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Hey guys, new to this forum.
I have been fixing this old lawnboy up.




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nice job man

Holy cow man! That is quite the project and very cool old mower. You'll have to update us when you get a lawn mowed with it :thumbsup:

Thanks guys...this was the mower that got me collecting lawnboys, couldn't wait to start fixing her up. Next I have to decide what I am going to do about the old cork float. It's not in the best of shape, and I don't know where I could find a new one. I may strip and reseal it, or try my hand at making a new one.
Any suggestions on how to proceed? I do want it to be right when it's done.

that one is a keeper..cant wait to see it done...great find

Just a little more to go on the engine, install the new float and I'll do a test mow before it goes to paint

Nice work! I actually just posted a thread on the forum asking about cork floats. The one I have is gummed up with 40 year old gas/oil. Did you have any luck cleaning it or did you have to purchase a new one?

Thanks
Sean

In addition, when I took everything apart, the coil was cracked and broken exactly like the one in your pictures. Where did you find a replacement? The one I am working on is a Lawn Boy 7000. Doesn't look quite as old as yours.

Thanks

Yours has the c12...should use the same coil...ebay..$35.
I am not sure if the c has the same float...but the duraforce cork float 95-1899 should work if it is like my A. I am on the road now and can't check the part numbers to confirm, but I'll check for ya when I have a chance.
Lee

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This is how the old carb looked, it was all gumed up...the float pin would not come out.
After about three days in carb cleaner you can see how the old varnish had came off the float.
Have the new float curing as I have sealed it for use with more modern fuel. Also replaced the throttle spring as you can see in the top pic...it was no good.

Lee,

Very nice work!! What did you seal the float with?

Jim

Jim S said:

Lee,

Very nice work!! What did you seal the float with?

Jim

Click to expand...

I used Seal All, you can pick it up at autozone for a few bucks a tube..You will see on the lable that it is gas and oil resistant.

Almost ready

That's insane! I only hope that mine will look half as good as that. I purchased a replacement coil on ebay like you referenced earlier in this thread. Where did you find a replacement spark plug wire? I tried NAPA this evening without any luck and I will try a local mower repair shop tomorrow when they are open.

My plug wire is original...I clipped about 1/4" off the coil end.
But if you need a vintage plug wire...think Harley shop.

Lee,

The coil I purchased off ebay had a pointed metal pin coming out of the bottom where the spark plug wire should attach. I purchased a spark plug wire at Autozone that was close to the correct diameter. I trimmed the end and inserted it into the coil. If I was sophisticated and had a continuity tester, I'm sure that I would be able to test the connection. However, I will use more of the trial and error method.

I took your advice and used "seal all" to coat the cork float. I think I will apply one more coat to ensure that everything is sealed properly. I just ordered new points and a condenser off ebay. Have you had any luck locating aftermarket decals for your mower?

Sean

The only decal I am aware of is the one for fuel oil mix on the tank...and I havn't found it yet. But I have a while, it still has to go to paint.

In regards to spark plug wire, you should only use solid core not carbon core resistor wire when servicing magneto ignition. It is available at any Johnson & Evinrude outboard motor dealer.

LB8210 said:

In regards to spark plug wire, you should only use solid core not carbon core resistor wire when servicing magneto ignition. It is available at any Johnson & Evinrude outboard motor dealer.

Click to expand...

That is good info...thanks for the reply

Just gave the old deck a quick wash down. Think I have enough original paint to get the color matched

Does anyone know the correct color for the grass rake?
Mine has what looks like silver paint on it in a couple very small places.

Just got in some NOS parts from a shop up north.
They had wheel bolts...choke wire,stop lever and even through in an air filter. I was missing the choke wire, and I wanted new bolts for the wheels. My stop lever and air filter where nice as is...but I will replace everything I can if I find it NOS !!

I took the advice of a previous post and used a solid core spark plug wire from a different lawn boy coil I had. It's not quite long enough, so it rubs against the side of the block. I will look up a local Evinrude dealer and hopefully find one with adequate length.

After assembly of the magneto and block, I have excellent spark. However, seem to be having some issues with the carburetor. The float and needle work properly allowing gas to flow and stop at the correct intervals when manipulating by hand. However, when the bowl is installed and the gas is turned on, gas begins overflowing and pouring out (of the air filter?) I placed the float in a bowl of gas to make sure that it actually floats. Not sure where to go from this point other than trying a new float. Any thoughts?

Lee,

As for the color on the front of the mower, I believe that it is supposed to be a silver/galvanized color which should match the brackets that the handle attaches to. I found decals that match the ones on my mower via a seller on ebay. Attached are the decals for my mower, but I am not sure if they are the same for yours.

Thanks again for all of the help.

Sean

SGRIFF144 said:

I took the advice of a previous post and used a solid core spark plug wire from a different lawn boy coil I had. It's not quite long enough, so it rubs against the side of the block. I will look up a local Evinrude dealer and hopefully find one with adequate length.

After assembly of the magneto and block, I have excellent spark. However, seem to be having some issues with the carburetor. The float and needle work properly allowing gas to flow and stop at the correct intervals when manipulating by hand. However, when the bowl is installed and the gas is turned on, gas begins overflowing and pouring out (of the air filter?) I placed the float in a bowl of gas to make sure that it actually floats. Not sure where to go from this point other than trying a new float. Any thoughts?

Lee,

As for the color on the front of the mower, I believe that it is supposed to be a silver/galvanized color which should match the brackets that the handle attaches to. I found decals that match the ones on my mower via a seller on ebay. Attached are the decals for my mower, but I am not sure if they are the same for yours.

Thanks again for all of the help.

Sean

Click to expand...

If that's happening the float valve can't be sealing properly. It may seem OK but it's leaking.

Unclelee... this is one of the best LB threads ever. Keep up the great work. You really take it to the next level. And thanks for the excellent photos. :thumbsup:

Also make sure your float adjusted properly....don't quote me because I am out of town and can't check my manual...but I think it should be 15/32" .
And thanks Two Stroke...I'm glad you enjoy.
These are really cool old machines, and they have a prominent place in mower history. It is good to see people take interest in preserving and restoring them.

A little history:
I have found that 8FH10LB and 8FH11LB are 1952 modles. The year that Lawnboy purchased the Rotory Power Mower company.
I found this out when trying to figure out if my machine should have a shroud, like the 8FH13LB.
This is kind of a grey area of the LB history since the service manuals start in 1954 and the first mower described is the 8FH13LB.
A lot of times when I have seen these machines, for example...on eBay they are described as 53 or 54 ? So I am not the only one that has ran into this problem in identifying the correct year modle of these very early Lawnboys.
I have also found that I am in fact missing the shroud and I think I have located one for my machine, but I won't count on it untill I have it in my hands.
Needless to say...this is preventing me from sending it to paint at this time as I want to get it all done at once.
Hopefully in the next week or so I will have it so I can finish this one up and start on my 63.

I haven't forgot about you man. The one deal fell through but I'm doing my best to find you one.

JohnBoy1 said:

I haven't forgot about you man. The one deal fell through but I'm doing my best to find you one.

Click to expand...

One of the guys from the other forum told me he had a nice one and quoted me a price....just waiting to hear back.
I'll let you know one way or the other....and thanks
Lee

The solid core spark plug wire from a Johnson/Evinrude dealer comes in bulk 50ft rolls that they sell by the foot and the also have the connector with a plug boot in one package available.

LB8210 said:

The solid core spark plug wire from a Johnson/Evinrude dealer comes in bulk 50ft rolls that they sell by the foot and the also have the connector with a plug boot in one package available.

Click to expand...

That is good to know.
The older Lawnboys like the 8FH11LB or the 7000 had the fork style connectors and no boot. The kill lever is connected to the head and grounds to the end of the plug so a boot would be in the way.
Lee

Finally got a shroud!!!!!!
Almost time to paint.

In trying to figure out what color I would use for the grass rake someone mentioned to me zinc plating.
I called a local shop and they quoted me $6.50 per pound with a $75.00 minimum.
That is almost as cheap as the silver paint.
Considering this...I think all of my hardware ( nuts bolts handle brackets rake ect) will get plated and look like new parts.
Seems a great option to me.

Got my fuel tank decal

I found a couple links about these early LBs:

Thread started in 2006 -- with photos.

Photobucket page showing a restoration.

The one in the photobucket is nice

unclelee said:

The one in the photobucket is nice

Click to expand...

And it was a tough restoration... with all the AL/MG welding (beyond my capability :laughing: ).

Watch "1954 Lawn Boy Mower" on YouTube
1954 Lawn Boy Mower: http://youtu.be/CiIbQ4mkwPc

I think this is the same machine

Getting ready to bring to the paint shop....color matched base coat clear coat...red parts

Where did you find the oem good-year tires for it?

JohnBoy1 said:

Where did you find the oem good-year tires for it?

Click to expand...

Got them on ebay...put a set on the 63 as well
$51 a set with free shipping
Lee

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These are the green parts....still need to clean up under her skirt.
Found a very nice sample of the original color behind the rear wheels...I was happy to see it was about two shades darker than I had thought, or seen on other examples.
Lee

unclelee said:

Got them on ebay...put a set on the 63 as well
$51 a set with free shipping
Lee

Click to expand...

Cool, thanks a ton.

Sent the old boy to paint today...I am really getting excited now....got to gather up my hardware now and get it zinc coated before the paint cures. I am going to give it about four weeks after it is painted for a good cure.
Told my guy to take pics as he goes and to give me the paint codes to share with ya'll....my paint guy is really good....I hope the parts I did don't look bad when it's done...lol

This is the only piece that I am painting...lol...it got Dupli Color engine enamel.

Looks good. Out of curiosity, when you finish this beast what oil mixture will you be running? I know originally it was a mix of sae 30 motor oil, but was that before the days of 2 stroke engine oil? In the little I have ran mine while trying to fine tune the carb, I have been using LB mix with a 16:1 ratio. Is that OK? Any thoughts? thanks

I will use 16:1 in mine....I have heard that I could use 32:1 with todays better oils...but I will error on the side of caution.

Haven't been on the forum in awhile and was wondering if you had any updates on your mower?

Nothing at the moment....I have it being painted..will post up some pics when it is done.

I have this same mower. My father in law purchased it new and gave it to me. Where did you find the paint for it?

rwyrtzen said:

I have this same mower. My father in law purchased it new and gave it to me. Where did you find the paint for it?

Click to expand...

I hope you get a answer this is a Lazurus thread...... I would like to see the paint job on it myself...........

Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!

Too bad there was never a completion posted of this mower .
Any one know why ?

nitehawk55 said:

Too bad there was never a completion posted of this mower .
Any one know why ?

Click to expand...

There are many reasons, but it looks like it's forgotten by the OP............

Plus Tard Mon Ami ~!~!

nitehawk55 said:

Too bad there was never a completion posted of this mower .
Any one know why ?

Click to expand...

I think Unclee has moved on to other hobbies. I still see him post on MTF every now and then, but think he is selling, or sold, most of his mowers and parts. He had a 1963 Automower that I wanted to buy, but the wife said she would kill me if I brought home another mower. LOL.

nitehawk55 said:

Too bad there was never a completion posted of this mower .
Any one know why ?

Click to expand...

This topic was very helpful when I restored my Iron Horse Brick Top.