Stormin

Been thinking along those lines mesel'. But shortage of space means it would have to be light and maneuverable.

That's a brilliant idea.

At least you don't have to walk sideways like in Chris's, James.

Well done on your second place, George.

Good job Alain. Hats off to you.

Mark, your on. But it'll be next year. Had a good afternoon in the workshop today. First job to get the seal out of the gearbox. There's a blank plate in the box opposite end of the shaft. This was gently prised out. To reveal the shaft and ball bearing. A circlip on the shaft end was removed, then the shaft tapped out using a drift till free of the bearing. It was then pulled by hand as the bottom bearing is a plain bush. The seal was well worn and no surprise it was leaking. It's very thin and fragile and I didn't want to damage it by prising it out. I found a washer slightly less in od to the plain bush. Placing the washer inside the box on top of the bush and using a long drift through the box and onto the washer, I was able to gently tap the bush outwards until the seal dropped out. The bush was then tapped back into it's original position. That is as far as I can go with the gearbox, until I can get a new seal. I decided to start to strip the sickle bar blade next. The knife bar was pulled out and then the skid and cutter bar guides. These, along with the nuts and bolts are now in the E-tank. The knife bar and teeth got a good wire brushing, then sprayed with Pocket Rocket. (Similar to WD40) Then the bar guard got cleaned up and made ready for priming. The shoe assembly below has also been stripped and cleaned up.

That's some contraption. Who built it and what age?

Don't rush me, Neil.

Nice build.

Found info on this cutter bar and things not as bad as I thought. The arm should be welded and comes out complete with shaft. That's something of a relief.

Not exactly the kind of progress I'd have liked. What is it with me and gearboxes?

I've heard of sowing wild oats, but that's taking it too far.

Earlier in the year, I acquired a sickle bar. Today I decided to see about fitting it. I only have the bar. No mule drives or any parts needed to mount it. I be doing some research in the very near future. It's rather heavy, so I decided to remove the mounting bracket for ease of handling. Popped it under the C-81 and mounted it at the rear. I now need to find out how it mounts at the front and if it is connected to the lift arm. Getting carried away, I stripped off the skid plate then the cutter itself. Removing an accumulation of very black, oily grass, of unknown vintage in the process. Finally being left with only the gearbox on the bench. This is where the fun started. The lift lever on the bar is mounted on a threaded stud screwed into the gearbox. This could be screwed in or out, which I found rather puzzling. Fiddling with it, as you do, I heard something drop inside the box. So off with the cover plate. Three screws loosened nice and easy. Two were tight and took a bit, read a lot, of persuasion. One snapped off. Cover off and I could see why the oily, black grass was oily and black. No oil in the box. No water or other detritus either. Looked in very good condition in fact. Found what had dropped was a locking nut off the aforementioned stud. This was replaced and tightened up. So oily grass under the box and no oil in the box was pointing to a leaking seal. OK I'll strip it out and get a new seal. Simple procedure. Remove a plug from the side opposite the cover plate. Circlip from the now visible pivot shaft and tap shaft out. The main shaft should now be able to be removed. Only it can't, as someone in their wisdom has welded the cutter bar actuating arm to the shaft. So shaft will have to come out, bringing seal and bearing with it. Only one small problem. There'll be a circlip holding the bearing in.

I'll have to remember those for in a couple of years time. That's if I can remember anything.

You'll be pleased to have the wheels and rollers back. You'll have it back together in no time now. BTW. I drank your coffee.

Good find Sten.

Well I think I've finally found the problem. Swapped the condenser over from the C-125. Now running as it should, full revs and no problem. I've done this before with no change in the bad running. The 81's condenser I put on the 125, expecting that to start playing up. It didn't. So I'm assuming the condenser was not earthing properly, even though the securing bolt was fully tight. I also tweaked the carbs and both have been given runs up the lane and all is now well.

Ok. Had a look at the connections on my C-81. All ok. Now although I have swapped carbs, coils, condensers in the past, I decided to swap over the condensers from C-125 to C-81. Fired up the 81 and it revs like a good 'un. No spitting and dying now. All seems ok. Put the 81's condenser onto the 125, fired up and expected the high revs problem to be transferred to the 125. Err! No! High revs ok. This proved, I hope, that the condensers are ok. So my conclusion is that the condenser on the 81 was not earthing properly. I'll give them both a run out later and see how things go.

Next year maybe, George.

Now there's a thought Koen. That's something I'll be checking tomorrow.

I don't think anyone thinks your being critical, Alain. A lot of good info in what you've said. Thanks.

Well he can't nip next door to the pub now.

All this is familiar. Except for the engine stripping, it sounds just like my C-81. Idles really nice, but open the throttle........ One or two things raised on this topic, which have not been tried, will be soon. Maybe even tomorrow.

All the Best.