OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions on Other Engines Rover Suzuki 2 stroke

The steel base on my Rover has been slowly corroding away. I have big corrosion cracks heading away from the handle anchor points. I'd love to replace the base as the engine is still strong see below for how strong! Any ideas on sourcing a replacement steel base?

I had my other Honda mower stolen recently along with some other equipment. I'm reviewing what to replace it all with at present. There will be some more posts asking for opinions on that.

I used the Honda for a big yard (3 hours normally with a Honda HRU196D and a single tank of fuel.) The insurance company has been mucking me around so I thought I would give the Rover a go even though the grass was pretty long. It took me 10 pulls to start (seems to be a common problem) although if used more often it is 3 or 4 pulls normally. It took me 5 hours to mow, but the extra time was mostly a 2nd pass to tidy up the cut. The Suzuki was on the governor most of the time so sucked through around 2.2 tanks of fuel, but did not miss a beat. I broke the pull cord and had to replace that half way through. The mower has done a lot of work. My only regret is that they were not making the alloy base version when I bought mine. The thing I liked about mowing with it was the light weight compared to the Honda. I normally feel a bit wasted after 3 hours mowing, but after 5 hours with this old rover, I was actually feeling better than I normally do.

Greg

Good evening grl.
It's getting a tad dark outside now, but I picked up a Rover XL 2-Stroke base a few months ago from the Bulky Goods clean-up, that had a Suzuki 2-stroke mounted on it, ready for a mate to changeover his base, but he hasn't delivered his old mower to me yet. My guess would be that any normal base, of any description, may suit the motor and may just be a case of mounting height for the blades. I'll have a look over the weekend and do a comparison of a Victa V40 Chonda, a Victa 2-stroke and a Briggs 4-stroke to confirm hole alignment, if nobody has gotten back to you in the meantime.

Greg, 3 hours with the Honda, sounds like you need a ride on

Hey NormK,
I have a ride on (had 2 until the better one got stolen as well - 2009 Greenfield fastcut 34/26HP) but I prefer to pickup the cut grass in the house yard. It (an older Greenfield) also needs a bit of TLC before too much use. I'll see how it goes over Easter, but I will be keeping an eye out for a replacement seat. That post by slashburn is very timely. The crack in mine tends to bite you!

Greg

Thanks Bushy260. I guess another brand base would be fine, as long as it picks up the grass well, although that does imply I need to find one with a workable catcher. I did note the toro mower that used this engine mentioned by someone in another thread when referencing the manual for the engine. That was news to me as I did not think many brands used this engine. Another thread showed a photo of three suzi's on utility style mower bases (no catchers.) I'm not sure if they orginally shipped with that engine or just fit.

Thank you for your quick reply Greg.
When, or do you have, a local Bulky Goods collection due? These are good times to pick up frames, motors and catchers? Maybe a trip to your local tip/recycling centre may also prove worthwhile.
Daryl. :-)

Greg, here is a catcher for you, no idea where it is but it is in QLD

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Greenfield-Ride-on-Mower-Catcher-/322048791707?hash=item4afb9a949b:g:1zIAAOSwZ8ZW8dLn

I've got a bunch of Rover bases here, two pressed steel, three alloys. Have friends from Redcliffe coming up for Easter and could maybe get them to take one down to Brisbane for you if you can let me know which style of base you currently have and I'll see if any of mine is a match.

The base is pressed steel. I'm not sure how to describe it. I just dug out the original brochure and it says 18inch steel high arch base. I understand you need all new wheels etc if you change to alloy.

If you can upload a picture I'll see what I have that matches. All three pressed steels are corrosion free. One of the alloys is actually a Suzuki Rover two stroke. The wheels I think are the same as other Rovers as I stole one off it to repair another machine but it has the axles etc still there so wouldn't be hard to fit one of your front wheels I expect.

From the brochure. I am remote from mower at present.

Here are some shots of the mower.

Yes, I have one of those.


I can get it to Redcliffe for you probably some time after the school holidays. As you can see, corrosion free, still even has most of its underneath paint and only some "kerb" scratches along the edges between the wheels. Comes complete with the wheels and height adjuster delivered for $20. Without the wheels etc, $30 :-) If you are interested PM me your phone number and when he gets back to Redcliffe my mate will ring you and arrange a time for you to pickup.

That looks pretty good. What about the alloy base? I guess a catcher might be a problem with that option.

Yes, the alloy base is a completely different set up and your catcher wouldn't fit. The handles on the alloy mount to the side of the rear chute and the base is quite flat except for the final upsweep. Regarding one of your earlier comments, yes Rover did make a 2 Stroke utility, flat circular base like a Victa and used the Suzuki engine. I got the remains of one from the dump and fixed it up with an old B&S and flogged it at a local auction.

I got working on one of these today, interesting machine, I had to do a carby strip and clean and as usual the governor springs had been attacked b y some previous owner. Quite a good machine in good condition except for the front lower edge of the base has been broken off due to abuse which is a surprise because of the condition of the rest of it. I have it starting fairly easily now, it had no hope of running when I got it, needle was stuck solid in the seat, which is still a bit of a problem because now it won't shut off and the motor is surging on the governor, not sure if this is related to the needle not shutting properly. All in all as stated earlier a good machine

Does anybody have an idea where I might find a needle and seat for one of these Suzuki motors?

Click HERE for the needle valve and seat.

Thanks Bruce, but I'm afraid the cost of that needle and seat is about 5 times as much as the mower is worth, looks like another one for the scrap bin, pity because it is a good mower apart from that

I've got one of those mowers laying in the pile Norm. I'll check the needle and seat when I get a chance so don't bin it yet.