Mountfield M1 Disaster

Took the freebie M1 out for it's second major workout yesterday, & all was going well for an hour or so before disaster struck!

The tie bar - a thumping great bolt that runs horizontally through the chassis and holds it all together sheared off. The stub axle that holds the depth bar & the wheels at the back fell off & so the whole thing collapsed to the ground, and the only thing left holding the worm gear and the cutters at the front was the belts!





If anybody can help with a replacement tie bar from a defunct machine, or with advice on where I might get a replacement, that would be much appreciated  

Still no joy in fixing the Mountfield, and we've had the Council bods onto us asking if we still want both lotties as it looks like theres a lot of it not cultivated. I think we managed to convince them we're trying to get it sorted, but to help us on our way, I've just been on fleabay and bought a Wolseley Merry Tiller to tide us over.

Hope I've done the right thing - got it fairly cheap (£41), possibly because the description & pics weren't great, but I spoke to the seller on the phone & it sounds genuine enough. Hasn't been used for 20+ years but it started OK & engaged the tines (so he says).

Looks like a type C, got a Clinton engine but he doesn't know any more about it. I'm guessing this'll make it a Professional and the engine will be a 3 1/4 HP - can anybody confirm? Anyway, I'll be collecting it on Friday so here's to a productive weekend. I hope