It's that time of the year where I look to building my RRG campsite transport
I try and keep it fresh and change as often as funds allow, we've been through a Honda ATC70/Pitbike hybrid, a 400cc Mobility scooter that popped wheelies for days, and last year saw the 80s Lawn Tractor make an appearance.
This year, I'm slowing myself down. Speed and rather large machines do not work great in a campsite enviroment. The mobility scooter did a smidge over 30mph which was a stupid speed to knock about between cars and tents. The tractor was, well a tractor and was really to big to drive around.
So this year I figured 3/4mph and reasonably compact would be ideal. A scan of FB marketplace netted me this rather immaculate Suffolk Punch mower.
75cc, self propelled, reliable as sin, works perfectly.
I did a once round of the lawn and she mows great. Best try towing my fat ass around. Found a kids scooter, held on and went for it.
Oh; the roller did a lot of spinning on the grass and when it did get going she really didn't have the oooomph I require.
Ah well, like I said, she cuts the lawn perfectly, money well spent.
Wanting to stick with the cylinder mower idea, I got myself on eBay. I figured something older would have a bit of weight to it for traction and I wanted something with a sulky seat (tow behind type affair) as it means it was designed to actually move a person as well.
I put a cheeky offer in on a 60's Ransomes Matador MK1 and won.
These are a 24inch cut, whereas the Suffolk was a 12inch cut.
The engine is a J.A.P 288cc, should provide the power needed - It's got a kick start as well
Best go pick it up
Well F*** me, turns out it's made from all the steel and cast iron available in the 60s, it weighs a smidge over 150kg!!!
Loading it into the reletively high CR-V was a joy, getting it out the other end with my aging father was even more fun.
And that's where we're at, I need to give it the once over and get her started, then modify the sulky for my needs and maybe look into changing the huge cast iron roller (with differential) to a set of wheels as this is where a fair bit of the weight is.
And finally for reference, her she is next to a Suffolk Punch, which isn't really a compact mower to start with
I try and keep it fresh and change as often as funds allow, we've been through a Honda ATC70/Pitbike hybrid, a 400cc Mobility scooter that popped wheelies for days, and last year saw the 80s Lawn Tractor make an appearance.
This year, I'm slowing myself down. Speed and rather large machines do not work great in a campsite enviroment. The mobility scooter did a smidge over 30mph which was a stupid speed to knock about between cars and tents. The tractor was, well a tractor and was really to big to drive around.
So this year I figured 3/4mph and reasonably compact would be ideal. A scan of FB marketplace netted me this rather immaculate Suffolk Punch mower.
75cc, self propelled, reliable as sin, works perfectly.
I did a once round of the lawn and she mows great. Best try towing my fat ass around. Found a kids scooter, held on and went for it.
Oh; the roller did a lot of spinning on the grass and when it did get going she really didn't have the oooomph I require.
Ah well, like I said, she cuts the lawn perfectly, money well spent.
Wanting to stick with the cylinder mower idea, I got myself on eBay. I figured something older would have a bit of weight to it for traction and I wanted something with a sulky seat (tow behind type affair) as it means it was designed to actually move a person as well.
I put a cheeky offer in on a 60's Ransomes Matador MK1 and won.
These are a 24inch cut, whereas the Suffolk was a 12inch cut.
The engine is a J.A.P 288cc, should provide the power needed - It's got a kick start as well
Best go pick it up
Well F*** me, turns out it's made from all the steel and cast iron available in the 60s, it weighs a smidge over 150kg!!!
Loading it into the reletively high CR-V was a joy, getting it out the other end with my aging father was even more fun.
And that's where we're at, I need to give it the once over and get her started, then modify the sulky for my needs and maybe look into changing the huge cast iron roller (with differential) to a set of wheels as this is where a fair bit of the weight is.
And finally for reference, her she is next to a Suffolk Punch, which isn't really a compact mower to start with