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Grshame, daughter has done a video of the two Alcons today it might be a time before i see how it came out, I can tell how long the one pump was in work to as stamped date in 2002 as that was when I resurrected the donor parts pump back into working order and used that, So stood twenty two years. Bit disappointed as had to give it two pulls before…[Read more]

An update the Alcon 1½” pump. Went to an auction on Wednesday, there were two pumps there in one lot. One attached to a JAP 2a, the other to a 3 phase electric motor. The latter had an embossed ali label on it stating the pump had a head of 66’, so around 20m. This compares very poorly to even the cheapest Chinese modern equivalents if it is t…[Read more]

Since them photos I have found the correct carb and mag. I have had it running and runs really really well!

Hi Grahame.

So after a few hours of playing about I found the issue. The HT lead from the armature to the distributor cap has what looks like an inline suppressor. It has screw threads at each end which screw into the HT lead. Well I unscrewed this gizmo and then re screwed it tight and bingo I now have a spark at both spark plugs. I’m now in t…[Read more]

AC belting in Gloucester as Joe suggests would be worth a call/visit, they are very helpful and have got me all sorts of “odd” belts and bearings over the years, price has always been reasonable IMO for the item in question. HTH

Hi Grahame and Andy,

Thanks for your advices !

I figured that the best solution is buying a complete machine for donor.

I could find this in some auction but the problem is finding someone that want to prepare to transport to Spain.

Many people wants easy money…

I’ll will inform about my progress.

Best Regards,

The person Grahame refers to does not have a clue about 700s , his speciality is the 300 series and a few Gem parts , if you want my advice it would be to steer well clear. I run and use a pair of 700s , and they are by some considerable ditance my favourite machine to use , machine parts , along with most engine spares are long obsolete , over…[Read more]

Hi Ruben,

You may try this supplier https://howard-rotavator-spares.com/shop/ But I purchased an expensive clutch friction plate from them for a MkV Gem and the holes did not align with the drive plate. Got back to them, the reply was to tap the pins to fit as they were most probably bent. That was wrong, the pins were fine, it was the…[Read more]

Hi Mark,

Glad I can assist and hope the testing identifies the problem. Am unfamiliar with the machine or engine, but from the photos it looks like it has a Kettering ignition system where the ignition is run from the battery. The black wire goes from the ‘hot’ side of the points to the coil. You can test this with the multimeter and for tes…[Read more]

Thank you very much for that detailed explanation on testing the ignition. I will report back at the weekend on how I’ve got on.

Mark

Hi, below is my standard advice for ignition testing for those who want to try to fix a machine themselves:

If you have not done it already, firstly I would remove the points, hone any pitting out from the contact surfaces, refit and set the gap to 0.015”, also clean all terminal connections. With the plug cap removed, hold the end of the HT l…[Read more]

This old dog leant a new trick. The problem with the Kohler ignition timing was twofold. Firstly, the manual’s instruction was incorrect. It stated that the points should start to open when the flywheel timing mark S was next to the armature plate mark and AFTER that, adjust the points gap to 0.020”. Yet this action altered the ignition tim…[Read more]

You can see that the #346 back plate and the #391 stay tube for 20″ rotor are broken.

Other parts of the rotovator 20″ unit

#321 chain case
#326 wearing shoe
#346 back plate
#360 spacing slave.
#361 drive plate.
#362 friction disc – 2 units.
#364 wearing plate.
#391 stay tube for 20″ rotor.
#394 bush.
#410 spring.
#411 plunger.

Parts I need:

#129 – PTO DOG.

Hi,

My name is Ruben and I’m from Spain.

I have a Howard Clifford 700 with a rotovator 20″ unit.

It belonged to my uncle and now I would like to repair.

I need diferent parts, especially from the rotavator unit.

An alternative solution, will be to buy a complet rotovator unit.

Do you know someone that can help me?

One problem, will be the…[Read more]