I recently purchased a collection of "new old stock" Southern Cross mower parts. When sorting out the parts, I was very surprised to come across some that were labelled with numbers that could not be found in the parts lists in the manuals. In a few cases when a part was a replacement, Southern Cross had simply added "B" or "C" or "D" to the part number. In other cases they came up with a whole new number. For instance, I soon discovered when Southern Cross changed to a more modern style of piston rings, they used an entirely new sequence of numbers.
I was very surprised to come across several previously unknown parts for the KX-C mowers. Well I am sure they were once known by many people, but as the years and decades have gone by, the information has been lost.
First I came across these parts: a curved part with two holes for fasteners, and a pair of angular parts. All of these parts had been painted with identical hammertone paint, suggesting they had been manufactured around the same time. The pair of angled pieces had an original Southern Cross label on them, still tied with jute string. They had been in storage like this since at least 1978 and probably long before that date. The part number was KX-C61. This part was not on my parts list in the KX-C manual, suggesting it had been produced later for some unknown purpose. The other part had me completely baffled and I just presumed it was a miscellaneous pump cowl or baffle that had been mis-placed. I came across a label in the bottom of the box KX-C59, but as it was not attached to anything I was not 100% sure if it came off this part.
Some days later I came across another strange part that was clearly stamped KX-C60. I had first thought it must be a part off a broken grass catcher, but on comparing it with a KX-D grass catcher I soon found it did not match. This was something very different. Once again, the part number was not listed in the manual.
I noticed that the numbers were sequential, suggesting they may be all related somehow. I soon figured out that KX-C61 fitted perfectly on to KX-C60, as you can see in my attached pic. I then tried it on a KX-C mower base. It was a perfect fit and I soon realized its purpose. It is an adapter plate which allowed the KX-C operator to use the two main KX-D accessories, namely the windrower and the grass catcher.
I then decided to try the curved plate in various positions and on turning over my KXC base I noticed two crude circle shapes etched into the casting on a flat part at the rear end of the base. I tried the curved plate and found the holes were a perfect match. It then occurred to me that unlike the KX-D, the KX-C did not have a rear guard of any kind, which made it potentially dangerous as stones and sticks could fly back and hit the operator on the feet and ankles, especially if mowing at some height. So it seems this part was an after-market rear guard. The fact that it fits so well makes me feel certain that this was its purpose. It does not make a perfect fit, as it is slightly more rounded than the rear of the mower, but at least it would have provided some protection against sticks and stones. I feel certain this part must have been KX-C59, which was the number on the label that had fallen to the bottom of the box.
I also came across another part labelled EC-B166D (not pictured here) which cannot be found in the manual. It is a set screw, the same diameter and thread as the starter cup screw, but with a longer shaft and longer head. The set screw looked like it may have been chrome-plated originally. I now believe I know what this part was designed for. It would function perfectly as a fastener for a manual rope pulley starter. My guess is that as time went by the "Easy Start" starters had long become obsolete and even the Kirby Impulse starters were getting hard to come by. So the service agents decided to just put rope pulley starters on any mowers that had come in for servicing with broken impulse starters. At least the set screw fits perfectly on such an arrangement, so it makes sense that this is what the part was intended to do.
I recently purchased a collection of "new old stock" Southern Cross mower parts
G'day vint-mow This is a most amazing story you tell here vint_mow.
I feel you have advanced SC history, not by fraction, but by significant new information. Amazing! It will take some time to ingest your information in this thread.
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Well I am sure they were once known by many people, but as the years and decades have gone by, the information has been lost.
I can't help but feel that this is an historical truth. I thank you for giving new life to Southern Cross!
I must ask ... Would you like to put on record any info on your finding of NOS SC stock? I can't believe your commitment to this great Australian lawnmower.
Southern Cross mowers are very much a passion of mine, particularly the 4-stroke models.
I purchased the collection from a local bloke who had been collecting Southern Cross parts for most of his life. A quantity of the parts had already been sold before I purchased them. For the most part everything was still labelled or in the original Southern Cross parts envelopes. Of course the years have taken their toll and some parts have gone a bit rusty or tarnished, some of the labels have torn or faded, and the jute string had rotted off. Silverfish had left their mark too in places, etc. But for the most part everything is still in good condition and the labels readable.
One thing I meant to add in my first post is I realized the two adapter parts had to fit together because the adapter (KX-C60) still had the old chute (KX-C61) attached. But it did not look much like the new parts until I took a closer look. The original chute part had been used so much that it was broken, rusted and buckled. Nevertheless it was easy to tell it was the same part.
I cannot be 100% sure about the rear guard, but it definitely would form a good fit at that location on the KXC base, and this seems very likely given that it was in with a whole box of Southern Cross mower parts. It is just a pity the part number had not still been attached to it when I found it.
