OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Reel Lawn Mowers, Atco & Villiers etc. Morrison Olympic 12V battery electric reel mowers.

Hi
This is my first post to this forum and I would like to tell you about two Morrison Olympic 12V battery electric reel mowers I have.







The green one appears somewhat newer than the gray one which has/had chrom plated handles and grease nipples on the cylinder bearings, the logos etc are of slightly different styles too.


They both 'go' and one is in much better condition than the other which is quite battered and has been painted gray, so I have "the green one" and the "gray one"!

The green one was received in original unmodified condition with just a sprinkling of rust, few dents in the catcher and very blunt blades. The gray one is really much the same but much rustier, daubed paint, bashed up and rusted catcher.

The machines are the same with a GE electric motor of about 200W, basic handle lever controls for the starting and stopping the motor and for engaging the roller drive. They are chain drive machines with what I presume are Ransomes cutter assemblies.

I started on the green one and dismantled the drive and removed the cutter assembly. All cutting surfaces were rusted and it had obviously been used from attempted scrub bashing rather than cutting any lawn. Offering the machine to our lawn it promptly bogged down and stalled.

With somewhat wishful thinking I mounted the cutter assembly on my bench vice and fitted an electric drill to the end of the cylinder then using valve grinding paste and turning the cylinder backwards I set to in an attempt improve matters. Somewhat to my surprise I arrived at apparently good cutting surfaces on the sole plate and the cylinder bars with just a couple of spots where cyclinder bars are bent and did not make contact. I should mention that prior to using the paste I had gradually tightened the clearance adjuster and removed a couple of high spots which were apparently due to slight dents in the cutter bars.

With a battery on and the electrical connections all tightened the mower made a fair attempt at cutting our lawn! I will be buying a new battery tomorrow!

For the gray one I am considering mounting a 1hp AC motor which should provide a lot more power than the 12V motor and most of our lawn can be reached by one extension cord.

Best regards
John

Hello John Hill

A warm welcome to these forums.

I was unaware that Morrison made battery-electric reel mowers.
I guess no surprise though, it was a post-war trend for reel mower
manufacturers to offer these. I wonder whether Morrison offered
mains-electric machines too?

Morrison is such an important name in vintage mower history in
New Zealand, but also here too. Morrison sold their machines
here under their own name, but also modified versions became the
Victa Imperials, and Turner-Morrisons.

The Olympics were Ransomes Minor MK 7 copies, featuring a pressed
and welded steel frame. This is why many components appear identical
to the Ransomes machines. https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=61628

This is great information, so thank you for sharing.

p.s."For the gray one I am considering mounting a 1hp AC motor which should provide a lot more power than the 12V motor"
As a caution to members, We cannot endorse modifications, without proper inspection by a qualified electrician.


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

You might enjoy:
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=68453
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=65009#Post65058
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=64892
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=68971

Thanks for the reply and most interesting information Jack.

I bought a basic lead acid battery today and it is on charge while the lawn is being watered so it will be tomorrow before I get to try the newly sharpened green mower on our lawn.

Regarding modifications to the gray mower, yes I agree repairs and modificationg concerning mains equipment requires proper observing of all safety issues and grounding the machine is not enough so always get advice from qualified electrical professionals.

I will try to get better pictures tomorrow.

John

Hi John Hill

That would be most welcome.
I would like a good photo set for the records. as these machines
have not been documented.

I take it that both of these machines are 14 inch, and that there
will be a one-piece steel rear roller (?).

Differences with the petrol version? I would say no primary clutch
(the on-ff switch does that). The left-hand lever is the on-ff switch.
I wonder whether it has a lever lock mechanism?

Apart from that they would be identical, I guess.

Thanks for helping the record.
-----------------------------------
Jack

Hi Jack
The machines are 400mm wide cut (more or less) and yes one-piece steel rear roller.

The right hand lever is a 'dead man' switch with a cable that pulls on an ancient Lucas contactor as used for the starter on some British vehicles of the early '50's. The lever must be held to keep the motor running.

Starting the motor starts the cylinder. The left hand lever has a latch and squeezing the handle and engaging the latch starts the roller.

There is a single simple toggle switch on the right hand handle that has a connection to the motor, operating the switch causes a slight change in motor speed. I imagine that on one setting there will be less torque and less current drain but I have not investigated that yet.

I think I will keep the green one original and maybe modify the gray one with the aforementioned AC motor.

Looking at differences between the two which are mostly cosmetic I would not be surprised if the gray one is ten years or so older. It has/had much more impressive decals and chromed handles whereas the green one has painted handles. There is always the possibility I will have a change of heart and 'restore' the gray one!
Neither of them are old enough to have the crossed 'MM' embossed on the sides of the catchers.

Somewhere in my stash of 'might come in handy one day' is another 12V motor which if I recall correctly is the same as these two. Obviously these mowers are not so rare in NZ or maybe as a consequence of the Christchurch earthquake of 2011 more of them are being 'discovered' during this the rebuilding phase.

Brgds
John

Hello John

That is, again, valuable information. Thank you!

I must ask: do you believe the gray one is totally original.
I feel 'gray' cannot be an original colour for any Morrison.

I would love, some day, to find a brochure showing these wonderful
machines.

Battery electrics from this era - 1960s-1970s - are under-appreciated.
The last laugh, though, is their proliferation in modern lawnmowers.

All very electric.
---------------------------
Jack

Hi Jack
The gray colour is not original and the original green shows in the chain case etc. The handles have also been painted black but were obviously chrome originally.

Photos of the green one getting ready for mowing our lawn for the first time!











...it mowed our small lawns with plenty of battery capacity in hand.

Hello John

These are great photos for the record.
I note that 400mm is roughly 16".

This is the original, quality design.
Morrison would cheapen the design, with a belt drive and
reduction gear in the landroll, later on. These all-chain
transmissions are very solid.

I see the reel has really responded to the backlapping.
Those double helix reels are nice to look. Masport have
abandoned the double helix on modern Olympic mowers.
Reason: the double helix is more expensive to manufacture.

Thanks for sharing your machines.
---------------------------------
Jack