Leaderboard

I am making progress on my colt deluxe. Cleaned the carb out, cleaned all electrical connections and replaced the condenser. Got it running but have a fuel leak from the petrol tap to attend to before a test drive. Also been busy prepping and painting a loader to fit on it. 20241030_135437.mp4

In 2004 I had 1/4 acre of scrub land to clear. A quick pub conversation yielded 2 scrap 8hp Westwood Gazelles; both quite early machines, one with the underslung exhaust. One working machine was the result, and within a few months it had done the job. I was about to retire, and had a couple of part time start up business's drawn up on paper, but knowing which one to go for was not an easy decision. In the event a third option was sitting in my shed. Post card advertisements in newsagents etc., and a pleasant surprise, or surprises. Within about 6 weeks I had a small grass cutting (not mowing) round, providing an adequate pension top-up, without any outlay. It grew into a 3 day a week business, and kept on going until 2018 when an arthritic knee finally made me stop. Fairly early on I built myself a see-saw trailer, which cut my loading / unloading time from 15 odd minutes to about 3. I started buying "uneconomical to repair" mowers, from a local mower repair business, and ended up with 3 machines, for different ground conditions, plus 1 that was lodged with the customer during the season. Coincidentally, they were all Westwoods, although other makes have yielded back axles. Yes back axles, you could sometimes build up a good one, out of two; not now, it's more like 3 or 4, to get one working again. Today, I have a mid 90's T1800, plus potentially 3 complete machines, out of my grave yard of bits. My 1/4 acre is now 1/2 acre, when a neighbour didn't take up the option of "his" strip of land behind him. I still enjoy mowing, as much as the engineering side. Regards Mike

Re use them if possible. I've reused many without issue if they were not damaged If they were damaged, search "High Temp gasket material" to cut your own. The O ring isn't anything special and can be found with a search for that size as well

I think its an Allen Challenger 22" Rotary Cutter.

Plenty of farcebook groups to cover that

A few pics of the collection.

Hope all's well Ewan. Clutch lever done and fitted. Cable was a B+*^h. Very tight job making it up from stainless inner cable and outer sleeve. Nipples made and silver soldered. Managed to retain lots of adjustment take-up on both tensioners- This section is now ready to go on the chassis. Still bugged with decision about fitting tensioner adjustment on the output chain drive?. Regards.