for the forum archives as not much information on this particular model of Scott Bonnar exists here. I look forward to seeing the pics as you go along; this will be a great learning curve for all of us especially when the Ransome unit is disassembled and we can see how it all pieces together.

Hi Chris,
Keep up the good work looks like a little beauty. Looks like it would be a great mower in tight yards. How do you adjust the blades deejay I can't figure it out..

Hi Jason, this machine was made in New Zealand by Morrison mowers and badged as a Scott Bonnar. It shares some of its heritage with the Victa Imperial. Its reel assembly is manufactured by Ransome (of which we have no information, as yet)
As I said in my previous post, it will be a learning curve for all of us.To answer your question specifically, I haven't got a clue, mate!
However, with Chris's help and pics, once the unit is disassembled, we may figure out how it is adjusted.
This will make a very informative archive.

I've uploaded a few photos of the reel/blade assembly.
Cutting adjustment is via a pair of long screws that alter the distance between the reel ends and the fixed blade. If the reel isn't bent, the adjustment should be uniform along the length of the blade.
As to disassembly, the unit seems 'sealed for life'. The blade is permanently riveted to the base of the reel and the reel hubs are similarly riveted to the frame - I've tried to show this in the last two photos.
The bearings are sealed and seem OK.
There is plenty of depth left on the blade with a lot of adjustment still available. If I can get it sharpened, it'll be serviceable for years to come.
Hope this helps,
Chris

Hi Chris, I have done some research on the Ransome cutter unit, and it still appears to be in production on the Masport/Morrison Olympic models 400-500-660. It is not a sealed unit....the rivets on the knife-blade can be removed and are listed as a spare part....the bearings can be replaced also.
Here is an exploded diagram of the unit disassembled....

Hoping this helps,

I've contacted a company in Western Sydney who assure me that they can sharpen the blade. The guy I talked to seemed to know a lot about these reel assemblies and said that the blade was normally firmly riveted on to the base of the reel assembly. They will drill out the old rivets and either sharpen or replace the blade. Hopefully, they'll do a good job.

I've a mate who is a panelbeater and he let me use his shot-blasting cabinets to clean up the major parts of the the mower base last night. I'll prime and paint the pieces during the evenings this week.

Chris

Hi again Chris....what I was getting at is that both the cylinder reel and the bottom blade can be removed from the assembly for sharpening by the engineer....
Also, don't forget to remove, clean and inspect the reel bearings and re-pack or replace as necessary....these are critical to to the reel to bedknife clearance adjustments after re-installation on your machine.
Please let us know how you get on.

Thanks for the information and diagram - very helpful.

The problem I have is with bolt #12. The small square shaped head has been sheared off at some stage and the top part of the thread bore knocked in. When I get it back I'll drill out the screw and retap the thread if it hasn't already been done by the guy in Sydney. I'll then have the opportunity to check the bearings.

Chris