WINNERS OF THE 2003 BEST NEWCOMERS TROPHY AT THE 12 HOUR!!
Mower #2 Build
After racing
for a season with one mower between 2 sometimes 3 of us, we decided it was about
time that we built another!
This page will
detail how we went about building the second bug, with information and
photographs along the way.
We started by buying a Westwood Lawnbug from Ebay. It was only 15 minutes up the road, and appeared to be in fairly good nick (not that it mattered too much!), oh and apparently it still worked which meant we could use it to cut the grass before we took it to pieces!
We decided to start the mower up after we got home, but it wouldn't start. The man we bought it from said that he was using it to cut the grass and it stalled, and he couldn't get it going again. Although the standard engine won't be used on the bug we decided to try and get it going and to cut the grass with it one last time before it's grass cutting days were over. We checked all the normal things - Petrol, Oil, Spark Plug but it wouldn't start. We then noticed lots of petrol pouring from the Carb. So off came the cover over the valves and we found it had a broken collet, so in went a new one, and a few pulls later she started!
We decided we wanted to prepare it as a standard bug for the 6 hour maybe. So then came the task of taking blades off... We weren't in the mood to play with rusty nuts and bolts so most things were grinded off!
This is mole cutting the blade off!
This is the insides of the standard bug, that pulley would drive the blade.
We didn't want that pulley so we cut it off :-)
This is the bug with no handle bars, no engine, all the pulleys removed, and also the blades removed!
Now the seat's off!
Next we removed a rear wheel to gain access to the bolts that held the shield on over the gearbox.
So we could remove the gearbox!
Next up, off came a front wheel so we could have a go at removing the steering.
And we did..... with the help of our mate Mr Angle Grinder :)
And this is the bare chassis all ready for some strengthening!