Richard Yates

rjy replied to the topic Howard 350 cone clutch corrosion/friction material. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 8 months ago

“JB weld”!! That’s what I was looking for, had seen it mentioned, but brain ft made me think “Chemical Matal” which I had some of. Argh! Will keep you informed.

rjy replied to the topic Howard 350 cone clutch corrosion/friction material. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 8 months ago

Well. Write-up, FWIW. In case it’s useful.

Took the clutch apart, using the opportunity to re-pack the bearings with grease.

I scraped off the outer surface of the friction material, taking care, it’s probably fragile. I also cleaned the cast iron outer cone, and the inside surface if the friction material, scraping gluey residue off, and the…[Read more]

rjy started the topic Howard 350 cone clutch corrosion/friction material. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 8 months ago

It’s getting there, slowly. This is the one that hasn’t run for about 25 years, but is in better condition than the newer (I think) one.

Took the clutch apart, to grease the bearings and splines. There’s enough friction material, BUT there’s powdery white corrosion on the light alloy inner cone, and the lining, which should be glued to that, has…[Read more]

rjy started the topic Howard 350 EP90 EP80W90 GL4 GL5 for info. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 8 months ago

Just talked to a helpful chap at Comma. The instruction book for this rotavator says use EP90 in the gearbox. I can’t find that near me, today, so after a chat I’m going to get some EP80W90 GL4 which the Comma man thinks will be a good substitute “similar to what would have been used in the mid-70s” (he was not so sure about the GL5 version and…[Read more]

rjy replied to the topic Exhaust (silencer, muffler) bolts, Kohler cast iron cylinder. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 8 months ago

Thank you for the pointer. I have two of these machines, one that I can remember being bought new, in the mid-’70s, one of which I was given, used, probably from North Cornwall!.

The former has bolts, which I managed to get out… eventually. The latter has studs.

Ho hum. I have purchased a bag of 10 5/16 x 1 3/4 BZP “grade 5” (8.8 equiv) bolts…[Read more]

rjy started the topic Exhaust (silencer, muffler) bolts, Kohler cast iron cylinder. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 8 months ago

Had a bit of a battle extracting exhaust bolts (Kohler K141T), seized rock solid, drilled out (etc), cast iron barrel threads “not too bad considering”, should I use ordinary steel bolts, BZP, stainless, or what?

Standard seem to be 8.8 steel, not BZP, partly threaded.

I have some old-fashioned Rocol anti-seize compound J166 to put on the…[Read more]

rjy replied to the topic Howard 350 (Kohler engine) restart after years. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 9 months ago

Well, I don’t know. With a brand new sparking plug, there is a spark. I would not say it’s a nice fat blue one, but it’s reasonably lively, and I think good enough. If I put the “old” new B6S plug in, there are feeble and faint sparks around the centre electrode’s insulator. I cleaned the B6S with washing-up detergent and water, also MEK, warmed…[Read more]

rjy replied to the topic Howard 350 (Kohler engine) restart after years. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 9 months ago

When the rotavator stopped, both times – once with the plug that’s been in it for years, once with a brand new plug, no spark was visible. I have not checked since, I’ll turn it over tomorrow and see what happens.

The magnetic rotor should be OK. After all, it works, and magnets don’t “come and go”. The cast iron blower/flywheel is a good fit, it…[Read more]

rjy replied to the topic Howard 350 (Kohler engine) restart after years. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 9 months ago

E10 is as far as I know allowed for these engines, but I’ll switch to E5. Given the age of these engines, I was surprised and pleased that unleaded is OK! 🙂

I took a picture of the electronic ignition module that’s fitted. It’s similar, as said before, to the chevroned article pictured above. I guess they all work the same way. I have ordered a…[Read more]

rjy replied to the topic Howard 350 (Kohler engine) restart after years. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 9 months ago

Hi, Charlie, thanks for your reply.

I’m rather reluctant to take the thing apart again unless vital, the threads are bad bad bad, as I’d like the machine to do one job in the next couple of weeks before dealing with it.

Anyway.

There are no connections

at all

to the points, only a wire cut off at the exit through the grommet of the…[Read more]

rjy replied to the topic Howard 350 (Kohler engine) restart after years. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 9 months ago

Thanks. I have had a go with this. Afrer draining the sludge in the engine and gearbox, I refilled with straight SAE30 (from Toolstation) and SAE90 (Eurocarparts), and after pulling it over for a while (plug out) started it. Good! E10 petrol, as recommended and further looking says is OK.

So, I ran it up and down a piece of ground. A bit smoky.…[Read more]

rjy started the topic Howard 350 (Kohler engine) restart after years. in the forum Pedestrian operated machines 3 years, 11 months ago

I’ve got a 350, which I used to use maybe 25 years ago. It looks in reasaonable condition, having been stored dry indoors.

I would like to use it again! Is there anything I should watch out for, or do, before trying it? Seals? Yes, new oil, adjust the weedcutter blades, clean out the carb, fill the air filter… what about petrol? Unleaded?

Any…[Read more]

@rjy