Hi all. Here's my Supaswift bitzer, made from two stripped mowers and a box of spare parts found at my local dump. Against the odds, it works; at the time I put it together I didn't know exactly what the original machine looked like! Judging from the pictures posted in the history section, it's basically a late model Galaxy GT, but with the early model fuel tank. I think if possible, I'll turn the engine 180 degrees and flip the handlebar, because it feels a bit front heavy as it is.
Hi suebutcher, I like me some bitzer action on here and it's a two stroke! I'm not sure the mounting holes will let you flip it's orientation, plus you may have difficulty locating the snorkel properly onto the handlebars. The motor does seem to sit a bit forward, but that is just how they are I think. I have a similar SS I found with the commonly fitted Briggs vertical pull motor. Trouble is no catcher, but an old Rover one stays on, albeit with gaps either side where it attaches. I don't think those handles would look right flipped over, but whatever works for you.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
There's several holes in the orange mounting disc, so rotation looks possible, but then there's the question of clearance at the back. The 1971 Galaxy GT had the motor this way, and with the handlebar pointing up too. There was a crack in the rear deck near the handlebar mount that I've had welded, and I feel that taking the weight off the front will reduce strain on the repair.
I used to have a purple plastic SS catcher, but it cracked up of course.
Hello suebutcher and Mowerfreak That's a nice conversion there.
Generally, engine makers enable changing engine orientation North/South or East/West. In fact, when mower makers introduced their own high-arch designs in the 1970s, many makers had to turn the engine around so it would fit the higher and wider chute dimensions, and permit better access to the spark plug.
The practice was also done for aesthetic reasons.
In fact, Super-Swift did this with the Villiers 2-stroke, the Kirby 2-stroke and with Briggs 4-strokes.
I think my mower must have originally looked like the Galaxy in the right hand picture, with the long squared-off cowl and plastic fuel tank. That has the same deck as mine. The purple hammer-tone mower looks the same at the front but has a higher rear deck. (I love that colour, but I'd hate to use it and get it dirty!)
As I thought, the Villiers mounting plate that came with my Galaxy allows the engine to be rotated 180 degrees, and the moderate arch of the base gives plenty of clearance for a rear-facing cylinder. It's fiddly getting the plug in and out now, but the balance of the mower is much better with most of the weight over the rear wheels. I'll post a couple of pics when I've finished the conversion and clean up.
