I had a somewhat never Atco (probably around WW2 vintage), which was basically an updated version of his machine. My Villiers engine also had a cast iron barrel & piston, and the same 18mm 2 part spark plug. It had a kick starter instead of the hand crank, and a smaller cone clutch - but operated by an almost identical lever. No exposed cooling fan - not that the one shown is going to be of much use, as it doesn't blow over the top of the cylinder. I can't see the point of using Castrol "R" though, since it's designed for racing use, not a very low power mower. He could easily run it on a modern synthetic oil at 50, or even 100:1 - with much less smoke, but that's part of the character, isn't it!
I like microdave had an Atco with a kick starter, though well made the kick starter was the only bit I would recommend, and again like microdave the obsession with Castrol R is strange apart from the small, the likely hood that it was used in a lawnmower in the early 1900s is nil, as it was specifically designed for racing engines. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-2000/55/castrol-r
I used Castrol R 20 semi/synthetic, in my first race car and it was synonymous with racing but by then synthetics had overtaken R and my next car was lubricated with synthetic oil, as to using R in a two stroke mix, not a good move, and they stopped making it years ago but they do make Power 1 racing 2T which still has the smell I believe.
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I had a somewhat never Atco (probably around WW2 vintage), which was basically an updated version of his machine. My Villiers engine also had a cast iron barrel & piston, and the same 18mm 2 part spark plug. It had a kick starter instead of the hand crank, and a smaller cone clutch - but operated by an almost identical lever. No exposed cooling fan - not that the one shown is going to be of much use, as it doesn't blow over the top of the cylinder. I can't see the point of using Castrol "R" though, since it's designed for racing use, not a very low power mower. He could easily run it on a modern synthetic oil at 50, or even 100:1 - with much less smoke, but that's part of the character, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteLubrication is incidental - he's running it on R to enjoy the smell!
ReplyDeleteI like microdave had an Atco with a kick starter, though well made the kick starter was the only bit I would recommend, and again like microdave the obsession with Castrol R is strange apart from the small, the likely hood that it was used in a lawnmower in the early 1900s is nil, as it was specifically designed for racing engines.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-2000/55/castrol-r
I used Castrol R 20 semi/synthetic, in my first race car and it was synonymous with racing but by then synthetics had overtaken R and my next car was lubricated with synthetic oil, as to using R in a two stroke mix, not a good move, and they stopped making it years ago but they do make Power 1 racing 2T which still has the smell I believe.
All - yes he probably likes the smell. Maybe he has some Castrol R in his shed and thinks he may as well use it.
ReplyDelete