Site-Wide Activity

Grahame , crankshaft converters are readily avaiable online.

Andy.

I was given a fingerbar mower with a Lombardini IM 250 on it. Something had broken in the gearbox, it would have required expensive machining to fix it, so I took off the parts I wanted and scrapped the rest. The engine ran beautifully, I still have it and at 6.5hp I may fit it to another machine one day. The only downside is the drive shaft is…[Read more]

Thanks for the extra details.

If any members want to correct the following information, then please do so! Info is a bit scarce and hard to search for.

Indeed, the USA company Troy-Bilt uses the Bronco model name – although, as far as I can tell, there’s no connection between them and your machine. It really muddled things when I were doing…[Read more]

Hi Alan

thanks for the help. Yes it is in my Spanish home (may bring it back to Uk) It does say Bronco but i cannot see anything on the Troy_bilt website and the logo doesn’t show anywhere. The plate is completely bleached except a serial number (3213050). The tyres have pirelli TM40 6-12 on them and the casting shows J.S. 450 D – i addume the D…[Read more]

I wish I could have been there but my wife needs looking after full time these days! Alan…
Picture from 2015…

Also, to the right of the Bronco name on the casting it says J.S. and then a number. What is that number?

An interesting machine!

There seems to be very little information on the internet. However, from what I have seen, I assume that the tiller is the Bronco brand, possibly with an address in Villareal, Italy?

Do you have any further details which may narrow down the search?

I see that there is an ID plate on the engine. What are the details on…[Read more]

E5 petrol at a mixture od 20/1 ratio , with a good quality MINERAL twostroke oil is what I run mine on.

Andy.

What fuel would I use in the 28B engine instead of modern petrol with bio additives?

Ian.

A big thank you to all who came to Weeley and made it a very happy weekend.
Shame about the weather but we all had a good time. I look forward to
seeing you all next September.
Dave Clark.

I second what Andy said.

Joe Paget is a club member, I will forward your request to him.

Thanks for the extra information.

I couldn’t find anything in online archives for your machine; it’s a bit of a mystery at present.

Parts of the machine match other Shay products; these include the handles and wheels.

I’m unsure if Shay manufactured products for any other manufacturer, potentially the machine may be listed under a different…[Read more]

Andy, I would say it is a Miller as it looks nothing like a Villiers. The points are mounted on a brass plate and operated by a cut out in the crankshaft.

Alan, thanks for looking. I had wondered if it was a Countryman but decided no. Cutting width is 18″ wheels are 13″. No sign of any vacant fixing holes or brackets suggesting there aren’t any missing guards. The stainless steel guard at base of drive to cutting head could well be home made. Under the cutting disc is a thin brass cover, looks a bit…[Read more]

I know nothing about Shay, but I thought I’d have a look in the corners of the internet and see what I could find.

I cannot see anything similar. Shay did produce the Countryman, approximately a 1960s machine, photo attached.

Do you have any further information that may narrow it down, such as the width of the cut, the size of the rear wheels,…[Read more]

About what year, engine looks like a Rotor scythe. Looks less Heath Robinson than what my neighbour put together in late fifties always wondered where he got the idea from, using a plough disc powered by a very early Mk 12 Villiers, two pram wheels, can’t remember what he made the frame out of but was very impressed being open consumed little…[Read more]