EDWIN’S machinery maintenance
EDWIN ROBERTS’ company, Classic Mowers, has been in existence since 1999 specialising in maintaining older pedestrian mowers and sports ground equipment. Here he offers up some useful tips for maintaining the Ransomes Auto Certes
The Ransomes Auto Certes is probably one of the most reliable and simple mowers on the second hand market.
Easy to use and maintain, designed in the late 1950’s and in production into the 1980’s.
The manual controls are throttle lever and rear roller clutch with the drive being a centrifugal clutch.
The first engine fitted was the BSA 119 sloper which turned into the Villiers F12 and then the A15. In service the A15 proved to be poor in comparison to the earlier engines. The last type of engine was the Briggs & Stratton 3HP. The main things to look at on the B&S engine are
the air filter, oil changes, oil level and spark plug condition. Also keep the engine crank case and cylinder clear of chaff.
The Villiers/BSA unit is simple to service. Again the main things are air filter checks, oil changes and oil levels. As the engine gets older the breather assembly can give problems. If you notice oil spots on your left side, when mowing, and oil on the mower, the breather will have failed. The top can blow out allowing the plastic valve to escape. It can also shear off level with the crank case. Engine stoppages can be down to the magneto eg. coil, condenser, spark plug or carburettor. On the Amal 375 model the carburettor the main jet can block. Remove the jet and clean, check the petrol tank for dirt and water. The petrol tank tap has a filter which can be torn so remove the tap and check it.
On the chassis the points to look for are wear on the rear roller, bushes and shaft, and check that the roller assembly runs free on the bearings. Also check the front roller bearings and that the roller tube is not too badly dinted. Any wear or misalignment of the rollers will effect the quality of the cut.
Cutting cylinder bearing grease nipples (one each side)
With the throw plate removed right hand roller grease nipple is shown
Remove the chain case cover to check the chains and clutch. Drive chains which are too tight can cause the centre bush to fail on the clutch unit, also the top drive shaft bearing will fail. To adjust the chains use the special tool to undo the centre nut to allow the unit to move on the side plate. To fit a new clutch cable you will have to remove the unit to allow the old cable to
slide out of the slot in the pivot assembly.
There are two grease nipples on the rear roller, one grease nipple on the clutch unit, one grease nipple on the top drive shaft and two on the cutting cylinder unit.
The cutting cylinder assembly requires adjusting on the two adjusting bolts on the bearing housing. Check that the chain is not over tight when adjusted.
Grease Nipple
Clutch tool fits into these two hols
Sliding cover
Grease nipple Clutch bearing grease nipple
Crankcase breather
Crankcase breather missing
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