ScooterBob
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I am allowed to be jealous as all get-out?? Heeheehee!!! I hope to get back to Oh-ho-ho in maybe January to see that little rig in person!! OUTSTANDING!!!
Got started on the 1014 edger today
- Thread starter d_sharier
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d_sharier
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I am getting dangerously close!!!!! I am only waiting on the gasket set for the engine. I ordered an handful of them on Dec. 4. The guy didn't ship them until the 10th. So I am a bit frustrated with that. I hope to have it today.
I received the new bearings for the arbor housing. I am not sure why Lawn-Boy decided to use angular thrust bearings in this application. I think it may have been a case of "use up the rest of the bearings on that shelf in those edgers" That is purely speculation on my part. I am no expert on the design and function of bearings so if anyone can offer some insight on this, I will be grateful.
So I got the bearings installed. I put some of the frame of the unit together, but the mount to support the handle and arm bolts to the engine, so I am at a stand still. I did press the new needle bearing in the armature plate. I rebuilt the recoil starter: new spring, new rope, cleaned and polished. I got the blue handle in the mail. It's awesome, I didn't think I'd find one. It has a little hairline fracture starting underneath one side of the finger rests. I am going to use some donor material from the broken one that I have to repair it. Should be good as new. I got the decals put on. I rebuilt the carburetor: ultrasonic bath, passed carb cleaner through all passages and orifices,new needle & seat, new float, new bowl gasket. I installed the crankshaft, the connecting rod, and piston all into the crankcase. I put the grips back on the handle bars. I put the heat gun to them and the shine came back much the same way as on a plastic fuel tank. The don't look new, but definitely significantly better. I can't find an OEM belt so I am going to get an aftermarket replacement. I think one of the companies makes a blue belt, so at least it will match. Corny, I know. Oh, and I replaced all the hitch pins with new stainless steel ones.
As soon as the gasket set shows up I can finish it. I was really hoping to have it listed for sale by now, but the cosmos have decided otherwise. Boy I get cranky when I don't get my own way! LOL!!!
My hope was to have it sold before Christmas. My last mower did pretty poorly at auction (the 6302). I think the time of year may have been a factor in that. Who knows. I haven't been able to find many completed sales of edgers (restored or original) to gauge what it should bring, but sometimes that makes it fun, unless it tanks. LOL. Please don't read this and think "this guy is only in it for money" That is not the case. I am so much a fan of these machines that I left a career as a Paramedic to become a "Small Engine Mechanic". I have my own little collection that I won't sell. The wife says the next time I "have" to keep one, then another must go. So I am holding off for a Snow-Boy. But I like the restoration work too and thought it may provide a little extra income during the off season. I am also trying to hit the eBay parts sales much harder this season. That seems to do well, but it costs a ton in fees. Its all a learning curve. Business has improved significantly each season, so I am grateful for that. Ok enough with my ranting. Have a great day guys!!!
I received the new bearings for the arbor housing. I am not sure why Lawn-Boy decided to use angular thrust bearings in this application. I think it may have been a case of "use up the rest of the bearings on that shelf in those edgers" That is purely speculation on my part. I am no expert on the design and function of bearings so if anyone can offer some insight on this, I will be grateful.
So I got the bearings installed. I put some of the frame of the unit together, but the mount to support the handle and arm bolts to the engine, so I am at a stand still. I did press the new needle bearing in the armature plate. I rebuilt the recoil starter: new spring, new rope, cleaned and polished. I got the blue handle in the mail. It's awesome, I didn't think I'd find one. It has a little hairline fracture starting underneath one side of the finger rests. I am going to use some donor material from the broken one that I have to repair it. Should be good as new. I got the decals put on. I rebuilt the carburetor: ultrasonic bath, passed carb cleaner through all passages and orifices,new needle & seat, new float, new bowl gasket. I installed the crankshaft, the connecting rod, and piston all into the crankcase. I put the grips back on the handle bars. I put the heat gun to them and the shine came back much the same way as on a plastic fuel tank. The don't look new, but definitely significantly better. I can't find an OEM belt so I am going to get an aftermarket replacement. I think one of the companies makes a blue belt, so at least it will match. Corny, I know. Oh, and I replaced all the hitch pins with new stainless steel ones.
As soon as the gasket set shows up I can finish it. I was really hoping to have it listed for sale by now, but the cosmos have decided otherwise. Boy I get cranky when I don't get my own way! LOL!!!
My hope was to have it sold before Christmas. My last mower did pretty poorly at auction (the 6302). I think the time of year may have been a factor in that. Who knows. I haven't been able to find many completed sales of edgers (restored or original) to gauge what it should bring, but sometimes that makes it fun, unless it tanks. LOL. Please don't read this and think "this guy is only in it for money" That is not the case. I am so much a fan of these machines that I left a career as a Paramedic to become a "Small Engine Mechanic". I have my own little collection that I won't sell. The wife says the next time I "have" to keep one, then another must go. So I am holding off for a Snow-Boy. But I like the restoration work too and thought it may provide a little extra income during the off season. I am also trying to hit the eBay parts sales much harder this season. That seems to do well, but it costs a ton in fees. Its all a learning curve. Business has improved significantly each season, so I am grateful for that. Ok enough with my ranting. Have a great day guys!!!
ScooterBob
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Hoe-Lee Mother of Pearl!!! That thing is just FANTASTIC, dood!! That'd be a world-class resto on a motor-sickle .... PLUS - it's just the coolest thing and you probably saved it forever from the scrap heep - so it's a winner all the way around. I got the top cover decal for my little golden heep in the mail - it's a pretty darn good repop - and made on some nice vinyl. the guy DID recommend clear coating it, however, so the ink my not be UV stable - but when is it ever gonna be out of the shed again?? Hahaha!! I can't wait to get a good rolling start on mine .... Cold weather and my general lack of energy this time of year as well as the motor-sickle business are holdin' me back. I want to get BURIED in it and come out the other side of the rat hole with one as nice as the little edger! :wink:
d_sharier
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Gasket set showed up!!!! Only it wasn't the one I ordered. AHHHHH! I will be able to make it work because I have the ones that are missing. I mainly needed the 3 for the crankcase. I am still ticked that in all the years I have been messing on eBay the first time I will have to leave negative feedback will be over a $10 gasket set. I should have it finished and running tomorrow. I am really excited to hear it purrrrrrrr! It's a thing of beauty!!!!!!
ScooterBob
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Honestly - How do you get the alloy parts of the engine to show so well? Carb soak?? Soap and water?? Soaked in beer??? I'd be using glass beads and then a light buff - but that finish is not quite as good as 'riginal .....
d_sharier
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Normally, I would have blasted it as a first step. However I start to turn into a hermit crab when the cold weather hits. I didn't want to travel to my friend Russ's house to use the blast cabinet. He is inconsiderate. He found his dream home with a attached 2 car and a detached 40 X 80 insulated, poured concrete floor, 2 semi- sized bay door garage (maybe warehouse is a better word). This dream home is about 20 mins from me, and he had the nerve to move all of his tools with him. LOL Just a joke. We have a good balance. If I don't have a tool, he does and vise versa.
Anyway, I did this one all by hand. Dawn dish soap, extremely hot water, and brass brush. I start all metal cleansing this way. In my mind, the HOT HOT water helps open the pores of the metal. After the bath, I started with 150 grit sand paper, then 320, then 600, and finished with 800. Then back to step 1 with the hot dish soap bath. Dried completely, then some Mothers and a rag. I keep a stock of "popsicle" sticks and they work really well for getting in between the fins on the jug with either the sand paper or part of a rag wrapped around them.
Normally I would have blasted the parts first. Then would have just done the 600 or 800, bath and polish. Saves a ton of time. I think the crankcase and cylinder took around 2 hours by hand. The hard part was keeping all of the polish on the outside of the parts, and then completely buffing the polish away.
Anyway, I did this one all by hand. Dawn dish soap, extremely hot water, and brass brush. I start all metal cleansing this way. In my mind, the HOT HOT water helps open the pores of the metal. After the bath, I started with 150 grit sand paper, then 320, then 600, and finished with 800. Then back to step 1 with the hot dish soap bath. Dried completely, then some Mothers and a rag. I keep a stock of "popsicle" sticks and they work really well for getting in between the fins on the jug with either the sand paper or part of a rag wrapped around them.
Normally I would have blasted the parts first. Then would have just done the 600 or 800, bath and polish. Saves a ton of time. I think the crankcase and cylinder took around 2 hours by hand. The hard part was keeping all of the polish on the outside of the parts, and then completely buffing the polish away.
ScooterBob
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I'm RIGHT with you on the hella hot water ...... That's all that Otto and Gottlieb ever recommended to clean Porsche engine cases. They were apoplectic about using abrasives or solvents which could "compromise the strength or integrity of the Porsche engine ...." You've spent about as much time (the process ...) on that as I usually do with the old motor-sickle engine parts. I got it now ...... Thank yee for that little bit of advice - my "over restoration" will be just about enough ...... :wink:
d_sharier
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Well, tomorrow is the day. I will have the belt tomorrow morning and I need to "touch-up" a few spots of paint, then I will call it DONE!!!!!! Runs beautifully. These are definitely interesting machines. They have a look like no other.