OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers My SB 45 Resto (what a mission) [almost complete]

Even with the help of a friend who's completed a resto this was a mission for both of us. Parts not coming off properly, Kawasaki engine I got from outdoorking store was a gem until I tried to install it lol. The shaft is 6mm lower than a standard engine so I had to raise with piece of aluminum. The plastic housing doesn't allow for one of the 4 bolts to go in the hole without hitting the plastic, we needed to disassemble half the motor to mount it on the frame then assemble the motor on the frame. Clutch handle was making it difficult to engage clutch a lot of playing around and all it needed was the inside to be smoothed. Getting the front roller on was hard as well the metal bar had shrinked making it too tight, the handle bars where to wide and needed to be bent in..

Reel Powdercoated in Flame Red
Bedknife and roller bar powdercoated in Black
Body painted in White Knight Alpine Green Hammertone

Almost all parts were replaced brand new, so I won't be needing to play with it for years. After all the hard work it's a great machine, motor is very quiet when compared to a Honda GX120. To be honest I wouldn't do another, its a money pit

Hi QSR, welcome to Outdoorking. Thanks for posting that report. Despite its smaller capacity and power than the Honda GX120, your Kawasaki FJ100 should be at least as powerful as the original engine fitted to your mower (and considerably more powerful than Deejay's G100, which he is very happy with). Does your Kawasaki have a 3/4" output shaft, or 5/8"? Scott Bonnar supplies engine side clutch-halves of both sizes, but it would be useful to our members to know which size the Kawasaki requires.

I would not personally want to have either a height-raising adaptor plate, or a need to dismantle part of the engine any time I had to remove it from the mower, but this is a matter of personal preference. If the engine is smooth and quiet, as well as having Kawasaki quality and durability, it is certainly a valid choice. At only 100 cc, it probably uses even less fuel than a GX120.

Same shaft size as original engine, If I'd known about the dilemma I would of had wouldn't of purchased the motor. Was a rushed purchase really, I got the Kawasaki edger made in new zealand with the same motor and loved it being compact compared to the new briggs 3.5hp so I bought it for the mower. I was intending on just getting the new briggs. The size of the unit is probably what made me pull the trigger.

Makes me wonder why Kawasaki didn't make it the standard layout. This is probably the second mower with this motor that I've seen now. Having had the edger for 6months then seeing one restored scott bonnar on ebay with the fj100 I bought the motor thinking sweet.... Should of done research and asked around on the forum, next time...

Hi QSR, and a warm welcome to the forum. Its great to have another Scott Bonnar Model 45 owner on board.
on a nice restoration, it has come up a treat!

There is one thing that concerns me a little; in pic number 8 from the top....front on view (all complete) is that the clutch fork lever, which, from the position of the clutch handle, is in the disengaged position, is not vertical or slightly to the left....it is slightly to the right, which means when the clutch is in the engaged position, there may be pressure on the plastic thrust pad causing it to melt, like this one that happened to another member....
There should be a slight clearance between the clutch cone and the thrust pad when engaged like mine pictured here....

This may not be the case with your set-up, but I thought I should give you a heads up to check it before you do some serious mowing.
By the way, for the archive, your shaft is 5/8" and the correct dimension taken from the centre of the PTO engine shaft to the engine deck should be 106mm or4.2" on the old scale.This may help someone in the future when looking for a replacement engine.

Once again, QSR, to OutdoorKing.