OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Another Atco 14" mower.

Hi my name is Shane and this is my first post. I have recently bought my first Atco reel mower. I'm not sure whether I will fully restore or keep as a running survivor. I have restored an old car to an original standard before but like the original survivor cars as well, so may just keep it running.
I believe it has a Villiers Midget Mk1 79cc? engine and has a 14" cutter. Anyone wish to try and date it (does not have the brass tag in place). I have cleaned the fuel system and the engine runs well. When I engage the clutch, the mower drives but the cutter only spins sometimes.


Found that the cutter drive pawls, springs and pins are all missing
Are these parts available from anywhere in Australia, maybe the UK?
Any help would be much appreciated. I have attached photos below of the cutter sprocket.



Kind regards,
Shane

Hi Shane,Welcome to the forum.I am fixing up a 14"atco at the moment.Very similar to yours but has a submarine shaped exhaust,it is dated 1952.Your broken part is currently available on UK ebay.Item 252402482703.You could make an offer or use the picture to repair your's.I like the old two strokes but can be a bit smokey.Good luck with the repair.

Hi sb30inch,
Thanks for the welcome and reply. I'm actually watching that ebay listing, saw it last week, but it says doesn't post international, I have saved a photo for reference. I will ask the question. I have seen my muffler called a pepper can type.

Shane.

Hello Shane and sb30inch

This machine is post-war and as sb30inch infers, it probably dates
from about 1950 to 1954 (best guess).

We have a record of a partially restored one here:
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/67733/

I believe the better designation for the engine is an Atco-Villiers,
given that the engine cooling fins seem unique to the Atco range.
[Atco & Villiers had a 'special' relationship from the earliest days]

Atco did use those 'pepper-pot' exhausts, but I am unsure whether it
is original to your particular mower.

Hi Shane, sb30inch and CyberJack,

The changeover year for the exhaust shapes on the post-war Atco lightweights appears to be 1951/52. There are three exhausts that were used around this time the first is the torpedo shape, the next is a version of the "pepper pot" that faces forward (rather than to the side) and the last is the one that faces to the side (as shown in Shane's photo). Certainly by the 1952/53 season, the side facing exhaust was the norm. Consequently, it is likely that the exhaust is original (or close enough to it).

As a collector of Atco mowers, I have found that many people who are selling parts overseas are more than happy to sell them to Australians, provided that the prospective purchaser is prepared to pay the postage etc. I have had a number of cases where an item was listed as not being able to be sent to Australia but a quick email to the seller has resulted in a very friendly response and the item being revised so that it can be sold to an overseas buyer. So I would suggest it always pay to ask - the worst thing that can happen is that the seller may say that they are not prepared to post the item overseas. If you have no luck try The Mower Centre, Hailsham, East Sussex as they specialise in old mower parts.

Cheers,

Sir Chook

Hi Sir_Chook, sb30inch and CyberJack

Thanks for all your replies and information.
This afternoon I picked up another mower, it is in pieces, but told it is complete and motor not seized. This one has the torpedo type muffler. The clutch arrangement is the same as my original (small type), but most importantly has the parts I was looking for.

I did ask the question of the guy from England and he said he would get me a quote, no need now.

Looks like I may fully restore one now and have a working original as well.

Cheers,
Shane

Hi,

I just found the tag from the mower I bought today.


Shane

Hello Shane, SB30 and Sir Chook

It's nice when you get a win like that.
Great photo of the pawl and spring arrangement on the sprocket.
Thanks to Sir Chook for the specialist information.

Please keep us informed as to progress made.

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

That's a good outcome, if you're in Brisbane I can give you the details of an excellent reel sharpener.