Greetings, I have just acquired my first Reel Mower, being a SB Supercut, with a 2stroke Villiers. I am extremely knew to Reel Mowers, but it all looks simple enough.
First off, can someone point me in the direction as to what exact model i have, and what size it is? I am unsure as to how you measure them? the overall width of the machine is around 500mm.
A big warm welcome to the ODK Forums. There's lots to learn here as you'll probably notice.
You have one of the earlier Model 17 Supercut's there with the Villiers 2 stroke power plant on it. Yes this is original.
I think you'll find it to be an 18 inch model and not the 20 but the only way of finding out for certain is to measure directly across the width of the reel.
It was originally fitted with the optional toolbox but some one has removed it and left the mounts on the RHS of the Handlebar. I feel you may not have a Crank Handle which is used to start it instead of a Rope pull start, but I note that yours has the rope pulley on the end of the crank of the engine so as to start it that way as there are no handle retainers on the side of the mower for storage of the crank handle when not in use.
BTW did you get the catcher with it ?
At the time when these were built you couldn't buy a better machine, sadly the only major draw back with them is their weight which makes them hard to use a general domestic mower, that's where the Model 45 really came into a place of its own.
What are your intentions with this wonderful example ?
Also thank you for the range of photos.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Hi everyone, thanks for the reply. I do have the crank handle, but unfortunately don't have a catcher. I have 300 square metres of lawn I would like to mow with this if I can get it running. The Villiers has compression and spark, but will not start. If I can get it running, maybe a simple tidy up will be sufficient.
Well there's one of the Golden 3 you haven't mentioned that you've got and that's fuel.
If you've got the other two, Compression and Ignition that's a good thing as it's the ignition part that eventually dies, thus then most mowers get put out to pasture.
A good clean out of the carburetor is essential with 2 strokes as they gum up severely if not used regularly.
I feel you may have answered your own question in the above post.
While I'm writing, may I ask how much you paid for this Model 17 ?
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Apologies for the influx of questions, if there is somewhere else I am meant to me asking them, please advise. I have a lot to learn about these machines!
Well Aiden's Supercut finally spluttered back into life today after what has probably been at least a 20 year hiatus if not much more. Not bad for what's nearly a 70 year old machine.
It had spark, it had fuel and and it had compression, but sadly it was suffering from a bad dose of the flu, in other words it was all choked up in the exhaust and couldn't breath.
This was probably what put the machine into its solitary confinement as it would've suddenly stopped and no effort was put into diagnosing what the issue was. Sadly 2 strokes do suffer from this quite a lot, especially over oil fueled machines. It's somewhat like the following scene from Beverly Hills Cop 1
That 1983/4 "Mercury Marquis" had lots of similarities to Aiden's Supercut.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
That bouncy suspension. The "thupercut" would handle corners better than that boat. Good job identifying that car. I happen to like 1980s American domestic cars. I thought it was a Chrysler or Dodge. Upon closer inspection, it looks too be a derivative of the Fox body Ford Fairmont.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
You are correct it is based on the Ford (Fox) Platform.
and Aiden, I already gave it it's first outing yesterday up and down the concrete to test out all its bodily functions, so to speak. It passed with flying colours.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
I was walking through one of the quadrangles in the University of NSW early yesterday morning when I saw a young fellow using a Toro ride on with two sets of reel blades side by side. Watching the green masses of finely cut clippings swirling around the blades and the resulting extra flat plain of lawn left behind made me understand how you could get the bug. It was a pleasure to watch.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I'm pretty sure the answer to your question is no as two stroke emissions would quickly choke the muffler up as there would be much more restriction for exhaust with oil to pass through. Most of these early exhaust boxes both two and four stroke were merely a chamber inside another chamber thus stopping the sonic boom passing out through the exit point.
I must admit that the boom that came out of it after opening the muffler was rather loud wasn't it ?
One other thing to remember, that it wasn't just the muffler that was the issue but also the carby wasn't fully free flowing. After completely disassembling it and forcing some throttle body cleaner through it and cleaning out the old gummed up two stroke oil made it function as it should as one section was blocked.
Anyway you're well on your way to having the machine flying once more.
New Bearings and a regrind of the bed knife and cylinder reel will have it in top shape as those Model 17's are bullet proof in the drive train.
Once you get those few things done you can decide on what your desired end result is to be.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
I'm pretty sure the answer to your question is no as two stroke emissions would quickly choke the muffler up as there would be much more restriction for exhaust with oil to pass through. Most of these early exhaust boxes both two and four stroke were merely a chamber inside another chamber thus stopping the sonic boom passing out through the exit point.
I must admit that the boom that came out of it after opening the muffler was rather loud wasn't it ?
One other thing to remember, that it wasn't just the muffler that was the issue but also the carby wasn't fully free flowing. After completely disassembling it and forcing some throttle body cleaner through it and cleaning out the old gummed up two stroke oil made it function as it should as one section was blocked.
Anyway you're well on your way to having the machine flying once more.
New Bearings and a regrind of the bed knife and cylinder reel will have it in top shape as those Model 17's are bullet proof in the drive train.
Once you get those few things done you can decide on what your desired end result is to be.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
I just thought about your idea of quietening the exhaust down even more and that is in the larger chamber of the exhaust box you could put a few of those stainless steel scourers that are made up of what looks like lathe swarf, not to be confused with steel wool. the only thing is that you would have to open the exhaust box up regularly and wash the stainless wool sections out in petrol etc. and re-install.
You wouldn't want to pack it too full otherwise you'll create back pressure to the engine which will work against you and reduce the power output from the engine. Something you really don't want.
Everything in moderation I always say.
BTW I've posted a photo of the type of scourer that I'm referring to. It would have to be teased out rather well so that it's not restrictive to air flow
Cheers, BB.
Last edited by Bonnar_Bloke; 18/01/1811:29 AM.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Hi BB. Yes the stainless steel scourer was the first thing i thought of. Having the ability to remove muffler end cap and soak the scourer to remove build up occasionally is a good idea. I will play around with how much i can stuff into the muffler. I will keep you posted!
Today i welded on a new stud which hold's the end cap onto the Muffler, assembled the muffler with some scourers inside to try quiet it up & gave the SC a run. Everything seems to be in working order! As this is my first Cylinder Mower, it will take me awhile to get use to the fast pace the machine movies.
