Peter Roat aka "Roatavator"

Very nice job. What it will sound like? Answer: LOUD!!

This is a typical continental exhaust.

Charlie. All the various SIMAR models with front exiting exhaust I’ve seen have the “usual “ stub exhaust. But many continental ones have large exhausts, sometimes a serpentine layout, incorporating exhaust boxes. Am I right in thinking they were SIMAR options or accessories? Perhaps they were available after market over here?

I’m sending booking today. Playpen may be a bit noisier than usual, should be bringing a couple of SIMARs.

Me and JR renewed for another year. Thanks for all you do for the club and us Charlie and committee. Happy New Year everyone.

Such an innovative machine and so versatile with all the attachments. It must have cost a fortune in development, then only to last a few years. Howard must have lost a packet on the 700 project. Despite availability of other Howard machines, still surprising they didn’t give it a longer run. Judging by the number of Villiers engine 700s still a…[Read more]

I’d guess by 1963 Howard had stopped production of the 700, probably explaining short run of the conversion.

Hi Andy.
No, I’m not bothered, except the volume of smoke sometimes outdoes my pipe!
I’ve ploughed some really hard dry land this year in top gear, and had it 2-stroking at length and yes, it smokes less then. I’ve been lucky enough to have prevailing wind blowing across the plot on most occasions, so neighbouring ploughmen are more affected than me!

Yes Tom, mine too mostly leak from the seals. The 56 tiller used to leak quite badly but in recent years when it’s seen more regular use it’s stopped leaking so badly, I guess the seals had probably got dry.
Bent furrows were mine! But in my defence I was turning up huge stones. The plough itself is a lovely piece of kit and on decent ground doe…[Read more]

Hi Tom. Funnily enough I just came to the same conclusion today whilst out ploughing. The oil from the drain tap is definitely thicker than the 40 grade I put in the fuel.
I’ll just live with it. No point going to the trouble of doing the seal since it also leaks from the wheels as well. She actually runs a treat so I’m not bothered. Best loc…[Read more]

Presumably stadium was being cultivated as part of war effort, Charlie, or is that a mad suggestion?
I use SAE40 as recommended in the Mechanised Gardening leaflet, I’ve got a couple of the measuring cans and always use those when mixing up.

“Faint” Charlie? That’s a lot worse than mine! I don’t feel so bad now.
Not sure about the carb, Stuart, I’ve not looked. However I’ve just realised I’ve got a short video from when I picked it up from Andy’s some time back and it wasn’t smoking then. Obviously it’s now on my fuel mix, but that same mix doesn’t make the others smoke.

Glad you all had a good time. Sorry I didn’t get there, other commitments got in the way.

Yes, the plug is dark and a bit sooty. However, the machine actually runs great, like all two strokes it’s not so keen on starting when hot so at a ploughing match I start it up and leave it running until the plot is finished and the machine back on the truck. This is often 2/3 hours during which time it sits and idles very slowly and happily w…[Read more]

Hi Dave
No, air filter is fine. I suppose mixture could be running a bit rich but then you might expect mix of black and blue smoke, whereas this is a lovely shade of blue. Neither does it seem to use any more fuel per hour than my other 56. Coincidentally, the volume of oil draining from the oil tap is always greater than my other machines.
One…[Read more]

Hi Carl. Good to see her in action. I’ve no knowledge of them, but I did seals on one of my SIMARS a few years ago and it was a bu###r of a job! I have found though that formerly leaky seals do improve and leak a lot less the more use the machine gets. And it’s a good excuse to get them out as often as possible! Peter

I hope to come down an deafen you all one of the two days but through bad planning we’ve got quite a bit on round then. Fingers crossed!

Yes Charlie. Partial blockage in fuel pipe and dirty carb. Now running better than ever. I’m sure the new spark plug courtesy of your good self is also making much stronger firing. You can feel the blast from the exhaust several yards in front of the machine now. It surprised a few passers by yesterday but unfortunately none of them were wearing s…[Read more]