OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Looking to buy and "restore" an SB45

Hi guys,

I've always been fascinated by cylinder mowers, but have only ever used rotaries.

While I was laid up with a broken leg a few months ago, my neighbour kindly offered to mow my lawn for me. He is a bit of a lawn fanatic too, and used a cylinder mower. The result was pretty darn cool.

So, now I'm looking at the classifieds for one. Some SB45s seem to want insane money. Others are cheap as chips. But I'm no expert AT ALL on the things so I was seeking help with a few and figuring out what would be a good, solid buy to work on and use as a daily.

Here are some that have caught my eye:

SB45 14" (3x pics)
"$275 Scott Bonnar 45 series cylinder mower (14”) (3hp Briggs and Stratton 1971) just been serviced, even has original Scott Bonnar hands grips, starts first kick, VGC."

SB45 17" (5x pics)
"$400 Neg. Scott Bonnar 17” Reel Mower with pram handles. Starts well and cuts well. Briggs and Stratton 3HP motor. Reluctant sale as we have moved to a house with no lawn!"

The cheaper the better, but I don't want to inherit a total problem. I'm still learning with repairing small motors and I don't have a huge area to work on them or store them. I think a 14" would be better when it comes to space available to keep it out of the elements. The more original the better too.

I also want some $$ left in the bank for fitting higher lift rollers and brackets for mowing buffalo.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Hi MS,

I guess as they are both Series II frames it's really going to be horses for courses and it all depends on whether you prefer the wider cut of the 17 or the smaller machine at 14.

I originally cut my teeth on a Series 1 14 inch machine which incidentally I've still got and to tell you the truth I loved it to death but now I use a 20 inch machine and wouldn't go back. It all depends on how much lawn you have and also how much time you will eventually want to spend behind a mower as you can't think about just now as you'll spend heaps while you've got a keen interest and want to spend less once the novelty wears off and it merely becomes a chore.

I still very much love my time with the mower and it's been 39 years now since I got my first Scotty and I still haven't looked back.

You'll find that the 14 inch chassis will probably have less frame damage opposed to the 17 which there aren't many without stress fractures in the rails.around for sale.

BTw that 14 inch machine doesn't have it's original engine as that one would've had a Kirby fitted from day one.

Also the 17 doesn't seem to have it's original 2.5 Hp engine either. 3 Hp's were fitted on the later Series II's, but then there were some oddball engines fitted over the lifetime of the Model 45's production run which was a very long run indeed.

Cheers,
BB.

Well, it took a while, but I finally picked up a 14" solid. Still had original brass height adjuster, grass deflector screws and thrust pad!

She had been repainted at some stage, but the original colour is still visible inside the chain case and under the deck. Lots of surface rust as it was a Geraldton machine at some time in its life and the strong, salty sea breeze has left its mark. Looks like a bit of structural rust on one of the braces under the deck, but that's going to get fixed if needed.

The engine has been replaced at some stage, as it's running a Briggs 3HP 82232 I/C from 1988. Actually not a bad motor for a Briggs thumper. It had an oil leak from a cooked as crank case seal which I've now replaced. I'm currently in the process of dismantling it to replace all gaskets, etc and perhaps give it a "Briggs Assembly Style" respray. I really just want to put a GX120 on it, but where is the fun (and involved swearing) in that?!

Despite the rust and dirt it's actually in great nick. Previous owner oiled all the bearings and kept the chains nice and greased. Even went over it with me when I bought it to make sure I knew where all the oil holes were! I've used it a few times on my Buffalo and the cut has been great. I bought a new 8 blade reel and high cut roller and bracket.

I wish I took a few before photos, but I didn't. It's currently in a million pieces, if you're interested in that and can use your imagination...

Looking forward to getting it rebuilt, thankfully winter is truly here.

Hi Mystyler,

Firstly I'm happy for you as that's pretty much how I started off as well, but I have to ask the question, why did you purchase a new 8 blade reel as you will be using this on buffalo ?

Cheers,
BB.

G'day BB,

I've also got some Zoysia I'm going to use it on too. Just haven't used it on the Zoysia yet as it's only a few months old and a wee bit bumpy for the 45 this stage.

Buffalo looks nice when cut by a reel, just have to be careful about the ever-increasing pillow as the tough stems keep shooting out sideways to dodge the rotating blade!

My Father-in-law has Sir Walter and it did an excellent job without the need for the extra height adjuster.

TC.

G'day TC,

The cut on Buff is unreal. Unfortunately though, I don't think the previous owners of the house did much for the health of their lawn. I think the back needs a good few grooms (or a vert...!) to get rid of the spongy layer underneath. The Buffalo on the verge is much nicer as it's only a year or two old, but it's full of Box Tree nuts so the Victa rotary it is. Can't wait to see what the Zoysia ends up like.

I've taken all the parts to the sandblaster today. Even going to get the catcher done. Not too fussed about knocking the dents out of it beforehand, it's only going to get dented again. Not original either, but a powder coated "Kermit".

Now looking at the rear rollers. Not sure if I want to crack them apart...but there was so much crap under the deck of the thing, I can only imagine the rust that's hiding in them.

Hi Mystyler,

I'm not sure Buffalo can be verticut, and I'm happy to be corrected. With the nature of the plant to shoot out sideways, you have to be very careful where it sends it roots down as I "don't think" it is at regular intervals like Couch.. That is what I meant when talking about the pillow effect as these stolons begin to lay on top of each other instead of seeking their own root system. Please do some research or wait for the more experienced crew to jump in on the discussion.

I didn't pull the rear roller apart for my groomer restore. The unit has been in my hands for 25 years and I'm comfortable knowing its not going to be wrecked.

This second unit I'm doing will have it completely refurbished and it's the next set of pieces to be blasted. I haven't looked inside as yet, and probably dreading to do so, but it has to be done. That way I'll know it has been fully checked and anything that needs replacing has been done. The unit worked fine over the cutting season but I want it to be even better next time Spring wakes up the lawn.

Catchers are a whole different beast and no matter how careful we are, they always manage to pick up a new dent or nick!! In my opinion, if the machine is to be used (as opposed to showroomed) then your approach is fine and I agree with it. The units look great when first done, and keeping a can of the colour used can touch up the nicks and help maintain neighbour envy! And let's face it, the better your machine looks, the better chance you are to keep it that way...

Keep the updates coming - with photos!

TC.

G'day TC,

Yep, I'm not the tiniest bit game enough to verti the Buff myself. There are a few contractors around these parts who have successfully done it to Buffalo and the results have been fantastic. But when it comes time to have some skin in the game...I may just get it aerated come October. I'm certainly going to get it properly looked at before I jump in.

This thing I've got...I don't think it's been touched much since probably 1968! Everything that needed oil or grease got it, which is a plus. I guess for piece of mind I want to take the rollers apart. On the other hand they've survived for five odd decades of not being touched. So much for this being just a reel and paint job!

No way I want it showroom. If I went that far I could never use it. It has to be used, it's what it's for! The catcher dents were that tradeoff and I've gone for a colour I can get in a can if needed for touch ups.

I'll try to sit down over the weekend and resize the photos I have on my phone. They're a tad large to attach as they are.

Feel free to send your photos to hotcopperthecount@hotmail.com and I'll resize in a few seconds.. Also, coming straight from phones tends to disorientate images on their side!

TC.

Hi guys,

To be brutally honest these rollers if not left out in the elements really don't need any major maintenance and thus there's no need to pull them apart unnecessarily.

The original bearings fitted are not precision bearings, just trolley bearings that are not directly replaceable, but if they have to be then they are now being replaced with a sleeved more common high speed bearing so that they can fit into the original carriers.

In all the years that I've been servicing 45's and that's going back to the early 1980's, I've never had to replace a rear roller bearing.

Cheers,
BB.

There you go Mystyler, ignore Bonnar_Bloke at your peril.

TC.

TC and BB,

I have finally got around to sorting the photos out, but thank you for your kind offer TC. It's not of the whole thing, I had already taken it apart before taking photos, but you get the idea of the condition. Usable, but a bit rough. Front roller isn't bent, just uncorrected optical distortion from my phone's camera.

Still haven't taken the rollers apart. Still undecided on that front. Main reason I want to disassemble is to clean and protect. Geraldton is subject to very strong seabreeze year round.

Thinking about going new chains, sprockets and carriers "while I'm there."

I'm keen to see how the blasting comes back as there were some interesting sections on that frame.

I like the front roller and how it allows more grass tips to be upright before trimming them off.. What heights are you going for in your two varieties?

TC.

G'day TC,

I'll look at keeping the Buffalo around the 30mm mark. The verge cops full summer sun and it's not too happy cut shorter. The Zoysia? Probably around 15mm to start with and go from there.

The front roller is something else. Can't wait for it to come back from the blaster. I cleaned it up before I took it in and the deck didn't look as bad. We'll see what eventuates but I'm glad I didn't leave it.

With 2 cutting heights you'll need to invest in the advanced HOC tool - commonly known as length of flat steel with nut & bolt. Either that or you can just remember how many turns of the height adjuster between them...

TC.

I have to invest in a precision tool...it's currently how many turns...

I should write it down to avoid swearing!

I found the biggest issue was remembering what section I finished on to be able to remember to turn up or down!! I used to run 2 different lengths for my couch - front for looks vs. back for play. Not now - so much easier having one. Sounds like you need to find a visual aid to help, like one of those cheap see-thru keyrings you can write on or something simple like that..

When are you expecting the parts back from blasting?

I've actually seen something done to the height adjuster itself. Bit like a washer welded on with a "pointer" that moves up and down with the shaft as you twist the adjustment handle. Two lines on the side marked with the cutting heights. Either way I'll figure something out before spring hits.

Everything came back today from the blasters. Also managed to get my handle bars back from the Chromers as a well! Done a lot of running around today, I'll tell you!

Pictures of some parts are attached. See what you reckon. I've got nothing but good things to say about the job on first look. Will start putting it back together tomorrow. Unfortunately, I have put some pinholes in the fuel tank when on the wire wheel. Have some JB Tank Weld to try and fix the problem because it all runs otherwise after being pulled apart and refreshed.

Agree - looking good and ready to rebuild!

So, who do you play cricket for?

TC.