I'm hoping someone can help me with this one. This Hayter 21 is probably my worst Ebay purchase. To cut a long story short it always had starting problems (although that was sorted out by chatting with the friendly and very helpful staff at my local mower centre who remembered using this model back in the day and gave me tips on starting technique (it was like an out-take from the Antiques Roadshow as it created some interest from all the old-timers). It later transpired that most of the starting problems (very stiff) were due to the gearbox. When I stripped it down there was no oil at all in the box - only a load of filings where the gears had been grinding together. I'm now left with a knackered gearbox. From what I can see from casting marks on the gearbox the machine dates back to 1990. Are replacements available at all? I don't really want to pay for a new box (if available) due to the age and general condition of the machine.
As a cautionary tale I'm now aware that you must never disclose to Ebay that you have 'tampered' with a machine - I declared that I had stripped the carb and cleaned it out as part of diagnosing why the machine would not start. Both Ebay and the seller were very unhelpful. There is another old machine on Ebay - suitable for parts - but it's for sale by the very same seller I had problems with.
