Practically Classics Forum

.....Or anyone else, this isn't exclusive.
Question is; I'm after a box for my Macallister 484sp, a 45cm cut, rotary self propelled mower. I believe that the machine is a B&Q own brand version of the Mountfield HP474 but before I end up buying the box from an eBay seller at the other end of the UK - where all the stuff I want is almost always to be found! - I need to know that it's the right one.
The other bits I need are all generic Mountfield/Honda/Briggs & Stratton stuff but if anyone (Zipgun, you know your mowers?) can advise how thick the head gasket on the Macallister's engine (it's the one in the attached photie) should be, I'd like to know that too as I think that the copper I used to make the last one was too thick because it seems down on compression since and takes ages to start as a result. This wouldn't be a problem (once she's running, she'll cut at not much over idle speed throughout the rest of the day) but I'm right handed and my right shoulder is one of my most mobile joints so it's the one that invariably pops out when I try pulling the cord, annoying and time consuming as I then have to go back in, repot the shoulder and come back out and chap the neighbour's door to exchange lager or tea for a quick tug.
I've been to the local B&Q to ask about the HG thing and would buy a new, factory fresh one from a B&S dealer as they're probably cheaper than the copper but where's the fun in that eh? Oh, and they come from China and are on back order.
But the box is the first priority as I don't mind paying a tin of inexpensive fizz to get the thing running.

Ah! The photie isn't attached as it seems that I can't upload anything larger than 128KB. OK, the engine is an RV150, they're pretty common.

I've never had a rotary mower . I don't know ,sorry. Gearbox or grassbox? All mower shops have graveyards , just ask if you can look for one .. my "McLaren Suffolk" was 2 quid..





If you want to soup it up, i've got a Briggs 7.5 hp 250cc vertical crank , lecy start engine ,(and wiring ), from a low mileage mountfield 25 ride on rotary ???
My midlife crisis has moved on from mowers this week. I just HAD TO claim a Wickham sludge pump from a pile of scrap in a farm . You know, the nodding donkey type.. I'm thinking garden water feature my misses despairs

Yes, sorry, meant grassbox. Transmission is by belts and sheer luck! Since posting, I've forked out for a new one from a Mountfield dealer. Cosmetically challenged, they exchanged the box under warranty and sold it for a tenner, which is in keeping with the bangernomics theme.
I'd be interested in that engine, don't suppose you fancy another Suffolk machine? (Like yours, slightly older and in the old BAR Honda colours , not really, just kidding, it's Suffolk green) Straight swap for the hot rod motor eh?

Meanwhile, having caught your collecting disease from looking at the forum too much, I bought an ancient Lister concrete mixer engine today, it was found amongst some 4 1/2" Minor van J-rim wheels that I'd gone to grab for something that isn't (yet) a lawn mower.

You're thinking flail mower to tow behind a quad? This is what i've been thinking and not doing for the last 15 years.. It ain't pretty, its been in a damp shed all this time , no exhaust pipe (I nicked it for some other forgotten project) but if you have a use for it , all yours ! I don't want any more Suffolks though.. I'll nip down the shed dig it out and take a pic, hang fire ...

I was wrong , it's a 275cc sidewinder .. Bonus !!
Sadly only 7 hp.. was covered in sawdust , it was under the flipsaw and i've been sawing up mahogany Tinware is a bit speckley with rust ,like the thin paint on mowers goes.. I'm an expert on mower paint

Excellent! How to get that from Sussex to oop norf though? Shiply job?

It's now a runner, at least ,on sniff . No oil in it . There was no spark , so i whipped ( belted hard ) off the flywheel , and it's the old points and condenser ,so its pre 1980 .I'm an expert on mower engines . Cleaned points and fat juicy sparks now . A shot of sniff and it fired ,but daren't run it without oil...and it was only balanced on a workmate . If you want it I'll look for a big box .

Oh hell aye! Please pm the details as posting anything else in public view will lead to (a) a risk that everyone else will want one and (b) the sis-in-law beast knowing what I'm up to.

is this for your minor project john?

We'll expect a new project thread to follow shortly after delivery ...Gis a hint why a vertical crank engine is so desirable The foam element is shagged