OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Cylinder Progress Report on Supercut Electric

Being a lovely day when I should have been doing other things, I am somewhat excited to report that my memory returned enough to allow me to recall where most of the parts to this thing belong.

Although a good way off being finished, the photos below show today's effort.

New engine cover yet to be painted so that I can do justice to Grant's excellent stickers.

Wiring not yet started as I am having trouble locating fabric covered wire of similar heavy duty as the original (the old car wire is simply too light gauge).










Cheers

John A

Hello John nice work there. Keep us posted.

Cheers Shaun

Hello John & Shaun
This is one many folks are following.
I hope it energises a new interest in vintage electric lawnmowers.
So much of these have been lost.

Thanks for the update.
-----------------------------
Jack

Check op shops and antique stores for old electrical appliances as many of them used the cotton covered wire although much of it is probably badly deteriorated by now. I think you can get a fibreglass sheath wire that looks similar but don't know of any supplier. The cotton covered wire was very dangerous stuff and the cause of many a fire. There is still a lot of it hiding in peoples post war homes where it was used inside metal conduit just waiting for a bump to short out and burn their house down.
As an aside, have you had the start capacitor checked out on the motor? It may be past its use by date and need replacing before you power it up again. Be terrible to see all that hard work go up in smoke.

If there's one area that I'd forgive some one from deviating away from original, that's in the electrical area where safety has come a long way since the days of cloth bound wire. You don't see it anyway so what's the reason with staying with it ?

Your transfers aren't original so why stay with an inferior product and risk your own well being.

Cheers,
BB.

G'day folks,

I'm 100% with BB here, on using original cable for the electrical side.

There are repro fabric covered leccy cable/flex options, with modern PVC insulation underneath, in two and three core.

Produced for lamp restorers and the like; here are some suppliers - http://www.ebay.com.au/bhp/cloth-electrical-cord

Thanks for your interest in this guys. Aussietrev, I had a electrical friend look at the mower when it first arrived in my yard and he gave it the all clear at that stage, but since the recon exercise, no-one has looked at it.

You're quite correct BB, nothing is original once the first bolt & nut are replaced and when I think about it, the wiring runs down the handle, through conduit under the motor and then it's attached under the engine cover, so it can't be seen anyway.

I've had it apart and together 4 times this weekend because of silly little things so I intend to give it a wide berth this coming week.

Thanks for your tip Gadge. I don't know much about gauges etc, but the cloth covered wire that came out of this old girl is very much like choke wire, its that heavy. I've had to rebuild the 3 pin plug connector as the Bakerlite was broken away in places, so I will get my mate to check her out electrically prior to any tests.

Cheers

John A