Wristpin

What the hill climbers call "fiddle brakes".
 
http://www.devon4x4.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&catid=4&id=104710&Itemid=106&view=topic

The early Westwoods were just re- badged Dynamarks, hence the resemblance! The next generation had a UK built chassis with a Dynamark deck followed by the complete UK built machines.
The diesel machines were prone to catching fire due to the vibration rupturing fuel lines and chafing wiring looms! Several " lawn tractor" manufacturers of that era tried to meet the perceived need for a diesel by just dropping a single pot oil burner onto an existing chassis without giving much attention to engine mounts etc and without exception they were all pretty horrible.
The last to try it were Stiga with a Hatz lump on a rear engined bendy and this setup, as well as being harsh and crude sent vibrations through the hydrostatic transmissions knocking out the axle bushes sometimes in as little as ten hours!

When I had the business we had a 5 lire capacity stainless steel tank with a heater that would take several carbs at a time. In retirement I have a three litre stainless, again with a heater and it does a good job.
It came with a bottle of Seaclean concentrate but I prefer Ultraclean SA plus just a drop of washing up liquid. It should be noted that the cleaning fluid should be matched to the metal being cleaned. Some cleaning solutions are too aggressive for the soft alloys used in carburettors. Some people use a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Another tip that I picked up along the way is that the plastic parts baskets supplied with some cleaners absorb about 30% of the ultrasonic energy before it reaches the parts being cleaned, whereas a stainless mesh basket only absorbs around 8% - I found a suitable stainless one in a cookware shop and subsequently a better one from a jewellery supply company !
Remove  jets etc from the carb body and clean them at the same time but loose in the float bowl or a separate container. Alter the orientation of the carb body during the cleaning process so that the "shaken loose" dirt can fall out.  I usually clean in two 15min sessions at 50degrees C.
 
After posting the above I was browsing some US sites looking for home made cleaning solution recipes and stumbled across this - interesting,
 
"Do not clean ball or roller bearings in an ultrasonic cleaner. The vibration of the components of the bearing will cause surface damage on the raceways and rollers or balls. We ran tests on several groups of bearings and found that even after a short cycle in the cleaner there was enough damage to cause rough noisy operation when we tested the bearings in a noise test machine. This program was initiated when customers complained about noise after ultra sonic cleaning the rust inhibitor from new bearings, since it was not compatible with the lubricant they were using in the application."

Whoops, missed it ! May be "ours" had the same issue and we freed it off without realising what we'd done. Doubt if I will ever see one again but it's one for the "knowledge bank".
Thanks.

Sounds as though you may have cracked it but with any unknown engine I believe that time spent making sure that the valve condition and clearance, is time well sent. Short of a worn bore and piston valve condition is fundamental to a sweet running engine ; if the valves are not right no amount of tinkering with ignition and carburettor will achieve a permanent cure.
Also don't rely on a compression test as an indication of valve condition on an engine with automatic decompression to aid starting. The only reliable non-invasive test is with a leak down tester - not usually found outside a professional workshop.
For the time spent doing a valve job and probably a head gasket you will have sound foundations on which to fine tune carburettor and ignition.

Bit more progress on the Marquis, not been the best of weather for paint spraying!

http://showyou.com/v/y-pNe6fsaCVtI/crazy-circle-illusion?u=multimotion

Need to move on another to create some space !  Found a home for a relatively young Honda engined Marquis a week ago so there are still a few people out there who appreciate a quality cylinder mower. When we started the business in '81 we would buy in lots of ex local authority Ransomes and Atcos of all sizes throughout the year and then overhaul and prep for sale during the winter; not unusual to start the season with a couple of dozen in stock. Now in retirement it's just a hobby; no customer hassle, wage bill, business rates etc and as much time as is needed to do things properly.

Bit more progress on the Marquis, not been the best of weather for paint spraying!

Bit more progress on the Marquis, not been the best of weather for paint spraying!

I could answer that but on second thoughts it might cause offence/uncontrolled mirth!

I could answer that but on second thoughts it might cause offence/uncontrolled mirth!

Making progress.
The cutting cylinder and bottom blade are de-rusted, painted, sharpened and reassembled with new reaction springs and felt seals. The old springs appear to have been attacked with an angle grinder; can't see why as the new ones are far from coil bound with the reground cylinder and refaced bottom blade.

 
The rear roller had spent the weekend in the diesel tank which had done its job and the roller didn't put up too much of a fight. The grooves on these roller sections are good so no tedious re-cutting required!
 

 

 
Chassis and grass box etc off to "blasters" for stripping and epoxy coating. Unfortunately they are busy with all sorts of interesting things so wont see them back till mid next week but there is the engine to strip and re-paint.
Might even tidy the workshop!
 
 

Fetched this home from darkest South East London this afternoon - not far from HMP Belmarsh!
Looks like it's been exposed to the elements for a while but is basically OK.
Never been a great fan of the Briggs / Marquis combination so once it's all running I may retrofit a Sloper.

Time to fire up the Lister and make sure it's ready for any power cuts!
 
 

Making progress.
The cutting cylinder and bottom blade are de-rusted, painted, sharpened and reassembled with new reaction springs and felt seals. The old springs appear to have been attacked with an angle grinder; can't see why as the new ones are far from coil bound with the reground cylinder and refaced bottom blade.

 
The rear roller had spent the weekend in the diesel tank which had done its job and the roller didn't put up too much of a fight. The grooves on these roller sections are good so no tedious re-cutting required!
 

 

 
Chassis and grass box etc off to "blasters" for stripping and epoxy coating. Unfortunately they are busy with all sorts of interesting things so wont see them back till mid next week but there is the engine to strip and re-paint.
Might even tidy the workshop!
 
 

13kva , split over 3 phases.
Not the most civilised machine compared with modern "quiet" units but very economical on red diesel and allows life to carry on uninterrupted.
The only thing that causes a change of engine note is the ordinary domestic 800 watt micro wave when it pulses. no doubt someone with an electrical "ology" can explain that.
Control panel

13kva , split over 3 phases.
Not the most civilised machine compared with modern "quiet" units but very economical on red diesel and allows life to carry on uninterrupted.
The only thing that causes a change of engine note is the ordinary domestic 800 watt micro wave when it pulses. no doubt someone with an electrical "ology" can explain that.
Control panel

Time to fire up the Lister and make sure it's ready for any power cuts!
 
 

13kva , split over 3 phases.
Not the most civilised machine compared with modern "quiet" units but very economical on red diesel and allows life to carry on uninterrupted.
The only thing that causes a change of engine note is the ordinary domestic 800 watt micro wave when it pulses. no doubt someone with an electrical "ology" can explain that.
Control panel

13kva , split over 3 phases.
Not the most civilised machine compared with modern "quiet" units but very economical on red diesel and allows life to carry on uninterrupted.
The only thing that causes a change of engine note is the ordinary domestic 800 watt micro wave when it pulses. no doubt someone with an electrical "ology" can explain that.
Control panel

Fetched this home from darkest South East London this afternoon - not far from HMP Belmarsh!
Looks like it's been exposed to the elements for a while but is basically OK.
Never been a great fan of the Briggs / Marquis combination so once it's all running I may retrofit a Sloper.

Time to fire up the Lister and make sure it's ready for any power cuts!
 
 

13kva , split over 3 phases.
Not the most civilised machine compared with modern "quiet" units but very economical on red diesel and allows life to carry on uninterrupted.
The only thing that causes a change of engine note is the ordinary domestic 800 watt micro wave when it pulses. no doubt someone with an electrical "ology" can explain that.
Control panel