I have a (almost) 7-year old 14" Atco Commodore Lawnmower which cost
£564. It has been serviced every year. I am now told that the housing
on the rear roller has corroded. Atco say they now have none in stock
and will not be making any more, thus making the machine obsolete and
useless. Perhaps because I am naive I am appalled by this.

Any advice would be gratefully received.
--
Ian Wolfe.
Linlithgow. Birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Blessed are the peacemakers.

"Ian Wolfe" wrote in message
...
I have a (almost) 7-year old 14" Atco Commodore Lawnmower which cost
£564. It has been serviced every year. I am now told that the housing
on the rear roller has corroded. Atco say they now have none in stock
and will not be making any more, thus making the machine obsolete and
useless. Perhaps because I am naive I am appalled by this.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

I don't think you are naive, but from the manufs point of view it's not in
their interest to keep making parts which will probably sell in low numbers.
My PC was just about 2 years old when I was told it couldn't be upgraded and
I needed a new one. The compressor in my garage on the other hand was made
by the Aerograph company, which later became Devilbiss, and is now something
else whose name I forget even though they are fairly local. I don't know
when it was made, but its bolts have Whitworth threads.

On a practical note, you may be able to get a small engineering shop to make
a suitable part, I assume its main function is to support the rear roller
and/or its bearings. Doesn't sound too much like rocket science. Or they may
be able to do something with the old one.


HTH

Steve

"Ian Wolfe" wrote in message
...
I have a (almost) 7-year old 14" Atco Commodore Lawnmower which cost
£564. It has been serviced every year. I am now told that the housing
on the rear roller has corroded. Atco say they now have none in stock
and will not be making any more, thus making the machine obsolete and
useless. Perhaps because I am naive I am appalled by this.

You might find somewhere that does mower repairs that still has this
part in stock from buying it ages ago, or even a 2nd hand one
cannibalised from a mower that was being scrapped.

Ian Wolfe wrote:

I have a (almost) 7-year old 14" Atco Commodore Lawnmower which cost
£564. It has been serviced every year. I am now told that the housing
on the rear roller has corroded. Atco say they now have none in stock
and will not be making any more, thus making the machine obsolete and
useless. Perhaps because I am naive I am appalled by this.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Having fond memories of old Atco mowers from childhood, I bought an Atco
Windsor last year.

The scarifier attachment that was supplied with the mower was gear-driven
while the mower was belt-driven, so I had to e-mail for the right pulley.
My dealer told me that Atco-Qualcast did not ship the right part in the
first place because they did not expect Windsor users to actually use the
scarifier attachment!

The front roller is a nice looking steel cylinder that I suspect is actually
a part from a roller conveyor. The roller can be swapped for two side
wheels for longer grass. Unfortunately, the threaded stud at one end of the
roller snapped while I was refitting it. I know that I was not
overtightening it, and it was the first bolt I have ever sheared, but
Atco-Qualcast refused to replace it under the warranty.

I find it sad that almost the last cylinder mower manufacturer does not come
up to the mark. I suspect the days of a finely mown lawn is numbered unless
one pays the very high price for a groundkeeper's mower.

You're right to be appalled. I have an old Suffolk Super Colt my Dad bought
reconditioned in 1980 (probably a good 15 yrs old then). My local mower shop
recently supplied me 2 new clutch plates the type that are rivetted on
(they're bonded these days.)
Guess it's just a case of shopping around. Make sure you write to the MD of
Atco and tell 'em what you think!

"Ian Wolfe" wrote in message
...
I have a (almost) 7-year old 14" Atco Commodore Lawnmower which cost
£564. It has been serviced every year. I am now told that the housing
on the rear roller has corroded. Atco say they now have none in stock
and will not be making any more, thus making the machine obsolete and
useless. Perhaps because I am naive I am appalled by this.

Any advice would be gratefully received.
--
Ian Wolfe.
Linlithgow. Birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Blessed are the peacemakers.