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[maracus]

I have reason to need a rotorvator or tiller of some kind. I have actively looked for one a couple of times but am being a tight wad so most of what's available in working order is far over my budget.

I came across an old rotovator that looks something like this;



It's a non runner, but has a sethered ht lead. Compression is there... Somewhere... If you tell yourself that, and fuel seems to be getting through, and overall seems in a half usable state, apart from a very manky looking sludge in the gear drive so for the £50 I've been offered it for I'm inclined to take a chance on it.

Only, I haven't got a clue what make or anything it looks like it might be and can't make my mind up wether to have it or not. 

Just wondered if anyone on here has a slightest interest in this type of thing? Thought if share it anyway

I also have one of these...



It's a clifford mk 4 with a "JAP" engine according to the picture! It has been sat for at least 16 years since I aquired it, and In excess of 10 years before that. We had it running once when we picked it up, then today after being prompted by my need for a rotovator, I pulled the carb apart and cleared the jets float etc and reassembled, I finally got it to run for about 30 seconds    it then seemed to starve of fuel and die again, so I'm guessing there was loads of crap down the fuel pipe and its once again carb off time!

It needs too much else doing to it to make it usable, but at least it runs!!

If anyone knows what the yellow one is I'm interested in, if appreciate to know I never looked for an identification plate when I saw it earlier 

[bigegg]

The cylindrical fuel tank and design of the blade guards puts me in mind of a Howard - possibly a model 200, or a "demon", but the cast iron main body and handle mount is like nothing I've ever seen - or the colour 
Pictures here

Chances are that the engine will be reasonably easy to replace - although the gearbox and clutch may present problems.

BUT:
for £50, I'd take the seller's arm with it.
It's easily worth £100-£200 on ebay, even not running - maybe not this month, but around Easter when the allotment types wake up.

[Marks DTM Calib]

As far as the engine goes, fit new fuel pipe, clean the tank out well and strip and clean the carb.

This normaly gets all but the basket cases running.

Cant quite see the engine in the yellow one, it looks a bit like a viliers but the fuel tank does not seem quite right.

Either well, its pretty well screwed together and as long as tehre are still teeth on the gears it shoudl be easy enough to get running.

[cleggy]

I use a Mantis tiller, the large rotavators are too heavy for me. I suppose it depends on the amount of land you have. My 4 stroke tiller copes fine with three veg plots at 4 x 3 yards and the borders.

[maracus]

I have a turfing job coming up for a friend of mine who's investing in a property, so will need to prepare the surface to be turfed. So for the cost of a weekends hire on one, I've brought a tiller, got it running, and nearly got half a tank of fuel! (Well that's the theory anyway  )

The red one. I couldn't believe it when I heard it run, it was the sweetest sound, given that its the first time I'd started it for 16 years!! I'm going to take the tank off and clean it out as mentioned, the fuel pipe won't hurt to change either, should have done all this before I cleared the carb out but hey ho, do a job backwards and do it twice but thats just me! D'oh!!!

I'm still stoked that I actually managed to start it!

The yellow one. I spoke to the guy earlier and ill be collecting it this evening.

I'm fairly confident with it, the seller seems genuine, the last user had a heart attack and sadly passed recently and he used to be a regular user of his tiller down the allotment. He also had a lovely Howard Gem but is somewhat over my budget as a non runner. This one I'm getting seems complete, just the damaged ht lead, and probably a good clean up, I'm sure it'll get going without much bother! Ill get a couple of better pictures up of it later. It's nice and small so hopefully I should be able to handle it (I ain't a massive fella haha)

It's got this big handle on the side that you pump to turn it over to start, I've not seen that before, only a thumb breaker-crank handle out the front, good ol' classics!