Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#31
|
|||
|
|||
Diesel rotavator
On Friday, 26 October 2012 17:45:23 UTC+1, Baz wrote:
Thanks for the info. When I was passing this over the allotment today, and was splattered with drops of mud I was thinking what would happen if it stalled and stroked backwards. I think I have some cricket gear somewhere....... You won't need the pads with the diesel, it's the Kohler petrol engine that tends to chuck stuff at your shins. The hood over the rotor was originally in 3 parts, the 3rd part - a flap about 6inches wide on the back edge is easily damaged and often missing on older machines, though even the in absence of that it shouldn't kick too much out of the back. I wonder if you are mollycoddling it and not letting it dig deeply enough? Handling a beast like this is an art form - lugging it about by brute force will just hurt you, all manoeuvres should be done under power at low revs with the rotor disengaged. Let the machine move it's own weight about, it's stronger than you are. If you back it up against a wall or fence, just make sure your hips are between the handles and if correcting your course near a wall or fence watch your knuckles. It's worth looking after it and learning how to use it because nothing nearly as good has been made since. Rod |
#32
|
|||
|
|||
Diesel rotavator
On 26/10/2012 17:45, Baz wrote:
Rod wrote in : On Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:24:54 UTC+1, Baz wrote: David Hill wrote in : I'm a bit confused about the engine on this one. You say it's a Hatz diesel, then you say it has a Kohler engine. He said a Hatz mower. Baz is right see, except it is a petrol engine. http://www.rescuingthepast.co.uk/Howard_Gem.html I only know of Kohlers as petrol engines. The Hatz diesel was a 2 stroke diesel engine, and a good one. So I wonder if it's had an engine transplant at some point, it's often the case with old Gems. I can tell you a certain amount at least about operation of the Hatz diesel if in fact that's what it is. The Kohler petrol engines as fitted to the Gem were pretty much standard industrial engines that should be self explanatory to anyone experienced with larger petrol driven garden machines. Try online for facsimile manuals, parts etc. There used to be a rump of Dowdswell - the company that took over the brand after Howard went bust and you could get some spares from them but I don't know if they're still going. A local firm that serviced our old Gem always seemed to be able to get bits and Gems are still being used by many landscape firms so you should be OK. Rod I don't know if I am missing posts but Baz said it has a Kohler K301T engine. No mention of Hatz engine, He also said he has had it running. I am sure that he can tell the difference between petrol and diesel, and can tell if the engine has a spark plug or not. Confusion over I think. It was bought new with a Kohler petrol engine, as it says on the paperwor k, and was later fitted with the Hatz diesel in the 70's so it could use cheaper red diesel. I have never heard of any of the two engine manufacturers before so it's very exciting really. The guy still has the Kohler engine according to his son and that is mine too, just have to fin d it and cart it home. What do you do with this? I am tempted to restore this beautiful machine, but for now it is a tool and it runs nicely, a bit rattly. Baz No problem, they're both good engines. Go get the Kohler engine, it's well worth keeping and Kohler is still going so spares should be OK. Am I to take it that you've had the Hatz diesel going? If so you obviously know the procedure for starting etc. For others who may be interested. The Hatz is a 2 stroke single cylinder air cooled diesel. Starting is slightly different from other more common small diesels in which a decompression lever is flicked over at a strategic point when you are swinging on the handle (you need 3 hands for this) On the Hatz there is an indexing knob on the side of the engine - fully turned is full decompression and as you swing the engine over the decompression clicks off a click at a time - as small diesels go it's a dream to start. For cold weather starting there is an L shaped lever in the cylinder head and this can be removed to insert a kind of fibrous 'match' red at the end like an old fashioned match into the end of the plug. This ignites on compression and acts like the 'glow plug' in other engines. One little quirk which may be disturbing the first time it happens is; if you stall it on a housebrick or such, when you restart it after dislodging the obstruction it may (being a 2 stroke) start backwards and blow the oil out of the oil-bath air cleaner - never mind no harm done, refill the air cleaner and start again, this time all will be normal. Oh and it runs forever on a tank of red diesel. The Kohler in the housebrick situation may kick it out and inflict serious pain on your shins - a mate of mine used to wear cricket pads on newbuild sites) Rod Thanks for the info. When I was passing this over the allotment today, and was splattered with drops of mud I was thinking what would happen if it stalled and stroked backwards. I think I have some cricket gear somewhere....... Baz This is the sort of thing that needs pruning. |
#33
|
|||
|
|||
Diesel rotavator
I tried this rotavator at home on my light soil and it was OK, just too heavy and it got bogged down sometimes. Today I passed it over the allotment which is clay soil and it is a dream, quite muddy conditions but it is up to the job. Like a knife through hot butter. Neve did the revs. go down even through parts that have not been forked over. Its a messy thing. Chucks mud at me. A few modifications like mudflaps need to be done somehow. It is also an art to turn the thing around at the end of a pass. All in all a pretty good experience. Baz One way was to hang a Hessian sack across the back so it drags along where the flap plate should be. |
#34
|
|||
|
|||
Diesel rotavator
David Hill wrote in
: I tried this rotavator at home on my light soil and it was OK, just too heavy and it got bogged down sometimes. Today I passed it over the allotment which is clay soil and it is a dream, quite muddy conditions but it is up to the job. Like a knife through hot butter. Neve did the revs. go down even through parts that have not been forked over. Its a messy thing. Chucks mud at me. A few modifications like mudflaps need to be done somehow. It is also an art to turn the thing around at the end of a pass. All in all a pretty good experience. Baz One way was to hang a Hessian sack across the back so it drags along where the flap plate should be. Yes, that will work until I can get a more permanent fix. Thanks. In fact that might be the fix, just keep renewing the sack. Baz |
#35
|
|||
|
|||
Diesel rotavator
Rod wrote in
: On Friday, 26 October 2012 17:45:23 UTC+1, Baz wrote: Thanks for the info. When I was passing this over the allotment today, and was splattered with drops of mud I was thinking what would happen if it stalled and stroked backwards. I think I have some cricket gear somewhere....... You won't need the pads with the diesel, it's the Kohler petrol engine that tends to chuck stuff at your shins. The hood over the rotor was originally in 3 parts, the 3rd part - a flap about 6inches wide on the back edge is easily damaged and often missing on older machines, though even the in absence of that it shouldn't kick too much out of the back. I wonder if you are mollycoddling it and not letting it dig deeply enough? Handling a beast like this is an art form - lugging it about by brute force will just hurt you, all manoeuvres should be done under power at low revs with the rotor disengaged. Let the machine move it's own weight about, it's stronger than you are. If you back it up against a wall or fence, just make sure your hips are between the handles and if correcting your course near a wall or fence watch your knuckles. It's worth looking after it and learning how to use it because nothing nearly as good has been made since. Rod Thanks, Rod. All of your advice is taken, and I appreciate it. Baz |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
the remarkable "Diesel Tree" | Australia | |||
Does anyone here have a JD 330 diesel? | Lawns | |||
Love my new Ferris 5000 72" zero turn diesel mower | Gardening | |||
diesel cars v express trains | United Kingdom |