OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Scott Bonnar Model 33 Lawn King - Restoration

Hi guys

I just picked up another 33 model today and have stripped it down for parts for my gold and white one.
I've decided that I'll restore it, paint and all to its former glory.
This one was a little different as it had 2 piece pram handles, the belt drive and the older 33 style clutch assy.
The guy I bought it from said that the older 33 style clutches are better because they are a cast iron body and don't wear out like the 45's is this true to anyones knowledge?
The bottom blade and looks like its in pretty good nick and the reel hasn't got a dent in it so I think I'll use those and keep the dented reel as a spare.
The reel had a little different cut in it though. It had not just a straight edge like mine in the pics it has a taper machined into the blades as it moves down to the cutting edge.
It has a rubber grip over the handle to engage the drive to the rear roller (haven't seen that on any others but looks pretty factory)
It even had these really cool covers for the oil holes that snap into place and stop dirt etc getting into the bearings etc. Mine didn't have them so ill re use them on my build.
After pulling down this mower today its pretty obvious that these things need regular oiling and maintenance to keep them running at their best but hey I love a good challenge! (I never thought I'd get this into a lawn mower! its actually quite fun!)

What would be the best way to get in touch with willingworker? does he have a business I could contact because ill need some new stickers for sure!

Cheers
Kym

Hello Kym and ODK members,

That's great news!
I don't believe we have seen a restored first model Lawn King, and it will look
awesome in its gold and white livery.

This is an important machine and, in my view, more desirable than a stock 33, because
it was introduced for specific political reasons [I have speculated], and as I have covered in this topic.

That is interesting, the observation about the reel design. I have noticed that too.
Any pics documenting that difference would be much appreciated.

As I understand it, the Model 45 clutch has had criticism in modern times.
I do not believe the problem lies within the materials (cast iron versus alloy),
but in the captive cotter pin used on the SB 45s. If they loosen and go un-checked
they will wear out the housing. [BB corrects what I said here, below]

Rover probably - inadvertently - improved on the 45 clutch housing in cheapening its
manufacture. The capture is achieved by two square-head screws placed at right angles.
That seems to have worked quite well. The SB experts at ODK might wish to clarify and/or
correct me on that.

I am not surprised that the 33 reel does not have a dent, as the reel was protected very
well by the belt drive. The Lawn King does not have that protection.

Yes, the rubber grip is original 33. This is another difference you have helped to
document. the Lawn Ling has the 45 style all-metal trigger but retains the 33 rod to the
landroll clutch.

Contact willingworker through his eBay store. He is the great Silensmessor:
http://stores.ebay.com.au/vintagemowerdecals/.

Yes, I love those tiny spring-cap oil reservoirs. What you need to do is buy one of those
steam railway engineer's caps and oil-up the ol' King when he is restored.
[No need for the 'choo choo' sounds ]

I hope I have answered your questions.
----------------------------------------------
JACK.

Hi Jack,

I must admit that I beg to differ on the topic of clutches as it's only the alloy bodies that flog out and not the earlier cast iron units. I just picked up a trailer load of 5 SB's yesterday and every single clutch is OK and guess what ?, they are all the early cast iron units. I think you'll find that the cast units have absolutely no give in them thus the cotters don't come lose opposed to the alloy units which did allow the cotters to move ever so slightly and that starts the loosening process. One thing to take into consideration is that the alloy body was just another cost cutting exercise just like the twin rail was and also the plastic end caps on the front roller.

I do agree that pinning the output shaft at right angles has cured the issue to some degree but you just can't beat a cast iron clutch body and I salvage everyone that I can as they are worth an instant $80 on the nose when compared to buying alloy replacements.

Cheers,
BB

PS I've also just fallen across the very last variant of the Lawn King which had a totally different decal. I shall take a photo of it and post it up on this thread.

Good Morning BB,

Thanks for correcting that. I was not aware the CI clutches also used a cotter pin.

Cheers.
--------------------------
JACK.

Just out of interest, below is the very last variation of the Lawn King Decal that was used exclusively on the Pacific Blue and Silver Streak

Model 45's



It's not a great example but it's the only one I've fallen across in a few years.

This sticker was also used on the Silver painted Lawn Kings.

Cheers,
BB

Yeah right! Thats not a bad looking decal at all! I haven't seen that one before.

Ill post the pics of the other reel soon and ill be sure to be in contact with willing worker soon to get some new decals.

But can I just say Rest In Peace Phillip Hughes. I'm not sure how many of you are cricket fans but The whole reason I got into Scott Bonnar's is because I went down and got my pieces of turf when they dug up the old Adelaide Oval and I've grown it out. I've been a cricket fan my whole life and I sincerely hope nothing like this accident happens ever again.

Hi Kymbom2,

So you're in Adelaide as well !

There's quite a contingent of us here in SA along with all the SB's that were made here at Thebby.

The decals you'll buy are in fact taken from my original photo that's back up this thread a bit. Grant Simpson (willingworker) who does them is down Glenelg way.

BTW is your reel something like this one ?



Regarding the Adelaide Oval turf, I wished I had gone down there when they were giving it all away as I'm just about to plant all new lawns around our new house.

Haven't got any to spare by any chance ??

Cheers,
BB

G'day BB

Indeed I am in Adelaide!

Just out of curiosity WillingWorker isn't the same guy that did the stickers at the brickworks back in the day is he?

I am in very good company indeed It does make it a little more personal knowing that they were built in Thebby!
Probably A bit like the feeling you'd get restoring a classic Holden

Yes my reel does look like that indeed but 16" long. Could they be an aftermarket reel?

The Adelaide oval turf was well worth getting up at 6am on a Sunday morning to get my 4 squares 300mm by 300mm. You'll have to wait in line to get a bit of the grass though Ive got 3 mates waiting to get a bit too! I'll offer to you what Ive offered to them a plug or 2 but if you are planning on waiting a few years to grow it out no problem!

I can tell you however that It is Short Leaf Santa Anna and it will grow best in the full pelting sun, any shade and it doesn't like it at all.


Cheers
Kym

Also just out of curiosity were all SB's 33's and 45's painted with hammertone effect? or is that just weathered paint I am looking at?

I only ask because when I go to get the gold paint matched I want it to be right.
I had visualised a gloss colour with many many coats of clear over it like a car paint job.
But the more I look into it the more it seems like it is a hammertone.

Cheers
Kym

Hi kymbom2g, You are correct they were all hammertone colours, gold and white...Pacific blue, silver and we are waiting for confirmation from BB; they were also in a green hammertone...
Here it is in the hammertone gold...

Hi DeeJay,

Sorry, but no Green in Lawn King's, that colour was exclusive to genuine Scott Bonnar's sold at full retail price in the smaller stores. There had to be something in being an exclusive Scott Bonnar Dealer and that was to sell the Premium machine.

Cheers,
BB

Hi DeeJay
Thanks for the colour info most appreciated.
Is that your Lawn King? Looks good!
Is it just me but do a majority of the unrestored SB's I see have a dent on the front of the Chain/Belt cover? I only say this because mine has a similar dent to the Gold/white one that DeeJay posted and even the one I have for parts has a dent like it too.

and sorry just to clarify when you said

you are only talking about the gold yes? not the white of the engine as well. I only say this because i'm pretty sure the engine is gloss white.
I hope these questions don't seem too stupid I am just compiling my shopping list and want do this machine justice for the resto with everything as close as it can be for when it came out of the factory.

Cheers
Kym

Hi Kym, sorry to cause confusion...When I said gold and white, I was of course referring to hammertone gold for the chassis and grassbox (catcher), and gloss white for the engine.
The machine in the photos is not mine, I just happened to have the pics in my archives....
BB, thanks for clarifying that for us....so we can now say with confidence that the Model 33 came in 3 hammertone colours;
Gold, Pacific Blue and Silver.

Regarding the Model 45 SB, yes Kym, they were all green hammertone until the takeover by Rover Mowers in 1980....then the transitional machines, the Rover-Scott Bonnars were painted in a solid colour, and finally the Rover 45 which was powder-coated.

Regarding the dent in the chain case cover....I guess that is a particularly vulnerable area on the Model 33 when navigating around gardens, edges etc...on the Model 45, it it protected by the height adjuster.
Best of luck with the resto Kym,

Hi Kym,

I'll chime in here if that's OK as Darryl is probably a tad busy this morning.

I'll just clarify what DeeJay has previously posted as he is correct.

The colours used on the frames are all Hammertones, but the Engines themselves were sourced from the various engine manufacturers and they painted them at there own factories in there own colours, thus the Briggs Engines were International Orange, Grey and Black, while the Kirby's were also Orange and White as is yours.

Where this changes is in some of the earlier machines such as the "Supercut" which had it's engines repainted in the frame colour as they were a different green from the Villiers Factory in Ballarat and it would've looked silly with two shades of green being used on the same machine. Normally you would want a deliberate contrast between the engine and frame colours. Also I think you'll find that a deal would've been struck between SB and the engine supplier to supply engines a tad cheaper if the engine builders colour scheme was left, thus advertising the engine brand more predominantly and creating awareness, something along the lines of "Scott Bonnar Powered by Briggs & Stratton".

I hope I've clarified paint finishes for you thus giving you a better insight as it can be somewhat confusing.

Also just about every SB chain / Belt cover has been slightly to massively dented at the front corner due to hitting concrete path edges etc. They were never dented from the factory that's for sure.

Cheers,
BB


PS, I've just written this post while Darryl must've been doing the same and as such it seems a bit out of sync.

Hi BB, you must have been typing as I was posting, but thanks for the extra info on the engine colours...
I think Kym will be on the right track now, mate


PS: Don't forget that Briggs also had a 2.5HP engine used on the 14" SB that was painted silver.

Great!

Thanks heaps guys I reckon I have the info I need to get this rebuild underway!

I'll post progress shots as I go along

Really appreciate all the help/info that CyberJack, BonnarBloke and Deejay have posted.You guys are a wealth of knowledge.


Many thanks
Kym

Hi All,

While this is a Model 45 Lawn King, this mower displays the blue livery with the same decal as shown on the silver version. I though that I would add this just for completeness of discussion regarding liveries and decals.




Cheers,

Sir Chook

Hi DeeJay,

Not to be silly but I did mention the Silver / Grey engine in the post about paint a few spots above this one.

Just for the record there were also Grey 2.25 HP engines fitted to the 14 inch machines along with the 2 and 2.5 HP units in that same series.

Yes you are correct I was typing while you posted that earlier post thus it looked a bit like we were talking over each other.

Cheers,
BB

Hi BB, I misunderstood your terminology...to me, grey is a solid colour....silver is a metallic finish, and that's what I was referring to. No probs mate, all good.

Hi everyone.

Its been a little while. I'm just starting to gather together the parts, paint etc. for my build and I'm wondering if anyone knows a spray painter that can paint hammertone in the Adelaide area? Or can I do it myself?

I went to an auto paint store today and they can match the colour for me and said I can mix 1-1.5% oil or silicone compound into the paint to get the hammertone effect if I was to do it myself.

I have access to a sand blaster at work so its easy to strip the paint off and prep the surfaces.

Also I seem to remember someone mentioning (I think it was Bonnar Bloke) that there is someone that does the re production stickers for my lawn king anyone know who it was and how I can get in contact with them?

Any input as always would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Hi Kymbom2g,

As far as doing the job yourself you'll need a spray gun and compressor to do the job satisfactorily. Maybe you could tell me where in Adelaide you are as I could possibly help you out if you get stuck.

Silicone is definitely the product that requires to be added to the paint.

As far as transfers are concerned you could contact "willingworker" on this forum as he's the major seller on eBay that reproduces most of the vintage mower decals, he's also a fellow Adelaidean.

Cheers,
BB

I have a 33001 as well and require a full sprocket set for it.

These are two lawn king mowers models 33001 and mower numbers 33-20559 and 33-20945 and progress on the make-over of the 20945

on another note I am not sure about there not be-ing a green version of the 33 lawn king as I have one,model 33001,mower number33-20633 which falls between the two gold mowers in the earlier post




as can be seen by the colour under the I.D plate and inside of the chain cover,i would doubt this mower has been repainted but the drive seems to have been repaced with a gold one. regards,john

Hello Voljon

Thank you. You could have the world's largest collection
of Lawn Kings there.

It's not common to see two 33001s side by side.
It's hard to get a feel for the new colour from the photo.
Are you happy with the choice? Is it a stock colour?

The green one? Do you feel it is a re-spray?
There seems to be paint on bolt heads that were not originally
painted....?

I have recorded the serial numbers.

---------------------------
Jack

hello jack,i am pretty sure the light green is a respray, but I don't know about the green on the inside of the chain cover. maybe the cover is off another model.i will check the covers on some other scott bonnars and see if they interchange.regards john

G'day John

That's interesting.
Perhaps, as you say, the cover is a replacement.

Cheers
-------------------
Jack

Hi John and Jack,

I've noticed in the photo of the two unrestored machines sitting side by side that one uses a smaller "winged decal" on the chain case while the other uses the standard "Lawn King" decal as per normal. That small decal is a bit of an abnormality I must say.

Cheers,
BB

Hi BB and John

That would be the usual 33 one, perhaps fitted in error.
The earliest 33s had the 'blob' one.





Cheers
-------------------
Jack

jack,do you mean that the earlier belt drive 33 has the bonmow decal.i have two of the belt drive mowers, 33-07963 and 33-10578 but the decals are long gone.i removed the handle grips on the green model 33 lawn king and found gold paint, so I now have 3 of them
regards,john