Hi guys - I have a Flymo hover mower, only just over a year old. When
I turn it on, the motor spins runs but it is not even attempting to
spin the blade - the blade can move freely (I've checked for build up
of grass) so it appears that the connection between motor and blade is
broken.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

Ian

On 8 Apr 2006 04:29:15 -0700, "Ian Waddell" wrote:

Hi guys - I have a Flymo hover mower, only just over a year old. When
I turn it on, the motor spins runs but it is not even attempting to
spin the blade - the blade can move freely (I've checked for build up
of grass) so it appears that the connection between motor and blade is
broken.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

Ian

Don't they use a belt between motor and blade spindle to drive the blade .??
Maybe this company site will help if you havent seen it before .
http://www.shouldersofshoreham.co.uk...7Bamp.mvc?c=SP

Stuart

"Ian Waddell" wrote:
Hi guys - I have a Flymo hover mower, only just over a year old. When
I turn it on, the motor spins runs but it is not even attempting to
spin the blade - the blade can move freely (I've checked for build up
of grass) so it appears that the connection between motor and blade is
broken.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

Ian

Any possibility of telling us the model number? Is this problem mentioned in
the user manual trouble-shooting section?

Every Flymo I have seen has the blade directly driven by the motor. Big bolt
to hold it on and spacers to adjust the height.


John

Thanks,

I've disassembled and found the broken belt - have ordered a new one
from said website. Surprised it broke after so little time. Might
have to post again when it comes to fitting the new one!!

Ian

John wrote in message ...

Every Flymo I have seen has the blade directly driven by the motor. Big
bolt
to hold it on and spacers to adjust the height.


John




Most of the newer ones have such weedy motors that they increase the torque
by use of a toothed belt drive.

Bob

In article ,
"Bob Minchin" writes:

John wrote in message ...

Every Flymo I have seen has the blade directly driven by the motor. Big bolt
to hold it on and spacers to adjust the height.

Most of the newer ones have such weedy motors that they increase the torque
by use of a toothed belt drive.

Universal motors (cheap, short life, ideal for making mowers
into consumables) spin too fast for direct drive of a mower blade.

When I've looked at various friend's flymos, the motor usually
disintegrates first (brush holder burning out seems common).

--
Andrew Gabriel

Andrew Gabriel wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Bob Minchin" writes:

John wrote in message ...

Every Flymo I have seen has the blade directly driven by the motor. Big
bolt
to hold it on and spacers to adjust the height.

Most of the newer ones have such weedy motors that they increase the
torque
by use of a toothed belt drive.

Universal motors (cheap, short life, ideal for making mowers
into consumables) spin too fast for direct drive of a mower blade.

When I've looked at various friend's flymos, the motor usually
disintegrates first (brush holder burning out seems common).

--
Andrew Gabriel

Andrew,

I have an early flymo from the 'Blue & white' era It has a direct drive from
a big 1300 watt electrolux universal motor.

It is built like a brick proverbial. Years ago a dealer advised me to hang
on to it as 'they don't make them like that any more'

It must be about 35 years old now and still going strong. Certainly not a
'consumable' design.

Bob

In article ,
"Bob Minchin" writes:
Andrew Gabriel wrote in message
...
Universal motors (cheap, short life, ideal for making mowers
into consumables) spin too fast for direct drive of a mower blade.

When I've looked at various friend's flymos, the motor usually
disintegrates first (brush holder burning out seems common).

Andrew,

I have an early flymo from the 'Blue & white' era It has a direct drive from
a big 1300 watt electrolux universal motor.

Hum, are you sure it's a universal motor?

It is built like a brick proverbial. Years ago a dealer advised me to hang
on to it as 'they don't make them like that any more'

It must be about 35 years old now and still going strong. Certainly not a
'consumable' design.

Well, if they had continued making those, they would have gone out
of business years ago;-) I had a Briggs and Stratton petrol mower
which lasted 40 years (was my dad's originally), and when it finally
died, it was the body which fell to bits -- the engine was still fine.

Better electric mowers use induction motors. The reasons a
o They don't wear out as fast (no brushes);
o Their torque at different speeds is perfect for grass cutting
(universal motors are the complete opposite);
o Induction motors rotate at about the right speed for direct
drive to the blades (speeds like 3,000RPM), whereas universal
motors are normally much too fast (10,000RPM and more);
o Induction motors tend to be more efficient, so you'll get away
with a lower power induction motor on same size mower blade.

Last time I bought an electric mower (~6 years ago), I had to go
to a lawn mower specialist to find induction motor mowers (and I
don't think they stocked any flymos at all).

--
Andrew Gabriel

On 09 Apr 2006 20:00:59 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:


Last time I bought an electric mower (~6 years ago), I had to go
to a lawn mower specialist to find induction motor mowers (and I
don't think they stocked any flymos at all).

As a matter of interest, do you know who does make them?


--

..andy

Hum, are you sure it's a universal motor?

Yup Series wound, brushes&commutator. The only deviation from a normal
unversal motor is that it is fitted with a bridge rectifier at the mains
input. I think this is because the field stack incorporates a moving section
which acts as a brake on the armature. without the rectifier, I expect it
would buzz at the line rate.

Bob

In article ,
Andy Hall writes:
On 09 Apr 2006 20:00:59 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:


Last time I bought an electric mower (~6 years ago), I had to go
to a lawn mower specialist to find induction motor mowers (and I
don't think they stocked any flymos at all).

As a matter of interest, do you know who does make them?

6 year old one is an Al-Ko Electrox (just had to go and see
what is written on it). Instructions came in Dutch, Spanish,
Polish, and Greek, but not English (and make no mention of
Al-Ko Electrox, although the pictures are the same mower).
I also bought one about 12 years ago which is with another
member of the family now, and still working fine. That one
is German and well designed/made, as well as slightly bigger,
but I can't remember the make. ISTR it also had no English
instructions. Looks like manufacturers don't expect to
sell such mowers into the UK market.

Both of them came from the Sundon Lawnmower centre,
Bedfordshire. I tried to get the same German one again
second time around, but they said it got too expensive
compared to other makes to keep in stock and would have to
be ordered, which I couldn't be bothered to do.

--
Andrew Gabriel

In article ,
(Andrew Gabriel) writes:
In article ,
Andy Hall writes:
As a matter of interest, do you know who does make them?

6 year old one is an Al-Ko Electrox (just had to go and see
what is written on it). Instructions came in Dutch, Spanish,
Polish, and Greek, but not English (and make no mention of
Al-Ko Electrox, although the pictures are the same mower).
I also bought one about 12 years ago which is with another
member of the family now, and still working fine. That one
is German and well designed/made, as well as slightly bigger,
but I can't remember the make.

It's a Lawnflite 282E, 16" cut, 1300W induction motor. Just
used it, and it too is working fine.

--
Andrew Gabriel