wingless
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- May 30, 2017
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wingless' 1956 Lawn Boy Iron Horse Brick Top Model 5000 18" C-12 Aluminum Deck Resto
My 1956 Lawn Boy Iron Horse Brick Top Model 5000 18" C-12 3,200 rpm 2 hp aluminum deck lawnmower was tied to the garage wall of my first home purchase in 1982.
At the time I did some simple repairs to restore normal operation. This was my primary machine for a dozen years. Then my backup machine, mostly used for mowing near a pond where the ground was always soft, to benefit from this very light machine not sinking into the ground.
After the machine was retired, I did a restoration and was satisfied w/ the results.
The correct Green and Autumn Rust paint colors and the correct reproduction decals were purchased. I used Rust-Oleum Satin Cinnamon Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Paint and Primer and Rust-Oleum Spruce Green Satin Smooth Protective Enamel Aerosol for the top coat colors. Note that the correct cinnamon color is required, because the decal set uses that color for the background. This paint is exactly the correct color shade.
The bare aluminum deck was properly protected by coating first w/ Pettit 6455/044 Metal Primer. All painted metal parts are base coated with Flat Gray Rust-Oleum Professional Primer Aerosol Spray.
The finished result attained accuracy using all the correct parts and fasteners.
The machine was always running before the first cord pull, operates quietly and gets good gas mileage. The period advertisements list: level cut; no waves; no tall lonely wisps; no passed over whiskers; prevent scalping; eliminate ripples; cut grass at uniform height; lawn velvety-smooth; starts in a wink; big / easy recoil starter; handles like a breeze; trims within 3/8" of trees / fences AND get a FREE HOME TRIAL.
This is a really nice machine. It is simple, permitting complete disassembly / reassembly w/ ease, minimal tools and usually reuse of existing gaskets. The handle can be swapped from the tall user position, to the shorter user position, to the wall storage position all w/o tools required. The aluminum deck does not rust. The offset front wheel is THE BEST lawnmower invention, permitting up close trimming, frequently eliminating the need for week whacking. The air cleaner is easy to clean and reuse, this is the original air cleaner, still going strong.
The machine has all the period safety features, fully intact. Those include a functional ON/OFF switch and embossed deck text reading: "CAUTION - KEEP HANDS AND FEET FROM UNDER MACHINE".
The machine is in decent shape. There are some knocked off below deck casting sections. There is a minor bend in the handle.
The Owner's Manual was printed by me from a scanned file copy I received from the manufacturer's Permanent File Copy. It has been very handy, including parts diagrams w/ part numbers.
This has recently been sold to a new happy home.
Using Tape Hinge for Decal Application
Handles in Wall Hanging Position
My 1956 Lawn Boy Iron Horse Brick Top Model 5000 18" C-12 3,200 rpm 2 hp aluminum deck lawnmower was tied to the garage wall of my first home purchase in 1982.
At the time I did some simple repairs to restore normal operation. This was my primary machine for a dozen years. Then my backup machine, mostly used for mowing near a pond where the ground was always soft, to benefit from this very light machine not sinking into the ground.
After the machine was retired, I did a restoration and was satisfied w/ the results.
The correct Green and Autumn Rust paint colors and the correct reproduction decals were purchased. I used Rust-Oleum Satin Cinnamon Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Paint and Primer and Rust-Oleum Spruce Green Satin Smooth Protective Enamel Aerosol for the top coat colors. Note that the correct cinnamon color is required, because the decal set uses that color for the background. This paint is exactly the correct color shade.
The bare aluminum deck was properly protected by coating first w/ Pettit 6455/044 Metal Primer. All painted metal parts are base coated with Flat Gray Rust-Oleum Professional Primer Aerosol Spray.
The finished result attained accuracy using all the correct parts and fasteners.
The machine was always running before the first cord pull, operates quietly and gets good gas mileage. The period advertisements list: level cut; no waves; no tall lonely wisps; no passed over whiskers; prevent scalping; eliminate ripples; cut grass at uniform height; lawn velvety-smooth; starts in a wink; big / easy recoil starter; handles like a breeze; trims within 3/8" of trees / fences AND get a FREE HOME TRIAL.
This is a really nice machine. It is simple, permitting complete disassembly / reassembly w/ ease, minimal tools and usually reuse of existing gaskets. The handle can be swapped from the tall user position, to the shorter user position, to the wall storage position all w/o tools required. The aluminum deck does not rust. The offset front wheel is THE BEST lawnmower invention, permitting up close trimming, frequently eliminating the need for week whacking. The air cleaner is easy to clean and reuse, this is the original air cleaner, still going strong.
The machine has all the period safety features, fully intact. Those include a functional ON/OFF switch and embossed deck text reading: "CAUTION - KEEP HANDS AND FEET FROM UNDER MACHINE".
The machine is in decent shape. There are some knocked off below deck casting sections. There is a minor bend in the handle.
The Owner's Manual was printed by me from a scanned file copy I received from the manufacturer's Permanent File Copy. It has been very handy, including parts diagrams w/ part numbers.
This has recently been sold to a new happy home.
Using Tape Hinge for Decal Application
Handles in Wall Hanging Position
