I usually use my foot to kick the starter handle over .....the pull starter on the k301 is not the best really....if its tuned well with good clean points a few kicks should get it going.
Nice find ..looks to be a good solid machine......they had i believe lots of attachments, and the kohler engines are great. I am tempted by a jacobson chief 1200 at the moment myself (12hp Kohler 1968)..but my sheds are packed!!
Looks in great condition ... saw one at a show/rally over here a few years ago..but couldn't catch up with the owner (would like to have heard it running)..Didn't realise so few were made ...you made a good purchase there.
I wouldn't mind getting my hands on that Allis chambers at the end of the video plus some of the Kohler engines/wheelhouses...... used to be a much smaller scale lawnmower graveyard /repair shop not far from me ...but when his son took it over ..he cleared the lot into industrial skips and modernised the place. Didn't realise sheep could be used for security duty!!!
From a pile of parts to a gleaming machine, that's a fantastic restoration Sir
A couple of questions for you... How did you go about welding up the cast gearbox case? Lot's of heat first before welding?
And second.... Where did you find the 10ft tall sack barrow in the second photo?
The engineering shop is run by a German....and they let it drop off the bench ..so he welded it up. He was was so annoyed at this mishap he didn't want to charge me ...but on I insisted on paying him . Normally cast iron is pre heated as it dislikes rapid heating/or cooling which can cause cracking. The barrow sack is From ALDI ..saves the back !!!
When I bought the machine 5 yrs ago I though I was just getting what you see in the finished photos ..but after loading the seller went around the back of his garage and hauled out the set of trailed discs,big ridge plough / Tool frame and a second smaller set of wheels (can be used with Rotavator attachment..I was surprised to say the least. The engine came off an auto culto festival and I couldn't bring myself to paint over the original petrol tank decals and dealer writing ..so it remains unpainted!
This project was laying in the back of the shed for 5 years , but when I sourced the correct engine (villiers mark 15 OHV) last year finally made a start. It was quiet a mess , but came with a plough, Discs, and large ridge plough, Tool frame and i also bought a Rotavator attachment separately 2 years ago.
It was very oily ..so first job was dismantle and spray with "oil eater"
it was messy to dismantle with oil everywhere from a leaking gearbox (worn bronze wheel bushings)
Here is the new bronze wheel bush fitted..the old worn ones caused the wheels to wobble!!
The gearbox fell off the bench ..cast iron is not strong !! big setback. But welded okay
Its chain drive so gearbox needs to be oil tight
Better view of welding repair
Its drive gearbox (upper) is an albion with a reverse..this was seized but managed to free it up. Filled with non ep gear oil..as it has bronze phosphorus components
Finally got to priming after shot blasting most parts (paint was very tough possibly contained lead)
Finished in John Deere Yellow missing from pic is heavy front weight.
. Engine is great ..good starter and burns clean. Now must start on all the attachments
Hi Dave I will see if my son can put it in PDF form if not I will post it on. Its only about 8 A 4 pages....most given over to a long spare part list no longer available!!. There was two types of carburettor ..the early ones was type 124/150 and the later one was 333/1 I got a second engine on eBay with the 333/1 later type and its running much better on the later carb. The bore is 57 mm and the only piston rings that match size wise are those from Austin A 40 !!. Compression is the weak spot ..wore bores...so try regrinding the valves. I also took the sump off and cleaned it plus took the piston out and soaked in carb cleaner to clean dirt out of the rings. I gave the bore a light rub of emery paper (circular motion not up and down ..attempt to cross hatch). As rings are not available I didn't hone the cylinder. Yours hopefully has less wear.
I just used a short reach 14 mm plug, i wasn't a problem...no details were given in the 1952 dated copy of the manual I have.
The choke is on the oil bath air filter...so if its not attached to the carb by its hose you will need to partly block the end of the carb with a cloth to suck the fuel in for initial starting.
Hi Dave I have an Howard Bantam AC 120 that runs. If you type in on Google "Howard AC 120" one of my posts should show "VHGMC tractorbox Uk" dated nov 5th 2011. It was a complete wreck not started for years and left outside for so long the cowl rusted away. Got it running 2 nights later as you will see from pictures. I would just try cleaning everything up ..clean inside of flywheel...clean the points with a strip of 320 emery paper ...finish by drawing a piece of plain white paper through. Gap is 18 thou. Put fly wheel back on. Check spark plug lead..i often cut the very last piece off the lead (if long enough) and put on a good open (non suppressor) connector. Next attach a new plug and rest on clean section on top of block. I then attach a wire brush to an electric drill and spin the flywheel. Sometimes it takes several minutes but this method has brought a spark back to quiet a few of my engines over the years...and was how I got my Ac 120 back to life. Not an easy machine to tune..governor controlled. Pm if you need further advise.
So few made ..109 machines in total.. there must be very few left out there ...so great to find a good complete runner . Would love to get my hands on one ...they are truly unique.
Coming along nicely Darren..wish i could get my hands on some of that Heavy duty paint stripper...some of the vintage paint on our machines is incredible hard to shift.
The one thing I don't like about the howard 200 is it topples over too easy...tried rotavating with mine once it was a very difficult to keep upright on uneven ground. Yours is nice example ...well restored as usual.
Almost finished restoring my auto culto Darren ...was hoping you would entertain us with another super restoration . Got the exhaust finished to day for the BJ Howard gem..very tricky to make up from scratch
Nice to see the extra attachments for the iron horse. I am heading to Dublin at the weekend, where there will be some anzani s plus a trusty ploughing at the county championships. I have a flat tyre on my iron horse at present (600x22) ..old pink rubber tube is gone..so wont be bringing my Iron horse. Hope to track one down, but no luck so far.
Did you get around to finishing restoring your twin Gareth? ran into problem with rebuilding my twin engine. The oversize pistons were catching in the hole into the main block.....back to engineering shop for third time to mill out enough clearance.
I like the old hayters...built like tanks.....I have a hayter 26" with the rough-cut deck and roller seat/cylinder mower attachment. Your machine looks in good nick ...they are always handy for cutting rougher grass areas/high grass.
Hi Darren I am restoring an universal auto- culto at present and the weak spot appears to be where the wheel axle exits the gearbox. Its got a brass bushing that wears...eventually the wheels get a nasty rock in them ...I have totally stripped mine and its at an engineering shop getting new bronze bushings fitted...so check that area. Brian Bells book has a good section on the make. Lots of attachments available ..so a nice machine to restore.
Beautiful finish ..any tips on painting/paint type used? ...I like the Briggs engines... Never seen anything like these old beauties before.... Thanks for sharing.
Nice collection...I am restoring a Auto culto more or less identical to yours at present..I have the plough/discs /ridge plough /rotavator attachments.
Like your briggs engined 350 or is it a 300...Gareth....will have to track one .....they are a good seller and over here they sell fast on the odd occasion they come up for sale.
Recoil starter for Howard Gem
in Wanted
Posted
I usually use my foot to kick the starter handle over .....the pull starter on the k301 is not the best really....if its tuned well with good clean points a few kicks should get it going.