Wanted Suffolk Punch spares.

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
If anybody has a deceased, fairly modern Suffolk Punch mower, then I am in need of a couple of parts.

The roller driveshaft bearing support casting has broken, and it seems a difficult part to obtain.

The light alloy casting seen in these two pictures.

D0XMFXU.jpg


87LHUoV.jpg



Also the plastic side cover would be nice, I've already had to repair this one.

KjE8aZf.jpg



I have the spare machine running now, but it would be nice to have both serviceable again.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Mmm, it's actually rather thin where the break is. It's a very poor design. For almost the same cost, it could have been much better. The loading is quite high at times. I might be tempted to epoxy an unbroken one, to buttress it up a bit, if I can keep the screw holes clear.

On the green plastic side cover, there is quite a strong spring pushing the black height adjuster disc outwards, to lock it each setting. I've put a couple of self-tappers in the bottom edge, to give it a chance. I might also do that to preempt the 'new' one doing it, as well.

If only the foundry was still there, in B&Q car park....
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I have tracked down a new spare - it arrived just now - it's a much improved casting, suggesting that I may not be the only victim of this mode of failure. I'll fit it over Christmas.

bILmAsp.jpg
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Old, broken casting on the left - new casting on the right. I have a bit more faith in the new one - rather thicker ribbing and the web at the top, where it matters, is about three-, maybe four-times thicker - you can see the 'step' where the thickness increases, just above the number.

The sintered bearing was very tight - it'll take a little running in, which is unusual, but welcome, these days. I warmed up the bearing and soaked a load of grease into it. I'll run it in the morning, but I don't anticipate huge problems.

RdAvros.jpg


Interestingly, the better casting is DDC1, the flimsier one is DDC2 - makes me wonder if some bright spark decided to save a ha'penny..?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I fired it up just now and found that the roller wouldn't turn when it was being pushed in 'idle', due to the tight drive spindle in the new bushes - not a great surprise.

Five minutes with the drive engaged and the roller supported up off the ground has run things in very nicely.

Hopefully that is it sorted for a few more years now.
 

stoofer34

Well-Known Forumite
Nothing like an Engineering education ! How did you know how to do that dad? 60's Secondary Modern ( Technical Drawing,Woodwork,Metalwork)

I might have been set that as a project even the casting! (We did set the wood block floor on fire!)

S
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
As mentioned elsewhere, I dropped the cut on the mower today. This resulted in it finding a stone and breaking the drive belt for the cutting cylinder.

Not their fault this time, and the belt is around fifteen years old now and, being a 'jockey wheel clutch' arrangement, it was wearing a bit thin, anyway.

A quick phone call to an agricultural spares place half a mile away resulted in an arrangement o present myself at the door with the broken belt. I returned with two new ones - a spare, and a spare spare - they only break when you're using them...

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