OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Cylinder New Restorer Continued

No, talk of powder blue safari suits and Neil Diamond, haven't scared me away, Christmas is now over and time to get back into it.
I have adjusted the blades until just touching the bed knife, but it seems the bed knife is bent in the centre, I did a cut on the lawn and gave it a mow-hawk, short each end and long in the middle. I put a straight edge in it and yes it's bent, but the bar it screws onto seems ok. I would like to get this unit going as an operative restore, any information as to where I could get a new blade and reel or have them ground would be appreciated. Photos attached

Hello Cockie,

I would take the blade off and using a bar and hammer, try to straighten the bent blade.......... might save a few $.
Lay it on a glass surface to check if it is straight......

cheers
speedy

Hi Cockie,

This is a bit more indepth than just attempting to straighten the bed knife, well that's if you want it to cut correctly.

Firstly I'd say that the blade is not far from the end of its serviceable life. I would remove the sole plate with the bed knife attached and also take out the reel at the same time.

Forward both to a reputable saw blade sharpening shop (not sure what's in Townsville) and they will remove the blade rather quickly and make up a new one. Those countersunk screws can be rather troublesome to remove at times. Now as far as the bending is concerned, it may well be the sole plate that's got a slight curve in it, this is quite common in many Scotty's. In this case the blade will have to be shimmed out on both ends to ensure a straight blade fitment. At the same time the blade and reel will be re-ground and all you'll have to do is re-install correctly with no more to do. The grinding of the new blade is done to compensate for any minor sole plate deflection that needs to be corrected so as to mate perfectly with the reel blades as they pass each other.

If you are going to do a full restoration then I would thoroughly recommend that a full cleaning back to bare steel including rust removal of the reel and repaint it prior to forwarding it on for grinding and as for the sole plate is concerned I would just strip it back to bare metal and paint it upon its return to you. This way you can mask up the newly fitted bed knife and only paint to sole plate alone.


Cheers,
BB.

Thanks for the information, Speedy and BB. I used the back of a hand saw to determine the blade was bent, but the plate behind looked ok, so I will do a strip down as soon as the temperature becomes a bit reasonable, (the Scotty, not me!!)! I do want to fully restore the old girl, as it's good to see old equipment in working order, and original condition. I never thought about saw sharpeners, I'll have a look at how does it in Townsville, I remember Norm Hyatt used to be the place to go, looking at their web site they have a saw doctor, so I will give them a call tomorrow.

Hi Cockie,

Well I guess your work obligation at the Neil Diamond concert has been cancelled. This is due to the onset of Neil's Parkinsons condition that was officially announced this morning.

Sad day as we are rapidly losing all our icons we grew up with one by one.

Cheers,
BB.

Just a tad off topic from Scott Bonnar's, but we'll back back on track soon.



So,

Here's a sample of just some of Neil's great work.

Since you're not going to be there Cockie, you have to listen to "Holly Holy" at the 44.44 minute mark of this set and then compare it to the version on "Hot August Night", then take the age difference into account and say has this guy lost it or not over the years ?




and what will probably be his very last ever public performance at the 2018 New Years Eve Celebration at Time Square, take note of his right hand holding the microphone at the 2.46 minute mark onwards and you'll clearly see his condition has taken a strangle hold over him, thus why his doctors have advised him to no longer perform and the inevitable cancellation of the Australian Leg of the 2017 ~18 World Tour.




So sad to see how ones life can be so cruelly cut short, but one thing to remember, ill health does not discriminate between rich nor poor.


Stay Healthy,
BB.

Yes he really had the shakes at the NY concert, I was first introduced to his music by my brother bringing back a quality reel to reel tape deck and stereo set up from his tour of Vietnam in 1970. I bought the 2008 Hot August Night, live at Madison Square Gardens 2008, but it's not as good as the original.

On my restoration, I have been collecting bits an pieces and intend to strip it down next week and get the reel sharpened. Norm Hyatt's Locksmiths in Townsville still sharpen a few reels, I rang and spoke with the now owner, Trevor, and after much discussion of what we have been doing over the past 25 years, (as we worked together at Yabulu Nickel Refinery) he confirmed they could do the job and to bring the bottom blade, so I will take the original and the new blade. I just have to find some hammer tune olive paint, will see if the Big Green Shed can order me Rust Olium hammer tone olive, as they sell a couple of other colours in hammer tone.

Off to our restorers meeting tonight, to have a chat with more ex work mates.

Hi Cockie,

There certainly is a difference between the 1972 Greek Theater issue and HAN NYC edition done in 2008. The latter being much more of a stage show by a consummate showman, while 1972 is more of an artistic show. Honestly if you heard any tapes of the 10 of 1972 shows prior to the massive editing that was done you may well revise your thinking. The 1972 original was a mastery done at the editing desk with all the talk, banter and dead air deleted so it comes across as a power packed concert, while the 2008 show had hardly any editing apart from camera work as it was a tightly computer controlled production to start with as they all have been for many years now. His later shows all have about a 32 song setlist included while the early ones had around 15 to18 roughly.

Anyway, the big green shed you refer to must be Bunnings.

Hammertone paint is still rather widely used and can be obtained from many outlets.


Cheers,
BB.

Find a stockist for protec, they made me up some the other day. $44 for 4 litres. I didnt go with the olive green as it appeared too light from comparing them. They had a "victa green" which was spot on mixed form a previous order. Will post the results in the coming weeks

Hi Guys,

I'll have to say that the Victa VC-160 green is nearly identical to the Apple Green used by Scott Bonnar in the 1977 onwards machines til close of business here in Thebarton early 1983.

I must say that at $44 for 4 litres is extremely cheap as you can pay over $100 normally for enamel type paints.

I will be very eagerly awaiting the results on your machine Millzy.

Cheers,
BB.

I remember in 1992 when Neil Diamond was in Australia, and he was on television meeting fans one night and this rather matronly woman was fawning over him and getting her picture taken with him and the autograph and my uncle said "he's hating that!". I could sense that myself. The cringe factor was high. I can't get that moment our of my mind lol.

Sad thing is I know who that woman is and she thinks that she owned him.

Don't get me started of so call fans like that.