END OF BLOG

The Atco was sold for £500 and donated to Cancer Research UK.   Thanks to everyone who has followed my blog and their helpful input. This restoration was both enjoyable and challenging - onwards and upwards to the next project whatever that may be but certainly not another lawnmower ! Over and out. Roy.

FOR SALE

She's now on eBay, item number 290589055841

AS FINISHED AS IT EVER WILL BE.

Is any restoration project ever really finished ? I wonder.

I still have the 'lumpy' running to address and I'm not at all content with photos of a vintage 1920's lawnmower taken on a modern block driveway, it just looks out of place !  I'll find a more appropiate setting but in the mean time here are a couple of photos and a brief video.

IT'S LIFE JIM BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT !

The new carb cable and freed-off compressor have been fitted and I’ve spent the weekend adjusting, setting and fiddling about with just about everything on this machine to get her up and running. After a great deal of frustration I managed to get her to resemble something akin to life albeit for only 10 to 15 seconds and with a not inconsiderable amount of puffing, banging and general reluctance to run smoothly.  

The mechanic who works on the machines in my business called by and observed that the spark was weak and although he could trace the problem he did indicate his reservations about getting the machine up and running even for a short period without all the drive chains and myriad of other moving parts being thoroughly oiled and greased beforehand - understandably.

As I indicated at the very beginning of this blog it has been my primary intention to restore this machine specifically for display purposes so I’m loath to have her run for any length of time inevitably resulting in splattering oil and grease everywhere. I’m satisfied that the Atco works but will decide later whether to attempt to have her running 100% smoothly – even if were possible.

In the meantime there’s another pressing matter. I’m anxious to photo and video the machine for including here but feel that the backdrop of my ‘modern’ driveway and house would be a wholly inappropriate setting. So I’m on the lookout for a Lutyens or similar period property and lawn more befitting the 1920’s era when this machine was made.      

DEJA VU

I'm having a new carb cable made up by Mr Cruse who at the same time has managed to free up the seized decompressor - it defeated me even after a week soaking in penetrating fluid. I've fitted the flywheel and set it correctly and also adjusted the points to a 15 thou gap.
Whilst waiting I checked over the machine which has been stored in my garage all winter. Sadly the rear roller had rusted over so has been removed and once again will need to be cleaned up with a rotary wire brush. The mistake I made in the autumn was that after lacquering the roller I gave it a spay coating of WD40 thinking this would act as a barrier to dampness. Well it had the exact opposite effect ! WD40 is a penetrating fluid and evaporates over time so it's dissolved the lacquer, evaporated and then exposed the bare metal - hence the rust.
This time I'll leave the roller with just the lacquer finish and maybe wipe over with a thin oil. 

I appreciate that I could be viewed as being too fastidious but with the machine now looking virtually as new a rusty roller would detract and 'spoil the ship'

IS HE STILL ALIVE ? !!!

I'm here again after a winter of chronic back pain and other distractions.
I've managed to resolved a couple of the minor mechanical issues but will be seeking more experienced professional help to finally have this machine up and running. Hopefully I'll be posting again by the end of the month. 

MESSAGE FROM MRS GRASS

Over Christmas Roy caught a cold, just as he was on the mend it returned with a vengeance and has now developed into a severe chest infection. And with a depleted immune system he should have known better, all no doubt due to spending weeks on end working in our freezing garage. So I’ve banned him from returning to his mower project until he’s again firing on all cylinders.  

That apart he’s asked that I post a photo of the grassbox which he insisted on finishing even when poorly.

Men!