WestwoodGazelle

I hope nobody minds me bumping this thread (I've been away with work for ages). But I have to say I'm a Westwood fan and it's great to see someone keep a Lawnbug original especially since they are an endangered species now. I've always loved how unique these are, this must be the original Austin Mini of the lawnmower world.

These are such cool and unique looking machines, never really seen a mower quite like it.

Nice, very tidy looking D1200s! I have yet to see one of the diesel Westwoods in real life, but they seem pretty cool from what I've seen online. Must have quite a bit of power?

I agree about the paint Ian, the paint is pretty naff, especially underneath it seems more like they prit-sticked on some paper I completely redid mine with Land Rover chassis black paint and it still seems pretty good.

I see, at least you could make use of it's bits. Luckily there still seems to be a lot of these round, I personally think they're a really cool classic/retro British lawn tractor.

Dad's Husqvarna Bio Clip is incapacitated with a snapped belt, and it will take a while to source a new one/sort it out. I knew Mike Tozer (I believe a member of VHGMC) was lending us a mower but I didn't know what it would be. It was dropped off today while I was at work and when I got back Dad told me to go and have a look in the garage. I was surprised when I opened the garage door and lo and behold there's a Westwood Gazelle So I thought I'd take a few pics.

Yes, I am not refering to insurance in regard to going to shows but for lawnmowers you use on your own private land. For example my Dad would have to pay to insure his Husqvarna that he never uses anywhere but the garden, which I think is effectively just a new unnecessary tax.

Also it leads to the possibility of many old mowers being scrapped, as people who are not interested in them but happen to own them thanks to this new law now find they have to pay to keep it, so scrap the old machine down the shed and get a push mower instead.

Thanks for the info! I would definitely consider that for if I ever go to shows with my mowers.

I just think it's unfair that those who don't wish to buy insurance have yet another bill to pay, especially if they only use their machine on their own land.

Hi folks, been away for a while, work's been mad. Anyway if this is the wrong place to post this I apologise but have any of you heard about the EU's plan to force gardeners to pay insurance on their ride on mowers?

"Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, has been told that all owners of ride-on mowers may be forced to pay for the cover, even if the vehicle never leaves their garden."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11008809/Gardeners-with-sit-on-lawnmowers-face-buying-motor-insurance.html

I have several questions about this story:

1) Does this effect professional gardeners, or everybody?

2) The story says it will be £100, is this per mower? What about those of us who collect them?

3) Will the premium be more or less depending on the year and model of mower?

4) How do you go about proving this, eg on my Gazelle that has a new engine fitted and therefore no date?

5) This whole idea is so stupid am I living in reality of some sort of nightmare where humanity has gone insane?

Anyway, hope to get some pics up of my Westwood Gazelle and Wheelhorse out and about soon!

Great job Doug, seems like very good way of solving the problem Your 'Horse looks pretty cool with that exhaust and those wheels too!

Nice job on the spindles there Doug! Looks like a good bit of work.

However, since I am not the most skilled mechanic in the world/England/Devon/my house, if there was an option where I could just swap like for like easily, I would appreciate the link, Richard.

Thanks Doug! OK, I'll have to see if I can work something out, thanks for the advice.

Hi all, I wondered if anyone knows what sort of front wheel bearings that my 'Horse has and the best place to get them?

I agree Mark, not to mention it was brush painted thickly over gloss red underneath

That's my faithful dog Poppy when she was only two (ten years old now). Glad you like the paint scheme, I thought it was a nice little throwback to it's earlier life

Hi all, I managed to dig out a photo of my Wheelhorse as it was when it arived back in 2005. Luckily it's looking better these days, even though I don't consider it finished. (could do with a fresh lick of paint on the red parts). I did keep the engine silver, when I first painted it ages ago, not really sure why

I'd actually forgotten someone must have crashed it since the hood was damaged at the front, I learned a lot about body work straigntening it out. The rest of her was in pretty good shape though and most surprising is how there's effectively no rust on it at all. I also brought the light lens and light box for behind so I'll have to wire up the lights when I do the repaint at some point.

Good luck with your project! Looks like she'll be a great 'Horse when done. 

Ah OK, thanks for the info Mark!

I'll have too see about getting one at some point then, so far all I can see for sale though is a hood ornament from a Raider 9, and I'm not sure if that would fit

Thanks! Hmm sounds interesting, I googled a C-101 and it looks similar, I'm not honestly sure what the difference would be, engine perhaps?

Also I wondered if anyone knows if the C-100 would have had a bonnet/hood orniment?

Thanks all

She's only really been up and running for a couple of months, before that she was out of service for a few years due to engine problems, and I never had the time or knowledge or money to get her repaired. I did at one point pay a friend to have a look at the engine who was more compitant than me, but although he got it running it was very rough and not right due to needing some carb parts I couldn't afford at the time.

However, now the engine is up and running again due to a great chap called Mike's help, and it is unbelievably sweet. I'd like to have some fun using it around the garden before eventually in a couple of years getting her restored to hopefully something like the finish of some of the absolutely stunning work I see here. So I agree about the decals, but I'll most likely add them after she's been repainted.

The tow hitch is a little odd, but it was like that when I bought it (for £300 with a year's guarantee) from a garden machinery shop when I was 14 back in 2005. It actually is perfect for our little Saxon galvinised tipper trailer though.

So I have the Wheelhorse and the Westwood Gazelle which is my effort to save a little bit of American and English lawnmower history I'll see if I can dig out a photo of the Wheelhorse when I firstly got it back home, it was actually painted black back then.

Hi all,

This is my Wheelhorse C-100 from 1975 I have owned since 2005. It is a 10hp Kohler and is my first ever ride-on.

One day when I have my own place I'd love to restore it it perfect condition but for now she's used for gardening jobs. This is one I definitely want to keep forever though.

Ah yes, you did a great job on that Westwood!  It looked good in blue, and I liked how you did the exhaust and gearbox.

Great job on this, it certainly looks like a lot of fun. Would be great in my woods where it often gets really muddy and slippery. Where do you guys meet up for shows by the way? I'd love to come along with my two lawn tractors if I ever get the chance.

Thanks Norlett! I love the way the earlier Westwoods were so heavily over-engineered compared to some newer garden tractors. I guess that's why there still seems to be quite a few around. I've never actually seen a diesel Westwood, but that sounds like an interesting machine.

This is a great 'Horse and I love how you've worked on it. I love the Wheelhorse GT, is that bigger than the D-250? Keep up the great work

Looks like a great project!  I am always amazed just how robust these tractors were, really built to last!

Thanks Meadowfield (Mark)!

Thank you Matt!  Yes, I don't think Westwoods were ever sold in the USA, but interestingly the older ones like mine look a lot like the 1970s Dynamarks.