OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Scott Bonnar 14 - My First Reel Mower

how much should i pay for this? any advice will be taken with a grain of salt

As little as possible, seriously though. It looks like it's been sitting for a bit, does it run, can you remove the chain case and check the chains and sprockets are ok ? The reel and bed knife will probably need a grind and that can be around $100. So have a good look at it before you offer some cash.

the lady wants 50 dollars. it sounds a bit too much for my hammer wielding skills if i got it would anyone on this site like it?

Hello Sean

It is easily worth 50 bucks.
This is the last model 45 14" made, and they are not common.

Paul C says it seems to have been sitting a long time, meaning
it has had less work. It has not been stored well, though.

If the catcher is okay, the price would be more than reasonable
for a quality reel mower.

p.s. Sean, it's best you don't refer to these as 'bowling green mowers'
The best descriptor is 'reel mower'. 'Cylinder mower' is okay.
'Drum mower' is sort of okay too.

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

thanks for the reply paul and jack. I am in the process of negotiating with the cfo and will compile a proposal for her. will let you know how i get on. would really like a reel mower.
Sean

purchased for an undisclosed amount




looked at oil level there was new oil filled halfway up the thread for the plug. is this too much, oil seems new.
i have no experience with these beasts and really dont want to kill it so any advice on what to not do and do would be awesome.
the screws holding the chain case are stuck so i cant get a pic
thanks
Sean

Hello Sean

It's clear that the mower has not been stored very well,
but that is a small problem.

The starting place is to read the manual to get acquainted
with the terminology. Download is HERE.

The second thing I would like to see is:-
- The model should be the uncommon 450511.
Would it be possible to get a close-up of the plate?
- the engine model type code. Probably 80102 0233-01 xxxxxx
Could you confirm the full set of numbers please.

The third thing will be good photos of the chaincase
and underneath - to see the bottom blade.

Hope this helps.
---------------------------
Jack

8010
2 0233-01 75081503



having trouble getting one of the screws holding the chain cover off
hope the pics are what you wanted Jack
Sean

Hello Sean

They're great mate.

They show that poor storage has resulted in surface rust,
but the machine is sound, serviceable, and well-worth spending
a bit of money on. It appears to have done only moderate work and
then has been put into storage for an extended period.

Have a look at this post by Mod BB:-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=70143

As you can see, yours is less common, and one of the last 14" machines made.
Yours as a lower mower number, meaning it's slightly older.

The last repairer has committed a big No-No with the bottom blade.
It has been re-drilled and reversed to save purchasing a new blade.
Re-reversible bottom blades were used on a few reel mowers but not this one.
It was never good practice - nor a good idea. You will need to do your homework
in finding a competent reel sharpener. Purchase the new blade and c/s screws
yourself for the job (but let the repairer fit it).

I'm sure Mod BB will come in on this one once he has the chaincase pictures.

Hope this helps.
--------------------------
Jack

Hi Seanw, Paulc and Mod CJ,

Well how did this one escape me ? probably because it's in the collectors corner section that I missed it.

CyberJack has pretty much filled you in on the rarity of this machine and if it had've been in Adelaide I would've bought it off you straight up as I'm now looking for one of these last beauties to fully restore. Basically I have a reel soft spot for the 14 inch machines over the larger ones, probably because I still use my very first machine I've ever owned as my daily driver and that is a series one 14 inch solid deck model 45 equipped with the original silver 2 HP Briggs & Stratton.

Just to assure you that your engine is original, it still sports what is left of the original identification sticker on the front face of the engine block which is identical the the ones used on the very first 14 inch Model 45's like mine.

Jack is spot on regarding the bed knife being a big No No, so that's a priority to revert it back to how it should be and that is a whole new blade.

I guess I have to ask the question Sean, what are your intentions with this example and once I know that then I can start you on a plan (sound like a telco don't I) of attack.

Can you please remove the chain case and give us some good close ups of the sprockets, especially the cutter and PTO transfer shaft unit at the top.

For now ????

Cheers,
BB

thanks for all the input fellas. as to what i want to do with this mower. i would like to use it to mow my front lawn. and slowly restore with correct paint etc.
only just managed to get the chain case cover off, needed help.
hope these are the pics you are looking for





i reely like this machine.
thanks

Hi seanw,

Well I hope that you are sitting really comfortably or better still are laying down totally relaxed, as sadly I'm in the unenviable position of having to be the bearer of bad news for your lovely little Scotty.

After having a look at you photos, which I was really impressed with, I found a major discrepancy which is not an easy fix, rather it's an easy one in the sense of just R&R, but it's going to be painful (ouch) on the hip pocket.

To cut to the chase you must replace your reel, why you ask, well sadly some unscrupulous mower repair shop has given the machine to the apprentice to reassemble after doing that unorthodox bottom blade reversal and they probably cross threaded the nut on the end of the reel shaft. So to get themselves out of trouble they ground off butchered thread and tack welded the shaft directly to the cutter sprocket.

How flamin' stupid and irresponsible can one be !!!!!

This was probably done because they knew the owner would never ever remove the chain case (that's why they had the mower in the first instance) and discover their medical malpractice. To make matters worse the welds have cracked and the only thing that's holding it all together is the woodruf key and the raised height of the welds on the shaft restricting lateral movement of the sprocket.

The only thing that will fix this is by carefully grinding back the welds on the shaft so that the sprocket can be removed and the weld dags on the face can be filed back to a flat and serviceable condition. Alternatively if you are good with a cutting wheel on a grinder you could simply cut the shaft off and finely grind it back to the sprocket face and then the sprocket should slide off.

Now your major issue here is to obtain a replacement 14 inch reel, which can be obtained second hand out of a defunct electric 45 as they are monetarily worthless and can be picked up for around $60 or less at best which is far less than the cost of a new reel, that's for sure and no one is going to give you a reel out of a petrol powered machine.

Apart from that the rest of the machine is quite salvageable and would restore up very nicely, especially with it being one of the very last SB Model 45 14 inch examples.

Now if you don't want to proceed with the repairs I can totally understand, but remember there's a guy in South Australia that would really like to tackle your little beauty and bring it back to it's former glory, but if you are prepared to go the distance I'm here to help you through the bad times so to speak.

Cheers,
BB

thanks BB,
i was sitting. still taking it in.
i have no spark and one of the coil pack bolts refuses to budge( have nearly wreaked it)coil pack was sitting on the flywheel adjusted one. dont want to make a mess of the other bolt, mini alligator jaw multigrips, perchance?
BTW i did read in the news, that that fella from south aus you mentioned that is good with this type of mower went mad and got committed.
Reel stuff

i have a plan.well 2


clean up all the tacks with a grinder, make it all nice and shiny then mig weld the shaft to the sprocket? or clean up tacks hammer on nut then mig weld it to the shaft so at least it will look sort of like it is supposed to
i can not see how it can not work
yes i am cheap
any input will probably stop me from killing this mower
thanks
sean

Deeej mate if you could please explain the faults in my thinking??????? and yes for bb going out of his way to help me. why does my bottom hurt when somebody wants a machine i have.
BYE

Hello Sean,

Mate, ODK can not endorse any repair that would not be carried out
by any reputable repairer or service agent, according to established
engineering principles.

This machine has been butchered - the reversed bottom blade and the
welded sprocket to reel. We cannot endorse its repair in like fashion.

The initial assessment was that the reel would need straightening and
re-grinding, and a new (ground) bottom blade. Add to that new reel
bearings. Removal of the chaincase cover revealed a butchered reel.
The chains may be stretched and the chain tensioner needs replacing.
The washers on the set screws are in the wrong place and the LH
set adjusting lock-bolt looks totally destroyed.

Welding is not an option here. The reel will need to be replaced.
An alternative option may be the drilling and tapping of the
reel shaft to accommodate a bolt and washer for the purpose of
securing the sprocket to the reel. The better option will be a
replacement second-hand reel.

I have said to you that this machine is well worth spending money
on. It appears to have had only moderate use but has been poorly
maintained, serviced, and stored. Mod BB has clearly spelled-out
the issues to be tackled.

Hope this helps.
------------------------
Jack

I have a 14" wreck here, I would part with the reel and bedknife/sole plate for the cost of postage and a couple of beers but probably wouldnt have time to pull them out of the machine until my xmas break. the reel is reasonable but needs sharpening as does the bedknife.

Hi Joe,

Well there's an offer too good to refuse for seanw.

This doesn't come up very often. If you don't mind me asking what actual model 14 inch was it from, petrol or electric ?

Cheers,
BB

Petrol, I originally bought it and removed the honda G100 engine that had been fitted to it at some part of its life. opening the chain case found me a good complete set of sprockets and chains for another project at the moment, whats left is just used to hold my shed door shut because im too lazy to bolt a latch onto the door.

A solid deck petrol I should add.