OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Cylinder scott bonnar 45 questions

Hi guys

I recently picked this model 45 up for next to nothing with original purchase receipts from 1964!. This is one of the first I've played with that has a Kirby motor on it.

I'd love to know how anyone has gone getting parts for the motors.
The reel is in perfect nick, doesn't cut too bad. Hopefully it will get a full resto once I have a shed to do it in.


Cheers
Sorry if I posted in the wrong spot

Hi Gizmo, and great to see you back at OutdoorKing mate.
What you have there is a Series 2 (twin rail) engine deck machine ( that is erected after December 1975) and is a 14" cutting width, with the Kirby Lauson (Tecumseh) engine fitted.
As you would know, Tecumseh has gone down the gurgler, and parts for the Kirby's are very thin on the ground...but, some members have been having success getting parts from USA...they aren't cheap with the exchange rate of the Aussie dollar...but it all depends on what parts you are chasing and how much you are prepared to spend on the restoration.

Gizmo, you have posted in the correct area, as you intend to restore the machine.

Post Edit: This machine has proved to be a most important find...A twin rail Series 2 SB Model 45, 14" cut, that was delivered in November 1973
Read on and view the original receipt.....This is 2 years before I thought the Series 2 machines were introduced!

Thanks Deejay its great to be back.

For $9.99 I couldn't go past it.

I thought that parts may be a hard deal with it. I wouldn't mind doing the internals on the motor up, mind you it runs alright and I think this will be one I will use once I have a lawn. Main things that I will need is a rebuild kit for the crab and maybe a gasket set, I'm guessing getting a rebuild kit will be impossible?.

Here's the purchase receipt from the first owner




Cheers

Hello gizmo1993, Deejay and ODK members,

Gizmo, I'm just interested in the receipt you say is for the 45.
It is dated 30 September, 1964.

Sorry to be the harbinger of bad news, but that can't be right for this particular machine.
The Model 45 was introduced at some time in 1968.

I think your machine is actually from the seventies.

All very chronological.
--------------------------------------
JACK.

And right you are, it must be for something else that one this looks like the right one

Hello Gizmo1993,

That's better news!

It's so rare to match up a receipt with serial number to a year of manufacture.
This is great provenance for this lawnmower.

I envisage Administrator Deejay will be thrilled about this important historical record.
A 14" SB45 with serial number 38922 can be dated to 1973.

Thank you for this record.
----------------------------------------
JACK.

Needless to say Jack that I was pretty cuffed when I found all that with it.
It will be good to have all that once its restored.

Very glad that its a helpful record.

Hi Jack, Gizmo and DeeJay,

But that's still not correct as the twin railers didn't come off the line until December 1975 and your machine is definitely a twin railer, so either someone's made a blue on the receipt with the date or it's still not for that machine. Check the number on the ID plate and see if it matches the one on the receipt as this is somewhat confusing.

Cheers,
BB

Hi BB, both Jack and I came to the same conclusion, we need a good clear close-up pic of the fitted ID Plate to this machine and compare the serial numbers....

Here is a pic of the model range for 1974-1975, you will notice that the 3 SB Model 45's mentioned all have early model numbers....for the 14", 17", and the 20". Notice that the illustration is of a solid deck machine and that the Model 33 is still being produced and sold...In 1975, it was deleted from the product range.

The plot thickens......

G'day again all

Heres some pictures of the id plate. This might thin out the plot a bit maybe!

Hi Jack, DeeJay and Gizmo along with all ODK members interested in this one,

Well That's really tossed 5 cats in with the 2 pigeons !

Either there has been a blatant mistake made on that receipt or our idea of twin railers coming in around December 1975 has to be re-investigated as that twin brass plate indicates that its a very early twin railer.

I personally always thought that single decks went out before 1975, but DeeJay has spent countless hours on working out the date estimation. The only thing I might propose is that twin railers were first introduced in the 14 inch machines and later carried over to the larger units.

One thing that is always taken out of context is that Brochures and Catalogues do not always have the most current machine pictured as many times older file photos are used which throws any historian a curved ball. There are many examples of this type of practice taking place within Holden's sales brochures where earlier production items are seen on various models and they are trying to sell a newer produced unit which has had running production changes made.

Scott Bonnar were definitely not the masters of self promotion like Coca Cola was in their hey day.

I'm all ears from here I guess.


Cheers,
BB

Hello All

Well BB that's very apt what you've said there. I must say I haven't looked much into these machines other than the general stuff.

Hopefully there is someone around that can settle this for us all!. I definitely can't wait to restore this one now its got a bit of history to it I guess.

Thanks everyone

Well as they say in the classics...I'll be buttered on both sides....Here is the proof that proves that the twin railer machines were produced as early as 1973....

I have been researching Scott Bonnar history, trying to make sense of the Serial numbers and Model numbers, since 2005...almost 10 years, and this is the first time that I have be shown absolute proof of a date earlier than December 1975 of a twin railer...albeit a 14" machine which seem to have a history all of their own....eg. they started life as a solid decker with a 2.5HP Briggs (Silver/Grey Colour) and then reverted to KirbyLauson/Tecumseh engines....My question is ...WHY?

As BB has suggested, were the 14" machines the very first twin railers, maybe as a prototype, for the 17" and 20" twin railers to come in December 1975???

My world has now gone a little topsy turvey because of this revelation,,,,but, I love been proven wrong, because this is how we gain knowledge and learn new things on this wonderful forum, OutdoorKing.

I can't believe that in 10 years...someone, until Gizmo came along with this exciting find;...could not have said..."You are out by 2 years" on your date of the introduction of the twin rail Scotty.....It beggars belief!

All I can say is, thankyou Gizmo for posting this info, you have proven the point that things are not all they seem to be...and I very much thank you for that....(as he shrinks off under the carpet to bed....)
Good Stuff ....lets have more debunking of "Known Facts"....Please, bring it on!

PS: Global Mod CyberJack...this thread is one for the History Forum!
All....

Well said I must say I will have to have a look at my other 45 which has as you mentioned, the 2.5hp Briggs, so I can fully understand the difference.

Its pretty awesome how something that someone virtually threw away has caused so much of a stir!

Make me love this old girl just a bit more!.

Thanks for the information too its been very insightful.