Darmic1

Now the "cup" was remade it was on to the actual muffler. When I ordered a new one I received one which was to big a diameter to clear the belt guard on the deck. After hours of searching the internet I managed to find the correct diameter muffler. However, it didn't have the correct thread size. The Briggs has a 1/2" pipe fitting as standard and this replacement muffler had some obscure metric thread smaller than 1/2". How to fix was my next question...... So a trip to my local Unimaster to have a chat. My thoughts were to have a short piece of pipe with an external thread of 1/2" one end and the other end threaded internally with this obscure thread? However they don't carry a cutter to do this strange thread. So after a bit of head scratching on both sides we came up with a plan. Drill out the 4 spot welds which held the threaded piece in place, remove it and replace with a 1/2" pipe fitting machined to fit the opening. Once welded in place it would serve the same purpose as before, only fit! Here are the pictures of this little fix and the finished exhaust system fitted.

Managed to make the "Cup" which fits over the exhaust muffler today. Without it the 2nd Saturn wouldn't be correct, and vent beneath the deck. I haven't welded 0.9mm steel before........ And I don't want to again!!! It took 3 attempts at making this, Even with the welder turned right down it kept blowing holes. I ran out of gas, then wire, used all my power file belts and flap disks...... Eventually got it right on the 3rd go!

Thank you, Its an old Ford Blue, used on agricultural machines. I had the colour matched at my local paint specialist, Its called Empire Blue.........

Here is a link to the video of the mower running....... http://youtu.be/Fk2kmgTbUeo

I have a nice little job to make the exhaust vent under the deck on the 1979 Saturn. The old exhaust had corroded really bad and will require remaking. I have purchased the new muffler part, but Landmaster fabricated a "cup" which fits over the muffler and a tube vents the exhaust gases beneath the deck.This is all that was left of this system

Thanks Paul! Just waiting for the 2nd one to come back from the blasters, engine for it is sat on the bench ready to be reunited......

Thanks Ian, the first one is finished bar the decals, Here are a few pictures in the daylight.

Spent 3 hours in the garage this evening and the 1968 Saturn is all back together. Titch has the job of recreating the Landmaster decals for it, only then will it be finished. I will get some daylight shots tomorrow. Also managed to finish putting the engine back together for Saturn 2, the 1979 one.

Found the numbers for Saturn 1s engine now, they are......... Model Type Code 92502 0253 01 6801222 so I guess 2nd January 1968? This means I have a very early Saturn and a much later one....... pretty happy about that!

Saturn 2s engine got its new clothes today, along with the air shrouds, air filters, starter, fuel tank and the flywheel screen. Saturn 1s deck and grass box was collected from the blasters today, managed to get them painted too. The handles, roller and guard are all powder coated satin black.

Cheers Paul, collecting some paint for the engine and mower tomorrow. The blasters have called to say its all ready......

A few hours later.......... All reassembled after finishing stripping and priming the air shroud, recoil housing and air filter case. Very pleased to report we now have a good strong spark, so hopefully it will now run!

The postman bought me a pile of goodies today, all the bits needed to rebuild the Saturn's engine.......

I managed to get these parts of Saturn 2s engine stripped of all the old paint, wire brushed and etch primed today. Wont be putting the top coat on until the new parts are fitted and the engine is built up.

Will have early and main crop spuds, runner, french, borlotti and broad beans, peas, carrots, red onions, white onions, shallots, parsnips, cauli, brocoli, several varieties of cabbage, leeks, beetroot, sprouts, gem and iceburg lettuce, red and white spring onions, 2 or 3 varieties of toms, cucumber, lots of chillies. Then there's the fruit, rhubarb, blueberries, raspberry's, strawberry's, gooseberry's and blackcurrants........ blimey, think I best get digging!

Its a great feeling when they fire up after a major overhaul....... Good luck with the wood cutting!

Saturn 2 got dismantled today. Gave up trying to start it, so I exacted some revenge with the spanners! All the parts are now at the blasters along with Saturn 1. Then I performed a dissection of Saturn 2's heart......... The engine is now totally stripped, having ordered new condensor, points, magneto armature, full set of gaskets and seals, new diaphragm, tank cap, air filter, exhaust and spark plug! If it wont start after that it may end up in space as its name suggests!!! All parts have been cleaned and degreased. Valves have been decoked and lapped in, will put some pictures up tomorrow.

The numbers stamped into the cowling are: Model Type Code 92988 0960 01 79012922 So that makes it a 29th January 1979........

Picked up the 2nd Saturn today, It got a driven rear roller, exhaust vents through the deck, adjustable handles, automatic choke and is exactly the same as the one in the brochure. For the purposes of restoration and to prevent me and you guys getting confused, I shall refer to this machine as Saturn 2, The naughty one! Naughty? because it doesn't want to work............ Its had fresh fuel, its getting through as the plug is wet and you can smell fuel. Its got compression, its got some activity on the meter when pulling the start cord, but its refusing to spark...... I'm thinking something to do with either the points system under the flywheel or the armature? Any advice would be greatly appreciated..... Here's the pictures anyway!

Haven't made much progress with this for a couple of days due to work.... Managed to get a couple of hours this afternoon so I've repaired the guard fitted around the bottom of the engine/blade. It was rotted quite bad on one side and had been fibreglassed. I cut out the bad and let in some new steel and then re-fitted the bracket used to bolt it down. I will drop the guard off tomorrow to be blasted and powder coated black. I will also be collecting the 2nd of these Saturn's tomorrow from Hook, nr Basingstoke, so not far away......

Hi Pat, thankyou...... You should be able to get something like it from a local paint supplier.

Thats the problem i'm having, the recoil housing where the model numbers usually are doesnt seem to have any. I've scraped paint away and found nothing, so either the housing has been replaced or i've missed where they are! On a plus note, i'm now the owner of another Saturn...... this second machine has the clutch system, exhaust venting through the deck, adjustable handles as in the brochure Paul added earlier.

Thanks for the diagram, have found the stop switch on the bay of E along with an air filter foam and a 3.5mm pull start rope. All for a little over a tenner. The rope which came with the mower was a 6mm one and wouldnt return correctly and the air filter was an old decorators sponge...... and I mean old!!!

I think I see where it should be..... but its missing, just a small grippy square pressed into the bracket where said springy bit should be!

Thanks Ian, been making good use of my rest days! Cheers for that Gareth, silly question, do you have a picture, as mine is obviously missing this part and i've no idea where it actually goes or what it looks like???