[ex-cavator]

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  

[Gwiz]

Any local engineering firm will be able to make one for you, after all, it's only a bar with a thread on each end. You might even find a peice of threaded bar the same thread at your nearest B&Q.
Chin up old boy, it will live again.

[ex-cavator]

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