OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Reel Lawn Mowers, Atco & Villiers etc. Rover Thoroughbred

G'day Boys,

Having trouble identifying what I have bought. It's a Rover with a Briggs and Stratton. Solid deck. No starter clutch lever (so I don't know how it works properly and suspect it's on the way out).

I cannot for the life of me find the serial number for the engine but the Rover sticker Silver with orange) on the mower motor plate states (well something like as they are difficult to read) Model 5802 (the 0 is possibly G) Serial 6882 although it may be 5602 (again the 0 might be a G). Further there is another sticker (silver with black)this one reads REGD No 62748.

If you could perhaps give me some idea as the cost of a new clutch and what parts I need that'd be terrific. The cotter pins are the 90 degree type and thus there are two of. If you could also give me an idea as to the approximate cost to fully resharpen that'd be appreciated as well.

The unit cost me $70 and the motor runs really well, air delivery is via a snorkel that winds up the handle which has a central adjuster. Any locations for manuals etc are also welcomed. I cut the lawns this morning with and even though blunt, the job is fantastic, I experienced quite a bit of drum slip....is this anything to do with the clutch? The grass wasn't overly wet so hopefully I can find a means to rectify this.

Lastly with this old girl, should I be adding any fuel additive to the unleaded fuel?

Cheers and Love Ya Work
Pablo

Hi Pablo,

Looks like a Rover Thoroughbred to me. Might be worth starting a new thread so that other thoroughbred owners can find it in the future.

Thanks Michael, this thread I have moved to the correct area and re-named it also.
I was in the middle of repyling when I accidentally clicked out....
Yes mate, you are correct, it is a Rover Thoroughbred with a B & S 4 stroke. It should have a plastic catcher.
There is a parts list in the manuals area.

Hi to 2011Pablo Escobar, there is a Parts List for your Thoroughbred contained in: Forums � Repairs and Maintenance � Questions on Lawn Mower Frames � Lawnmower Parts List & Repair Manuals. This is a subscription area....Instructions for gaining access are contained...Please click HERE

Spare parts for the Rover Thoroughbred can be sourced HERE

If you could post the complete string of numbers (Model, Type, Code) that is stamped into the metal air cowling (that also contains the recoil starter) of the Briggs and Stratton engine, we can tell you some info on the engine as well as date of manufacture. This will then give us a rough idea of the age of your machine.

The Model, Type and Code for that Briggs engine should be stamped on the vertical face of the pressed steel cooling air cowl, probably above the carburetor, at the tip of the yellow arrow. If you reproduce those here, preferably together with a clear picture of the stamping, we can give you some information on the engine's specification and date of manufacture.



The engine requires that its sump be kept full of clean SAE30 engine oil. It holds 600 ml, which will fill it to the top of the thread of the filler plug (green circle). The drain plug is the square plug (yellow circle) tapped horizontally into the bottom of the sump. Note that the oil must be changed often enough to keep it clean - the engine has an aluminium bore, which will not take kindly to dirty oil.

Do not put anything in the fuel tank except clean unleaded fuel, with no ethanol in it.

Love Ya Work DeeJay,

You made it much easier to locate and read the engines numbers......I didn't realise an electron microscope was required (or I'm just getting old)

The numbers are Model 80202 Type 0635-01 Code 75110403

I'll take a punt and say it was made 11th April 1975?????????

You guys are superstars....I dips me lid!

Cheers
Pablo

No mate, I don't deserve the credit for that, grumpy edited your photos to make it easier for you.

Pablo, your engine was made on the 4th November 1975.
You were close tho mate!

Oh lads I forgot to ask.....what do ya reckon of these mowers? Don't be scared....you won't hurt my feelings

Some detail on your Briggs engine. It was made on 4 November, 1975, as Deejay said. Location was Briggs' Rolla, Missouri plant - one of the few that is still operating, though it no longer makes side valve engines of course (only Briggs' Chongqing plant makes them now).

Here is the Illustrated Parts List for the engine:
http://bsintek.basco.com/BriggsDocumentDisplay/Z6jmyBVJ1DajI.pdf

Here is the Operator's Manual:
http://bsintek.basco.com/BriggsDocumentDisplay/flivAJX-nfBhU7y.pdf

The engine has a displacement of 8 cubic inches (130 cc), is of the first design generation, has a horizontal crankshaft with a Pulsa-Jet carburetor, with plain main bearings (not ballraces) and a recoil starter. Being pre-1982, it has breaker-point ignition, not electronic ignition.

Hi Pablo, and thanks grumpy for supplying the engine info.

The Rover Thoroughbred has been out of production for many years now, however, if spare parts are still available, (and they seem to be in WA.) there is no reason to believe that, providing the machine is well maintained, it will not give excellent results on a well maintained lawn.

They seem to share many of the features of the Scotty Model 45 which eventually replaced it in the Rover stable after the take over of Scott Bonnar.
It should restore nicely if you can get the parts to complete it.