The perfect fit BB. They are worlds apart from the old original units.
Another thing I hated about the old power plants was being covered in spent unleaded after mowing. In case you haven't - make sure you fit the supplied exhaust deflector plate. I aim mine @ 9 o'clock, away from me and the mower chassis
Yes it's the first thing I always address when fitting an alternate engine, which way do I want the exhaust going, firstly not in my face and secondly the grass doesn't want that either, so as you suggested it's always fitted to direct at 9.00 o'clock. Also this way the handlebar shield doesn't cop it all either as you just see so many Scotty's with a lower black section of that panel work.
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 feel a little uneasy seeing that "look at me" new engine mounted on rustic looking equipment. It's screaming for a well deserved coat of hammer tone to spruce it up.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Also this way the handlebar shield doesn't cop it all either as you just see so many Scotty's with a lower black section of that panel work.
Exactly like so, pictured. You can see my attempt at cleaning it off. The build up is that stubborn, I gave up and have just left it for when I strip it down for a full freshen up some day.
The previous owner actually fitted this engine, but wasn't aware of what the deflector was actually for. I made sure he still had it and that he passed it over when he sold it to me. We both got a laugh out of it...
Well just as I write I am putting the finishing touches on another 20 inch machine to do the rest of the season so that I can start to do a full strip down of my Series 1 machine as you currently see it. Next time you see it, it should look like a new machine.
Anyway I'm heading back outside and sliding the engine back on to the interchange 20.
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.
Your machine is well camouflaged with all that grass all over it.
I also note that it's fitted with those adaptor plates on the handlebar assembly. I'm not quite sure if they are still required as I think you can fit the handlebar straight on but it has to lean back ever so slightly.
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.
Keen observing BB; these bars are the earlier style without the noticeable bend found in the later model 45s. They will clear the engine without the plates, but the overall height of the handle grips is pretty low as a result. The gentleman I purchased the machine from was rather tall in stature which leads to my assumption of why the adaptor plates were added in the first place.
I also have another Model 45 20 inch like yours above, and have noticed an enforced bend in the lower half of the bars carried out by a previous owner. This was definitely purposed to clear a transplanted Briggs & Stratton motor (maybe 80's or 90's variant 3.5HP) in replacement of the original Kirby. I refer to it as 'enforced' as they didn't do a very clean job of it (bugger!). And to add to that, looks as if the bottom half suffered a break or fracture around the original tube welds (could be a result of the bending) and was re-welded very poorly. It seems a replacement set is quite a difficult spare to come by these days. So there are a few hurdles in restoring this machine - but I really want to get this one refreshed back to as close to original as possible, except using a modern B&S (which I've already added).
Yes the 20's are a real bugger for sourcing panel / chassis type componentry for. The lower half of the handlebar assembly is unique just like the larger reel bearing carriers, bearings and the larger domed washers on Series 1 examples. Apart from that there is the longer power transfer shaft and rear roller assembly on both Series 1 (3 piece) and the larger 2 piece Series II rollers. These components can be the live or die situation for the 20 inch machines to most restorers.
I still have a second Series 1 20 inch machine sitting here un-restored and just waiting for me to make a decision on, but inevitably I feel I will do a total tear down and faithful restoration on that one and then consider my options of what to do with it. Money isn't the motivation for me on these, rather it's that these are just such good machines and so much better than the 14 and 17 inch units, especially on larger flat mowing surfaces.
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.
Just a follow up in this thread.........................................
I've spoken to a well respected mower business yesterday and the owner has stated categorically that he has received many Briggs engines in the box that are 3/4 full of oil and others with only 50ml in the crankcase. This pretty much supports my theory behind Briggs' Chinese factory that has very poor QC practices and that they have little desire to change the way they operate.
From my own experience out of this I will never trust any engine manufacturer to do the right thing again and as such I'll always totally empty a crankcase prior to initial fill with a good quality Synthetic Oil. My opinion on mineral oils is that they've had their day and technology has moved on.
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.
Post war Japanese stuff was rubbish, but they quickly realized they had to produce good quality products if the were to become a serious manufacturer on the world stage.Times have changed and I don't think China has ever tried to emulate that, their aim was just to flood the world with cheap products until they had decimated manufacturing world wide, then they can control the markets. I don't think anybody is laughing at China, it has a very controlled strategy to achieve it goals. The only risk to them is if countries that have lost manufacturing and employment can no longer afford to buy the volume of products China needs to manufacture to keep its economy running
You have to give the Asians credit for their work ethics, possibly driven by need because of population volumes. Then you look at India, it had British influence for a very long time, has more millionaires than Australias population but the quality control in their manufacturing is very low so it is hard to think they could follow the Asian countries in the future even though their labor costs are very low
Dragged a few of my machines out for a bit of a run this afternoon and stumbled across this. The offending tag in question.
Now if I had just purchased this new engine for a transplant and didn't know any better, I'd have translated that symbol on the right as oil + tick = sufficient oil present = Ready to start! Wouldn't most agree?
Now if I had just purchased this new engine for a transplant and didn't know any better, I'd have translated that symbol on the right as oil + tick = sufficient oil present = Ready to start! Wouldn't most agree?
Hello all
The whole point of symbols is that they deliver unambiguous meaning. I totally agree with GTX - oils ain't oils in this case.
Somebody was probably paid good money to come up with that tag. Going by the way BB had his motor replaced I would say he was not the first to be caught out by such stupidity
Dragged a few of my machines out for a bit of a run this afternoon and stumbled across this. The offending tag in question.
Now if I had just purchased this new engine for a transplant and didn't know any better, I'd have translated that symbol on the right as oil + tick = sufficient oil present = Ready to start! Wouldn't most agree?
Cheers GTX
This was my precise argument right from the start and that tag is what lulled me into the false sense of security along with the fact that the previous engine I purchased a week earlier was in a factory sealed unopened carton from Briggs and had a full crank case of oil.
Honestly Briggs must have some ex bank employees working for them as it only seems about money and nothing else with them, just have a look at this new plastic range of Victa named products that they've just released and bashing on tv at us.
What a set back for a once proud name in the garden care industry.
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 sort of thing has gone on for years BB, good solid companies with a history of great products that is gobbled up by another company that strips the assets out of it and continues to sell inferior products under the original banner, it is the way of the corporate world. Eventually there will be no long established companies with a trusted history to be gobbled up, sadly I think we are just about there
