Old machine..lost

[Jamiehanna]

I have a 1974 Commando by Davis. 5hp rider. The engine is shot and parts are obsolete so I am trying to put another motor on it for my grand daughter.
The crankshaft is 1 inch dia and I can't find another small engine that runs the same size. I have 7/8 inch shaft ones. The drive pulley has a floating pulley on the bottom to engage the blade and I can't find anything to replace it. Looking for a sleeve to adapt but the 7/8 to 1 inch that I bought won't fit into the pulley and I am afraid of screwing up a part I can't replace.
Any ideas?

 

[Catherine]

Welcome to the forum!
I'm going to move this thread over to where more people are likely to see it.

 

[bertsmobile1]

can you fit a bigger engine into the space ?
An ole 8 Hp flat head will have a 1" shaft should be hundreds of them around used.
Flat head engines usually have 1 or 2 oversizes available so can be rebuild .
Otherwise turn down the sleeve to fit the pulley
If you don't have access to a lathe take it and the pulley to a machine shop. make sure you tell them the pulley needs to be a sliding fit .

 

[Gregory5]

I have a 1974 Commando by Davis. 5hp rider. The engine is shot and parts are obsolete so I am trying to put another motor on it for my grand daughter.
The crankshaft is 1 inch dia and I can't find another small engine that runs the same size. I have 7/8 inch shaft ones. The drive pulley has a floating pulley on the bottom to engage the blade and I can't find anything to replace it. Looking for a sleeve to adapt but the 7/8 to 1 inch that I bought won't fit into the pulley and I am afraid of screwing up a part I can't replace.
Any ideas?

Are you sure it is 7'8". If so, that is very un-common. Shafts are usually 3/4" or 1". Adapters from 3/4 to 1 are readily available.
That's not to say 7/8" to 1" is not available though.
Poke here for info