[taraxacum]

I have just purchased my first rotavator from my allotment neighbour, but he couldn’t  tell me much about it, or even what it was. Having looked at lots of pictures on the web, I think it is a late plastic guard Merry Tiller Major. Can anyone positively identify it for me please? Links to pictures at the end of the post.

It runs well, but needs a new belt and the oil seals round the drive shafts have gone. I have found the merrytiller.co.uk website for spares, but has anyone here ever fitted oil seals? Any advice on how to accomplish this?
Many thanks!

(The unreadable engine numbers are: Model 133232, Type 006401, Code 95022407).
 
Rotavator https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2895/14163235545_634da4463b_o_d.jpg
Engine https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/14159901871_5a9ced101b_o_d.jpg
Identification plate https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14159896501_d1f69d22f5_o_d.jpg

[sten]

Hi, yes it is a Merry Tiller Major, engine is dated Feb 95.

[R Tallentire]

Your Major dates from about 1985 as the Webb badge was riveted in place on early ones and changed to Atco on late “plastic guard” Majors. The engine is a replacement, a 4hp aluminium bore B & S engine was fitted when new. Some of these late Majors had rubber outer surfaces to the rotor shaft oil seals, these are easier to get out than the metal outer type used on earlier machines, but on most Merry Tillers you have to split the chaincase and remove the rotor shaft in order to pry the old seals out. Wolseley/Webb/Atco dealers had a special tool to remove old seals without a strip down, so you may find a long established local dealer with the tool. When fitting new seals put grease on the inner lips and a bit of gasket goo on the outsides to ensure no leaks from there.

[taraxacum]

That's great - many thanks for this. I'll get the thing apart and get an order in for some oil seals.