To help get through the winter I decided to restore an old REO lawn mower engine I had sitting around. This engine is about 2 hp and was intended to drive an 18 inch reel mower. As such, it has an internal gear reduction system to lower the output shaft speed to a level compatible with the mower drive needs. I found it interesting to compare the mower engine "transmission" with the cluster gear set from my old Morris Minor transmission. Very similar sizes...
gears.jpg
:o)
That's hilarious Larry!
Is that actually the camshaft that's driving the sun gear?
I have an old Ransomes reel type 2 stroke from the thirties. Instead of gears it uses a mitt full of chains. Absolutely terrifying to watch it running. But it's a cool looking old machine.
Live like you mean it.
Fred
Indeed, the camshaft does drive the sun gear. Notice also that there is only one lobe on the camshaft. It drives the valves through L shaped rockers (it is a flat head engine), sort of like an inverted OHC arrangement.
I would love to see your Ransome mower in operation. The unusual engineering makes these old machines are worth preserving.
When I was a kid I took a few lawn mower engines apart. Notice I didn't say anything about putting them back together again. Kinda have the same issue with cars now...
In this picture it is obvious why I am no longer using this gear set in the Morris Minor...
gears2.jpg