Westwood gazelle w11 restoration project

[L8on 18]

Struggling to find a part number but I am 99% sure it's the same as the countax deck. I will put a post in the wanted section .....you never know

[Wristpin 400]

A  Westwood deck of that age has nothing in common with Countax decks but bearings etc are not a problem. 

As has been mentioned a worn belt with thick and thin sections will set up a vibration as the difference in section effectively tensions and de-tensions it as it passes over the pulleys . Also have a look at the pulleys themselves, particularly the crankshaft pulley,  as the pressed steel and spot welded ones can spread , again causing a "fast and loose" effect on belt tension and setting up a vibration. Obviously the machined cast ones are not susceptible to spreading.

Beware of over tensioning the belt - as unlikely as it sounds, an overtensioned belt can result in a snapped crank.

 

Edit. I think that this is your deck but there are a couple with minor variations.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ns33em6yp9c9r8/Westwood standard 36in RD deck0001.pdf?dl=0

Edited July 28, 2017 by Wristpin
Additional material

[L8on 18]

Thank you for the info I will make sure not to over tension the belt. I will wait till the new belt arrives and see how that runs.  Thanks for the link really helpful.  I will also have a good look at the crank pulley  Once again thank you all for your help 

[WestwoodGazelle 103]

Welcome to the forum and great job there! As you can probably tell by my username I am a big fan of these machines, they are a lot of fun and really easy to work on. I have very little experience of the cutting decks as I use mine as a garden tractor, but I hope it serves your father well. Very tidy work, I am sure it will outlast many modern tractors. 

[L8on 18]

Thank you its been a labour if love if I am honest I will be sorry to see it go I am glad you said it will last .....it runs really well I changes the sump gasket and also the crank seal yesterday along with a full service. It was leaking oil but it's dry as a bone now

[Wristpin 400]

On 27/07/2017 at 9:59 PM, L8on said:

.I  built my own powdercoating oven last month ...so this project was a great way to learn. I am surprised how easy it is

 

Do tell us more - also the "electrostaticy" bit and obtaining small quantities of powder paint. My local powder painter applies a primer and then the finishing coat before the primer is completely cured so that they key together during the final curing bake. Is that the way to go?

[L8on 18]

16 hours ago, Wristpin said:

 

Do tell us more - also the "electrostaticy" bit and obtaining small quantities of powder paint. My local powder painter applies a primer and then the finishing coat before the primer is completely cured so that they key together during the final curing bake. Is that the way to go?

Hello the electrostaticy is fantastic the powder is so flexible once cured. You can powder coat tin foil crumple it up ....unfortunately fold and the powdercoat is still intact. I didn't use Primer my alloys were done without Primer 5 years ago and still great and it's a lawning mower on a budget the powder I got of eBay roughly £15 per kg for simple colours. When you get into chrome and candies the price goes up. Withe the candy and chrome you also do 2 coats and the cure together to get some amazing colours and effects.

This is the oven I made out of a old filing cabinet and a 99p cooker of eBay:)

[Wristpin 400]

Interesting. My made up word of "electrostacticy" was intended to refer to the gun for applying the powder and the method of applying the negative charge to the object being coated. However I find your comments about the elasticity of powder coat surprising as experience with commercial applications such as on older Westwood and Countax tractors has been the opposite, with the coating peeling off in sheets!  Maybe the difference in in the care of application compared with a commercial finish?  Your oven is most impressive, what sort of temperature is required to achieve your high standard of finish.

Edited July 31, 2017 by Wristpin
Fat finger issue !

[L8on 18]

Ah electrostacticy that's my dyslexia kicking in I use a very simple powder gun does not require any electric.it passes the powder through 2 ptfe plastic sheets which charges the powder rather than the old way of using 20,0000 volts at a very low ampage to charge the part. The gun only cost me 60 pound I think when powder coat peals away from the pannle it hasn't been cured properly or the metal was not clean and degreaser when the powder was a applied. My oven reached 180 decrees which is the perfect temp for powder which is roughly 400 faranhite:) bake for 20 mins .....longer with larger parts such as the cutting deck due the size it takes longer for the part to heat up.

Edited July 31, 2017 by L8on

[L8on 18]

I also gas the parts first which is pre heating the part for 20 mins this gets rid of any empurities in the metal.

[C-101plowerpower 548]

i'd love to see some kind of how to on the powdercoating, also nice job on the westwood

[Bunty 2]

Well done you!  Have been watching progress with interest, you've done great! Looking forward to seeing powder coating.

 

Doing nothing of great interest myself.  Neglected my old Hayter last autumn and it's let me know it ever since I got it out in Spring!  Have the Allen Scythe to tart up this winter, mechanically sound.  Fellas having a chuckle at a little thing like me move it around! Huh! lol

 

Will be watching powder coating with great interest!  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[L8on 18]

Here is a video from my YouTube channle. My editing skills need work but I feel I did ok lol 

Have a look and see what you think

 

 

Edited August 2, 2017 by L8on