S1g 579 #1 Posted May 13, 2017 I'm often on the look out for early light plant, but due to the harsh environment and health and safety, its survival rates seems quite low. well today after a bit of a road trip I picked up this very early version of a Belle cement mixer. i don't think the engine is the original( I do have a more inkeeping one in my shed) and the drum although good for a mixer is still a bit battered. But I've never seen another survivor, only original photos from the 60's. Anyway here's some shots, hopefully will make a nice winter project for me once my Gems are complete, and at least the colour is right! 2 Stormin and pmackellow reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #2 Posted May 13, 2017 Looks a good project Gareth, useful too ! 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #3 Posted May 13, 2017 1 hour ago, pmackellow said: Looks a good project Gareth, useful too ! Thanks Paul. I fancied a change from always doing Howard's, plus my father was a dealer for them in the late 1970's- 1990's. i have just purchased an original sales brochure for them off eBay, probably more rare than the mixers themselves! 1 pmackellow reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #4 Posted May 13, 2017 Can't beat a good bit of period literature 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #5 Posted May 13, 2017 I bet it won't look like that this time next year. 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #6 Posted May 13, 2017 7 minutes ago, Stormin said: I bet it won't look like that this time next year. Hopefully not. The drum though is going to prove a challenge. Its going to have to wait until my gems are done. New drums of this design are obsolete so I'm going to have to see what can be done with my limited skills. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #7 Posted May 13, 2017 21 minutes ago, pmackellow said: Can't beat a good bit of period literature True, but I'm already half way through filling my second filing cabinet. Also hard to find brochure can get expensive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #8 Posted May 13, 2017 3 minutes ago, S1g said: True, but I'm already half way through filling my second filing cabinet. Also hard to find brochure can get expensive. Tell me about it ! 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darmic1 447 #9 Posted May 14, 2017 It's Orange! 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #10 Posted May 14, 2017 4 hours ago, Darmic1 said: It's Orange! In reality that just a coincidence, lol! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #11 Posted May 14, 2017 I just been having a proper look over it, this morning. I may get the engine done quite soon so I can then leave it running with a load of bricks and off cuts of metal in the drum to get off most of the build up of concrete from inside. Found in the past this is much easier than chiselling it off by hand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #12 Posted May 14, 2017 heres the engine I will be using as a doner, although I will probably have to use the tank and carb off the other one. 1 Darmic1 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #13 Posted May 23, 2017 Been at a bit of a loose end whilst waiting for paint to dry on my Gem, so have sorted out the engine, and have managed to nearly straighten the drum. Last picture is my little helper/ hinderence. 3 Stormin, Alan and pmackellow reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #14 Posted May 23, 2017 Engine looks like new. 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #15 Posted May 24, 2017 11 hours ago, Stormin said: Engine looks like new. Thanks Norm. It's been so long since I've done a Briggs that I'd forgotten how cheap they are to overhaul. This one only cost about £30 all in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #16 Posted May 24, 2017 Been having a busy day with the wire brush in the grinder. Due to the rheumatism in my hands I can only use it in short bursts. Plus with the heat today there was smoke coming out of it at the end! The annoying thing is it only takes seconds and a bucket of water to remove the concrete when wet, yet Ive hours ahead of me. Been speaking to Titch and he reckons itll be no problem to reproduce some decals, and ive found a source of Belle Orange paint. I thought i'd try emailing Belle to see if they could give me any information about its age etc, but typical of a lot of big companies they didn't even bother responding after nearly a fortnight! 2 Cub Cadet and Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #17 Posted May 26, 2017 Heres a couple of videos of it running. Sorry for the clanking but im trying to clean out all the set Concrete from inside the drum. Its hunting a little in the videos, in order to improve the running I was going to order a new needle and seat plus a governor spring, unless anyone has any other thoughts? 3 Stormin, Darmic1 and Cub Cadet reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
