Thanks! Not feeling too confident to restore. Haha. But will definitely get the mower mechanically sound with new parts if needed. I always thought that the lights were the deluxe model? Maybe, who knows. Won't be until the next season until I get this girl running as well as my other W8 which still needs pulleys. Through winter I probably will be getting other gazelle ready for next summer mechanically. I try to look after the mower as its almost an interest. Haha. But my mate offered to cut the grass to see how the old Gazelle preformed cutting long grass, which was fine as its ok on the highest adjustment especially when its not a routine. So when I was in house watching I noticed he forgot to adjust the deck height, and the deck was on the lowest adjustment, and the poor engine was smoking and slowing down so I ran outside to stop him!! Last time anyone cuts with that mower. Haha. Not to worry tho as engine runs smoothly and is looked after. Couldn't believe it!
Hi guys, came across this Westwood last winter and thought I would post if you may be interested. The previous owner had this Westwood for many years and looked after it, that is until she was replaced by a newer and bigger mower, I had mixed feelings about whether I should go for it and I asked if I could have it. He wanted it gone or one day for scrap so he gave me the mower! I saw the mower parked up under a bush when gardening for clients and as I am interested I asked about the mower, the mower is a W8 1979. (Built one year after my 78W8) When brought it back home, noticed all the buttons and levers were and still are all seized!! The mower had stood outside for a good 20 years under the bush so no surprise. Previous owner used mower for rolling field and also using harrow. It's good to have a pull start mower as my other gazelle is only ignition start. There are some weird adaptions made to this mower i.e. the ignition switch, highly doubt this was factory, but I believe this model of Gazelle is the basic model as for some reason the headlights are bolted in with a metal sheet. Previous owner painted green, have no idea why. Next year I am planning to either try to get this old girl running alongside my W8 gazelle, or I may break up. Seems a shame to do so. Already used spare front tire for my diesel Westwood as seen in the first pic. Haha. Is this the beginning? Hopefully not. Still have to order pulleys and new lights for my 78W8 may be for Christmas, haha. Found pulleys but they are in America! So am trying to find a UK supplier. Will be posting video of my 78W8 running once I have pulleys and also the first start of this new 1979 W8! Also was able to print off Westwood Manuel so if anyone needs pictures from Manuel, I can post them. Thanks for reading.
Wow that's one early bug. Looks really cool. Just like stepping back in time!! Haha. Sorry if my comments are a little weird. (I still don't know how to comment without 'quoting' all of the post I am replying to. 😂
From memory a Bug's chassis numbers was on a tin foil sticker so possibly not much chance of it having survived. The engine is a Tecumseh, possibly a V70. Tecumseh engines of that era had their engine details either stamped into a small metal tag often secured by one of the screws retaining the valve chest cover, or stamped into the blower housing. Tecumseh used two sets of numbers , the first giving the spec of the engine , such as the crank orientation, horse power and application and the second showing the build year and the day of build ( the day being shown as a numer between 1 and 364.
Hi, you probably have seen me on here before. Haha. I had a Westwood Bug and my one had a Briggs 3.5hp (I think) engine in it. It was painted the original white as well as wheels. I just wondered, did Westwood later switch to Tecumseh of vice versa in the later years of manufacture of the bug? Thanks.
On 04/02/2015 at 6:38 PM, classic cars ni said:
Was given this a while ago..after reading this thread im gonna restore it...what do you rekon...it is complete
Any ideas on engine type and year of build..thanks in advance
Reading through my literature I also found a brochure from 1970, so even earlier !
Thanks! That's the first time I have seen an official old Westwood advertising!! Haha. Now I wish I kept my old lawnbug. I sold it for £10!! This was before I was into Westwood mowers and I saw nothing of it at the time unfortunately.
The only thing to watch out for on this fairly common idler (in size) is the the protruding bearing/center offset on one side, it needs to have the very same offset or a spacer must be used to create one. It appears to be a AYP idler pulley p/n AYP 4702H or AYP 66048 (same) Stens part number 280-024. which has a 3/8" bore (hole, 2-1/2" outside diameter, and 1" height (distance across the idler). i believe this part also has the same offset on one side, 10 bucks new around here
Thank-you very much, excellent news about the pulleys. I have found the pulleys from new online using your part numbers. It's great, as now I can get the old girl back up and running! Haha. Thanks. 😃👍
13 hours ago, Stormin said:
Bore is the hole through the centre. Where about are you located? I broke a Gazelle a few years back. I kept some of the pulleys and I think I have one like that. I'll check tomorrow.
Thanks. Haha. Its good to know some extra knowledge. Using some part numbers kindly provided by Head exam I will try and look online as some pulleys came up new same as my pulley. Thanks for the offer, if I can't find the pulleys, I may offer you something for the breaker pulleys if they are still available. Thanks for the help. 😃👍
21 hours ago, pmackellow said:
I've got a 1973 advert for the Lawnbug Chris so I would have thought Westwood tractors started in the early 70's ?
Wow! Really? I haven't seen any adverts for Westwood early mowers. I have one for my Westwood W8 but only printed it off from Google. Haha. 😂 Would love to see a picture of the advert! Sounds interesting. Thanks. 😃
Pulleys and idlers need the measurements of the diameter, the width, the bore, and the size and type of the channel. Also the style and size of the center bearing area, whether protruding or recessed, needs to be the same. A picture or diagram is the only real way to assure a proper fit. The original part number may also lead to a cross reference part number from others that have searched for replacements on the internet
Hi here's some pictures of the pulley. I am not sure what you mean by the bore. Thanks for the reply. 😀 I hope these pictures are clear enough... Thanks.
If you can get me the sizes of the pulleys (bore, height, width of V, diameter, pictures would be best with measurements) I can cross reference them to part numbers you can use locally. The part numbers used by Westwood unfortunately aren't the same as used by the pulley distributor/manufacturers .
Hi, outside measurements of pulley is 2 1/2 inches from outside pulley. The diameter is 2 inches. Thanks for your reply. Much appreciated! 😀
Hi all, and of course Westwood fans that may be interested... I have bought a 1978 W8 Westwood gazelle 'pale face', starts on the key. 8 horsepower, column gear change. I have recently replaced points and condenser which seemed to of solved the problem, as before when the mower ran for a few minutes the engine used to cut out. I have also replaced air filter for the first time in 39 long years! 😂 I have also given the engine numerous amounts of oil changes as when I bought the mower last year there was lots of residue like sludge left in the oil. After all the work, engine starts and runs lovely. ☺ About a month ago... I was cutting grass and tried using the clutch and the clutch wouldn't stop the machine!!! So had to shut off the machine before I nearly collided. 😂😨 Only to find the drive belt had slipped off the pulley. This has made me by a new drive belt with two new pulleys. The pulleys arrived but wasn't convinced they were the right size, so I sent them back. Kept the drive belt. Unfortunately I am having troubles with finding the right size pulleys for the mower. If anyone has a pair of unused original metal Westwood Gazelle pulleys for sale, or know where to find some. Please tell me. Thanks. Here's some pics of my Westwood last year.
Yeah, finding an original Lawnbug is very hard these days. I think the original engines were Tecumsehs and some of them would have been white. One day I will get one though!
Well good luck with the search for a very early Westwood Gazelle, they are certainly out there, I see them come up on auction sites once in a while. I even saw a super rare 10 horsepower one once, I will have to see if I saved a picture of it on my old computer...
Also if you haven't seen it already, this restoration of a Westwood Lawnbug is pretty interesting if you get a chance to watch it:
Yeah, I have watched his videos. They are very well done. I wish he had a go on a really early Westwood. That would be interesting. Even though he had done a good job on the Westwood Bug, the only thing I would change would be I would keep the original Tecumseh engine in it.
What Stormin says is a possibility, also I wonder if Westwood might have had a stock of chassis to "use up" left over from 1978, given that your engine is from so early in 1979 I could imagine them fitting a new engine from a chassis from 1978 that might only be a few months old. So you may possibly have a Westwood from 1978 that was given an engine and sold in 1979?
Oh ok that could be a possibility. I know my Westwood is one of the first model W8 to have the updated features from your early model as mine has column gear change and also the early feature of the under slung exhaust. As I think the gazelle 'pale face' model was still being manufactured until I think 1984. In fact my gazelle has no dash board lights! Compared to later models they do have lights next to steering wheel. It's difficult to map how Westwood have thought about what features for what models. Ha ha. 😂
A video would be great to see if you can get one Do you know what your serial number is? Mine is 252707 1062 01 78061411, you can work out the date from the last part- 78061411. 78(year)06(month)14(date)11(horsepower, I believe?). So mine is stamped from 14th June 1978.
Sounds like you did a good job on the engine! Mine starts on the key too, although I fitted a separate choke. Hope all goes well sorting out the pulley.
Hi, my last digits of my engine serial number is 790206. So my gazelle would be made on 6th February 1979 if that's correct. But then I thought my gazelle was a 1978 as on the badge with chassis no. it said W8 78.
I would certainly love to expand the collection, especially with an original condition Westwood Lawnbug...
Yeah same here, I used to have a Lawnbug about 3 years ago until I gave it away!!! Unfortunately back then I wasnt clued up with Westwood mowers. It had white rims original Westwood orange paint and weirdly enough the engine was painted white! I tried to get it running thinking it was a fuel problem but I think again it was the points and condenser. I gave it to a young lad who says he's going to do it up. But that's what they all say. If I could I would get that Lawnbug back but it would probably be near on impossible and to add to the chaos at the minute I'm looking for a really early Westwood W8/W11 Gazelle, that has all the early early features. My 78 has a few but has not got the straight foot rests or the gearstick in the middle and many more features like that.
Hi, ok I will have a look at the last numbers and will let you know. I never would of worked that out! Thanks. I am currently away at the minute so won't be able to have a look until Monday next week. It will be interesting to know what mine is. This is the only picture of my Westwood that I have at the minute, but i will post a video if it running as well as other photos if you would like. In this pic you will probably notice the seat has no edging, this is because when I took the photo last year I was in the middle of fitting new seat and sorting rust problem under the cushioning. I was surprised at the rust being so much of it under the foam. Ha ha. Thanks.
Ok, thanks for the part numbers as this will be a great help, i have also printed off a Westwood W series manual. If you want to print it off go to the official Westwood site and go to the help page and it should be under user manuals. Thanks for the reply, and hopefully i can get the Gazelle jumping for joy again!! Ha ha.
Hi, yeah, i will be sure to show you some pictures of my W8 Westwood Gazelle and perhaps a video of it running if you would like. I am currently going away for a couple of days but will try to remember to send the pictures when i return. My Gazelle is a 1978 model W8 and was manufactured at Bell Close, Plympton, Plymouth. It has the column gear change 1-5 inc reverse. 8hp Briggs engine which has been on the mower all of its life! White grill 'pale face.' Done some work to it when purchased last year on Ebay. I have changed air filter for the first time in 39 long years! I have also changed the oil and fitted new points and condenser as after a few minutes of running the mower it used to cut out completely!! Now starts on key. Engine runs great. I also done a little restoration on deck but i think i went a little over board with what i had done. Sadly the clutch pulley has given up all life and had fallen off the mower so i lost control over the clutch!! Happened two weeks back when cutting. I have ordered a new drive belt and have also tried to order two new pulleys. Pulleys arrived a couple of days ago with belt, but was not convinced that they were the right ones so sent them back. Kept the belt. Thats the life story so far. Ha ha. Gazelle has now lost the use of her legs for now!! She will soon be fixed once i find parts. Thanks for reading.
Hi, I am really in to these Westwood Gazelle white grills, I have a Westwood W8 1978 Gazelle and I have never seen this early model of Gazelle!? Would love to see and read more about it. Thanks.
Do you know what your serial number is? Mine is 
1978 Westwood
in Ride On's
Posted
Thanks! Not feeling too confident to restore. Haha. But will definitely get the mower mechanically sound with new parts if needed. I always thought that the lights were the deluxe model? Maybe, who knows. Won't be until the next season until I get this girl running as well as my other W8 which still needs pulleys. Through winter I probably will be getting other gazelle ready for next summer mechanically. I try to look after the mower as its almost an interest. Haha. But my mate offered to cut the grass to see how the old Gazelle preformed cutting long grass, which was fine as its ok on the highest adjustment especially when its not a routine. So when I was in house watching I noticed he forgot to adjust the deck height, and the deck was on the lowest adjustment, and the poor engine was smoking and slowing down so I ran outside to stop him!! Last time anyone cuts with that mower. Haha. Not to worry tho as engine runs smoothly and is looked after. Couldn't believe it!