OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines Rover 45

Hi Guys,

New to the forum - recently bought a second hand rover and was hoping i could get some information from you guys as i am new to the game. Images of the mower i purchased are attached.

Model: 91202
Type: 1371E1
Code: 0203133A

if you guys could provide me with any information that would be great.

Thanks
Dejan

Hi Grumpy

Thanks for the reply. From the pictures you can see what do you think of my machine. Prices in perth for second hand mowers is considerably more than that of the eastern coast so not too sure what to think of my purchase.

Thanks
Dejan

I'll leave the comments to Deejay, the resident reel-mower geek, Dejan. I can't see anything wrong with it - Deejay is much more insightful and experienced with SB/Rover 45s, in particular.

I think I may be the guy with the engine made the day after yours, mine being a 14 March 02.

Anyway, you look as though you have got an excellent machine with a really nice reel, count the blades..... well done!

I got this one in Sydney for $350 and doing it up for my son who is building a house .... Convinced him couch and a roller mower is the way to go ... also in the process of doing the same with my son-in-law

The mower was stored in a garage up in the mountains for 5/6 years.

So far I've freed up the clutch, oiled/greased up most moving parts, got the throttle working correctly. All the moving parts were just difficult to move and all the fixes for those were not difficult. It runs cuts the grass OK ... but!

Working on a rich running issue at the moment and Grumpy on this site who has been a great help.

Anyway good luck with the mower.... I just love these machines

Hi Dejan87, and a warm welcome to the forum.It's great to have another Rover 45 owner on board, as we all like to learn new things and tinker here.

Your machine is in brilliant (almost NOS) condition, with no obvious damage at all, correct colour scheme and fittings, with what appears to be an 8 blade (could be 10...its hard to tell from the pic) cylinder reel.

Your machine was manufactured in the Rover factory in Eagle Farm, Brisbane, QLD sometime after June 2002 (allowing for freight time of your engine which was made in the USA in March of that year)

Carefully maintained, this machine should last you a lifetime and give you years of mowing pleasure.
Well done, and my on a great score there!

Hi again Alistair,
Thanks for posting the pics of your machine. This mower appears to be of earlier manufacturing date than Dejan87's machine even though your engine was manufactured a day later. Allowing for freight time from the USA of your engine, I would hazard a guess, June 2002.
I base this on a small detail and that is the black plastic knobs for adjustment of your grass deflector. These are of the same type as the Series 2 Scott Bonnar Model 45's and the large screw type were favoured by Rover on the last machines they produced (and are now available as spare parts)
Just out of interest, they were also used on the early Scotties (solid engine deck) first introduced in 1968.

It seems to have had plenty of use, and has the usual dings on the catcher and also seems to have had the cylinder reel painted red (or been swapped with one from a Scotty 45) as they were originally painted black.
It has the standard 6 blade reel.

It looks to be in good condition for its age, and is a great buy at that price....and once your engine probs have been addressed and the machine carefully maintained, it should last you a lifetime and give you years of mowing pleasure.

Deejay,

Thanks for your reply. Good to hear about the machine as I paid 900 for it. The reel has 8 blades. Did these machines come out with 8 blades or is this a replacement?

The other day moving the mower around I managed to scratch the chain guard which left me very upset with my self. What's the best way to fix this and getting it looking like new again.

Also k's there any place I can buy new decals?

Thanks
Dejan

Hi Deejay,

Excellent information....

I think you are quite correct about the reel having been replaced. The bottom blade on the sole plate was in a shocking state and there were a a couple of big dings on the the reel, so I kinda think it has been used in the wrong environment. Still, in the process of refurbishing it for my son, with the help of you guys, but on the whole its a pretty good machine and I'll get there!

Dejan87,

"I managed to scratch the chain guard........." sadly, I know that feeling all too well!

But you,still scored a great machine.

Alistair

Hi Dejan87,
The 8 blade reel was an optional extra as far as I know...maybe the reason for the extra decal on the catcher that says "select model"...but the standard cylinder reel was a 6 blade, at that time.

With the scratch on the chain case cover, just take the cover off the machine and take it to a automotive paint supplier to get the colour matched....or take it to a panel beater/spray painter and get him to repair it.

As for the decals, please send ODK member 'willing worker' a PM HERE Grant may be able to help you there.

Hi adeas,
Yes mate, your machine will come up a treat...it will just take some time, but we will be here to help and hopefully be fun for you to complete it.

Deejay and Grumpy

Appreciated all your guys assistance - great to know there is somewhere to go to get assistance.

Alistair - keep us posted on your machine.

Thanks
Dejan

Hi Dejan87,
Please keep us updated on your progress as well mate.
Will be interested to see if Grant has got Rover decals....

Guys,

Has anyone had any success in using the Red Wattly Kill Rust Expoxy Enamel paint to match the original Rover Red Colour.

I saw this in another thread where someone mentioned it could be a close contender.

Thanks
Dejan

Hi Dejan87,
Automotive paint suppliers have the technology to colour match to excellent standards nowadays, I would use that method rather than buying a proprietary product that may match or may not...and ruin the end result...this machine is worth the extra effort that colour matching will take.

Hey Dejan,
I use that paint, the colour is called Delicious Red
The rear mower I have painted with it.
Front mower is original paint, faded a bit I guess.

Hi Mark, I must admit that colour looks close...I have used that product myself on various projects and looks great.

Hi Guys,

Is the colour on the Rover 45 and that rotary the same red?

Thanks
Dejan

Hi Dejan87,
That would be a hard question to answer...I am not aware of any of our members that would have both machines to do the comparison. To be on the safe side, colour matching is the safe way to go.
Unfortunately we don't have the formulas for Scott Bonnar or Rover paint schemes as no records have been kept; plus the fact that both companies would have had different batches of paint...some with noticeable differences between each batch.

Guys thanks for your help again.

Does anyone know of people who do lawn mower restoration in Perth?

As much as I like to think of my self as being good on the tools - im afraid of getting the painting wrong.

How much would I be looking for someone to re-paint my who machine?

Thanks
Dejan

Hi Dejan87,
Without seeing pics of the damage to the chain case, we are finding it hard to help you here...Why don't you take some pics of the chain case and post them here...Instructions for using our forum 'Inline Uploader' can be found HERE

I don't know of anybody in WA that does commercial mower restorations...but as far as a paint job goes, and good smash repairer could do that job in an instant for you.
Did you contact willing worker (Grant) about the replacement decals yet?