On 20/04/2024 19:53, John Rumm wrote:
> Yup mine has a starting brake interlock - odd thing is that the mower
> does not actually have any brakes 🙂

Are you sure? Mine has a tiny disc brake, next to the diff, on the rear
axle. I think it comes on automatically, when the pressure of the drive
belt is released, but pressing the brake applies a little more pressure.

As a brake, it is not very effective, but it doesn't really need to be.

On 22/04/2024 12:08, Davey wrote:
> On Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:48:30 +0100
> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
>
>> On 20/04/2024 18:26, Davey wrote:
>>> The engine stops if the rider leaves the seat, and the only
>>> occasion I want to bypass that is when I want to use up the fuel in
>>> the carburettor, and I can keep pressure on the seat while getting
>>> off it to close the fuel valve.
>>
>> Doesn't applying the handbrake, allow you to do that?
>
> Not on my mower. The 'Handbrake' is a tiny piece of metal that holds
> the footbrake down, I would not trust it with anything important.

Mine has a button to lock the break pedal "down" - that does disable the
seat interlock - so it will stay running without pressure on the seat. I
tended to find that it would often vibrate lose though, and release the
brake.

--
Cheers,

John.

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On 22/04/2024 12:05, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
> On 21/04/2024 14:05, John Rumm wrote:
>>
>> https://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/File:Lawnflite703IdlerWheels.jpg
>
> That deck belt, looks as 'tired' as my deck belt :-)

The deck belt is actually quite new (although I partly knackered that
yesterday!) - that photo shows the traction drive belt which is probably
15 years old. (when I saw that I bought a new set in anticipation
expecting it to go at any moment - it is actually still hanging on)

> The easy way to work on the underside, is to simply tip it over on it's
> side, carburettor side uppermost. Put a milk crate or similar on the far
> side, lift so it rests on the crate, then gradually lower it to a
> suitable working angle. Much easier with two, but I have managed it on
> my own, using the 'motorbike lift' - legs bent, mower behind you, grab
> hold with gloved hands, and straighten your legs. Easier to lift, with
> the cutting deck dropped off first.
>
> Turned on it's side, with the carb down, the intake gets sump oil into it.

Since doing that I bought a "lift" that does cant it over to the side -
which makes it a fair bit easier.

(you need to do it without too much fuel in the tank, else it can
dribble out of the breather hole in the fuel cap)

--
Cheers,

John.

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| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

On 22/04/2024 12:12, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
> On 20/04/2024 19:53, John Rumm wrote:
>> Yup mine has a starting brake interlock - odd thing is that the mower
>> does not actually have any brakes 🙂
>
> Are you sure? Mine has a tiny disc brake, next to the diff, on the rear
> axle. I think it comes on automatically, when the pressure of the drive
> belt is released, but pressing the brake applies a little more pressure.
>
> As a brake, it is not very effective, but it doesn't really need to be.

I have not noticed it - but then again was not looking for it. It seems
to stop when you take you foot off the accelerator. I had noticed the
official brake pedal doing anything extra though.

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
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| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

On 22-Apr-24 12:09, Davey wrote:
> On Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:51:11 +0100
> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
>
>> On 21/04/2024 00:31, Davey wrote:
>>> Yes, 6 speeds forward, one reverse. We had a 'Snapper' in the US
>>> that had a rubber-tyred disc that ran in and out on a rotating disc
>>> driven by the engine, to give a DAF-like transmission. It seemed
>>> horribly crude, but in fact worked well.
>>
>> Variomatic?
>
> A similar effect, but done differently.

Different enough to avoid Patent infringement I wonder?

--
Sam Plusnet

On 20-Apr-24 19:53, John Rumm wrote:
> On 20/04/2024 18:26, Tim Lamb wrote:

>> Interlock preventing operation without the cuttings collector fitted?
>> Why? Mine has a Croc clip in the toolbox to overcome this issue.
>
> Mine used to have a bamboo cane tied under the levers that are pushed up
> when the collector is fitted. I worked out in the end, that just
> unplugging the lead to the microswitch was enough to disable it.

That sounds like a terrible design for an interlock. Not exactly
"Fail-safe".

--
Sam Plusnet

On Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:03:00 +0100
Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

> On 22-Apr-24 12:09, Davey wrote:
> > On Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:51:11 +0100
> > Harry Bloomfield Esq <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
> >
> >> On 21/04/2024 00:31, Davey wrote:
> >>> Yes, 6 speeds forward, one reverse. We had a 'Snapper' in the US
> >>> that had a rubber-tyred disc that ran in and out on a rotating
> >>> disc driven by the engine, to give a DAF-like transmission. It
> >>> seemed horribly crude, but in fact worked well.
> >>
> >> Variomatic?
> >
> > A similar effect, but done differently.
>
> Different enough to avoid Patent infringement I wonder?
>

I would say very different in the mechanics. No belt of any kind, to
start with.
--
Davey.

On 22/04/2024 11:55, Tim Lamb wrote:
> In message <v05e43$t3th$1@dont-email.me>, Andrew
> <Andrew97d@btinternet.com> writes
>> On 16/04/2024 00:55, John Rumm wrote:
>>> On 15/04/2024 22:21, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
>>>> On 15/04/2024 21:01, John Rumm wrote:
>>>>> Well that worked rather well - wish I had done something similar
>>>>> years ago:
>>>>>
>>>>> https://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Ride_on_mower_grass_deflector
>>>>>
>>>>> It projects about 13" from the back of the mower, and is about 11"
>>>>> tall. It is about 50% bigger than the exit of the grass chute. It
>>>>> turns the airstream downwards and blows the grass neatly onto the
>>>>> ground.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yep, incredibly wet this year, like driving on a blancmange. I
>>>> attempted the first cut of the year yesterday, in absolute
>>>> desperation. I only managed to cut most of it, what was left, took
>>>> hours of struggling in wellies, with a strimmer - too wet to drive on.
>>>  I have been waiting weeks to be able to have any chance of driving
>>> on  it. It was still soft going but I could at least move without
>>> getting  stuck... Just wanted another few dry days, and, it rained
>>> again today!
>>>
>>>> For when it's a bit less wet, I tried a small, hinged, alloy
>>>> deflector  at the outlet, where you fitted your modification. My
>>>> version, made  the choking worse - I fancy trying your version this
>>>> time around.
>>>  I was trying to impede the air flow as little as possible - and also
>>> make it a gentle ish curve. I was not holding out much hope, but it
>>> did  seem to do the job.
>>>
>>
>> How about a bold upgrade :-)
>>
>> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255567713928?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-
>> 19255-0&campid=5338365712&toolid=20006&customid=EB209928167&
>
> Excellent tool until the combine harvester ingests a car tyre that has
> been flung over the roadside hedge!
>

Won't that have jammed up the header or drums and straw walkers
long before it reaches the chopper though ?.

There is an interesting YouTube site called ZK MasterTech
(USA) made by a John Deere dealership. One of their
repairs was a JD combine that had ingested something
unforgiving.

In message <v0af07$2771o$1@dont-email.me>, Andrew
<Andrew97d@btinternet.com> writes
>On 22/04/2024 11:55, Tim Lamb wrote:
>> In message <v05e43$t3th$1@dont-email.me>, Andrew
>><Andrew97d@btinternet.com> writes
>>> On 16/04/2024 00:55, John Rumm wrote:
>>>> On 15/04/2024 22:21, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
>>>>> On 15/04/2024 21:01, John Rumm wrote:
>>>>>> Well that worked rather well - wish I had done something similar
>>>>>>years ago:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Ride_on_mower_grass_deflector
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It projects about 13" from the back of the mower, and is about
>>>>>>11" tall. It is about 50% bigger than the exit of the grass
>>>>>>chute. It turns the airstream downwards and blows the grass
>>>>>>neatly onto the ground.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Yep, incredibly wet this year, like driving on a blancmange. I
>>>>>attempted the first cut of the year yesterday, in absolute
>>>>>desperation. I only managed to cut most of it, what was left, took
>>>>>hours of struggling in wellies, with a strimmer - too wet to drive on.
>>>>  I have been waiting weeks to be able to have any chance of driving
>>>>on  it. It was still soft going but I could at least move without
>>>>getting  stuck... Just wanted another few dry days, and, it rained
>>>>again today!
>>>>
>>>>> For when it's a bit less wet, I tried a small, hinged, alloy
>>>>>deflector  at the outlet, where you fitted your modification. My
>>>>>version, made  the choking worse - I fancy trying your version this
>>>>>
>>>>  I was trying to impede the air flow as little as possible - and
>>>>also make it a gentle ish curve. I was not holding out much hope,
>>>>but it did  seem to do the job.
>>>>
>>>
>>> How about a bold upgrade :-)
>>>
>>> https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255567713928?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-
>>> 19255-0&campid=5338365712&toolid=20006&customid=EB209928167&
>> Excellent tool until the combine harvester ingests a car tyre that
>>has been flung over the roadside hedge!
>
>Won't that have jammed up the header or drums and straw walkers
>long before it reaches the chopper though ?.

Yes. Generally. I had one roadside field that had to be walked prior to
harvest each year.

The slatted elevator carrying crop to the drum was the usual stop point.
Friction drive/slipping clutch protect most bits on the front of a
combine.
The chopper is a set of fixed blades with a second set on a rotating
shaft.
Bad news to back into a hedge!
>
>There is an interesting YouTube site called ZK MasterTech
>(USA) made by a John Deere dealership. One of their
>repairs was a JD combine that had ingested something
>unforgiving.

--
Tim Lamb

On 22/04/2024 19:03, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 22-Apr-24 12:09, Davey wrote:
>> On Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:51:11 +0100
>> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On 21/04/2024 00:31, Davey wrote:
>>>> Yes, 6 speeds forward, one reverse. We had a 'Snapper' in the US
>>>> that had a rubber-tyred disc that ran in and out on a rotating disc
>>>> driven by the engine, to give a DAF-like transmission. It seemed
>>>> horribly crude, but in fact worked well.
>>>
>>> Variomatic?
>>
>> A similar effect, but done differently.
>
> Different enough to avoid Patent infringement I wonder?

I doubt there is still a patent active on the variomatic system. DAF
were using that more than 40 years ago...

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

On 24-Apr-24 20:00, John Rumm wrote:
> On 22/04/2024 19:03, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> On 22-Apr-24 12:09, Davey wrote:
>>> On Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:51:11 +0100
>>> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 21/04/2024 00:31, Davey wrote:
>>>>> Yes, 6 speeds forward, one reverse. We had a 'Snapper' in the US
>>>>> that had a rubber-tyred disc that ran in and out on a rotating disc
>>>>> driven by the engine, to give a DAF-like transmission. It seemed
>>>>> horribly crude, but in fact worked well.
>>>>
>>>> Variomatic?
>>>
>>> A similar effect, but done differently.
>>
>> Different enough to avoid Patent infringement I wonder?
>
> I doubt there is still a patent active on the variomatic system. DAF
> were using that more than 40 years ago...
>

But was there an active patent when earliest incarnation of the ride-on
mower under discussion was first designed?

--
Sam Plusnet