[globetrotter]

I have just bought a "refurbished" Honda F80 rotavator, the one with the 2 cylinder inverted engine. I have 2 issues.

The engine runs sweetly but smokes heavily. This clears somewhat when running but smokes when the throttle is opened and on start up.

I don't seem to have any drive to the wheels or tiller box. The gears seem to engage ok and the side clutches seem to work ok but whichever gear I choose the machine does not move. The refurbishment included all new cables (specially made up) although the clutch lever seems to have full travel, could this be an issue?

Any help with these issues would be much appreciated.

Also is any technical information available?

Thanks in anticipation.

[grendel]

for the smoking you could try some redex into the fuel to clear the system out a bit, you can dump a small amount direct into the carb which will make the engine smoke something wicked for a few minutes, but will clean the carbon deposits out of the system.
for the other problem it sounds as if the clutch isnt engaging, I'm not sure how its done on this model, but it may just need adjusting.
Grendel

[globetrotter]

Thanks, Grendel. I'l try the redex. If the clutch is not engaging perhaps it could be something to do with the new cable..Ill check it.
globetrotter

[Bigbadfrankie]

Hi globtroter
My F80 refused to start today, but I have abandoned it for a while.
There are 4 clutches on your machine, left and right steering,  dead mans and a centrifugal clutch, check the adjustment of the deadmans . Is the smoke blue. If it is, the valve stem seals will be leaking. If the smoke is black its running rich. I will look up the adjustments.

[globetrotter]

Hi, Bigbadfrankie.
Thanks for the info. I guess the smoke is more blue than black. Do you know if the valve stem seals is a big job, and can the seals still be obtained? The adjustments would be a big help. I didn't know the big lever running across the handles was a deadman, I was told it was an ordinary clutch. So much for the previous owners knowledge!

[Bigbadfrankie]

I have the instruction manual some where I will email it to John and see if he will put it with the rest
From memory there is 3 or 4 mm play at the cable  end

[globetrotter]

Thanks, BBF. That would be great.

[Bigbadfrankie]

I have lost the external hard drive with manual on  I will keep looking as I need it too

[globetrotter]

OK BBF I can wait. Thanks for your efforts

[globetrotter]

The smoking issue is now resolved. Both the oil bath air cleaner and the sump were over full with oil. Drained both to correct level and now just get a puff on start up.
The drive issue is also resolved. I was told the lever under the handles engaged/disengaged the rotors. It doesn't. It is the high/low gear ratio selector and it was in the neutral position - doh...

I have now used this machine on my allotment and learned a lot about it, but I'm sure there's a lot more to learn. The manual will be very useful when you can find it, BBF

[Bigbadfrankie]

I spent an hour looking through files this evrning to no joy
Do you have thr plough or any other tools

[globetrotter]

No, BBF. Just the rotor box.