Howard Bulldog restoration.

Retired · Post by **Retired** » Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:39 am

Hi,

I bought this Howard Bulldog petrol rotavator many months ago and when it was delivered stripped it for restoration but then life got in the way. Fed up of storm damage to our trees and with the latest I thought it's time to sort this out; I took down 17 trees ranging from 50' tall to 70' tall. Next we suffered subsidence damage to our rear two roomed extension when it detached itself from the main bungalow so I did the repairs. Recently I've run over 80 full bin bags of English ivy and garden debris to the tip; it's just gone on and on. Include many trips to the hospital for all manner of tests and scans for my lovely wife Bron and the months have flown by; Bron will always come first and hospital appointments are still ongoing.

It's been frustrating to say the least trying to work on the rotavator with the odd hour here and there but recently I finally caught up allowing more workshop time and this morning due to dire weather I'm grounded so can spend a bit of time posting.

The rotavator was delivered strapped to a pallet and although it looked rough it appeared to be complete. First job was to see if it would run; it had clean oil in the engine; a drop of petrol was poured into the plug hole and surprisingly it briefly fired up so I was pleased. It was very rusty with seized nuts but it came apart without too much hassle; that's as far as I could get before more urgent things needed my attention. I had taken lots of digital images and just as well because I forgot were everything went.

: Howard Bulldog_0001.JPG (135.24 KiB) Viewed 13186 times

: Howard Bulldog_0003.JPG (171.46 KiB) Viewed 13186 times

: Howard Bulldog_0004.JPG (175.08 KiB) Viewed 13186 times

: Howard Bulldog_0005.JPG (176.11 KiB) Viewed 13186 times

: Howard Bulldog_0006.JPG (172.28 KiB) Viewed 13186 times

: Howard Bulldog_0007.JPG (173.03 KiB) Viewed 13186 times

: Howard Bulldog_0008.JPG (175.65 KiB) Viewed 13186 times

: Howard Bulldog_0009.JPG (166.41 KiB) Viewed 13186 times

: Howard Bulldog_0010.JPG (171.66 KiB) Viewed 13186 times

More to follow.

Kind regards, Colin.

Retired · Post by **Retired** » Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:47 am

Hi,

More pictures;

: Rotavator Feb23_0010.JPG (153.74 KiB) Viewed 13191 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0009.JPG (165.42 KiB) Viewed 13191 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0008.JPG (186.45 KiB) Viewed 13191 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0007.JPG (158.26 KiB) Viewed 13191 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0006.JPG (186.97 KiB) Viewed 13191 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0005.JPG (166.78 KiB) Viewed 13191 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0004.JPG (156.9 KiB) Viewed 13191 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0003.JPG (175.43 KiB) Viewed 13191 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0002.JPG (176.57 KiB) Viewed 13191 times

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:53 am

Crikey that is a mission. I have watched lots of Youtube videos on rust removal using various mixes and electro-chemical rust removal using a battery charger. This might be helpful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp3OE1GKUoc

DWD

Retired · Post by **Retired** » Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:55 am

Hi,

: Rotavator projec_0009.JPG (161.42 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

: Rotavator projec_0008.JPG (144.62 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

: Rotavator projec_0007.JPG (185.67 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

: Rotavator projec_0003.JPG (154.15 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

: Rotavator projec_0002.JPG (217.86 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

: Rotavator projec_0001.JPG (167.08 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0016.JPG (135.28 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0015.JPG (207.8 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0014.JPG (173.97 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

: Rotavator Feb23_0013.JPG (135.78 KiB) Viewed 13190 times

More to follow.

Kind regards, Colin.

Retired · Post by **Retired** » Thu Dec 21, 2023 10:31 am

Hi,

: Exhaust valve seat very rough indeed.; 19 Nov 2023_0008.JPG (168.92 KiB) Viewed 13188 times

: Exhaust valve seat was very rough indeed having been run without valve clearance; 2 hours spent lapping and it was still poor.; 19 Nov 2023_0012.JPG (109.01 KiB) Viewed 13188 times

: Quickest way was to design and make a very simple valve seat cutting tool; sorry about picture quality. The HSS cutter was located as seen; I ground the cutter at 45 degrees by eye; I could adjust the angle by turning the cutter; it worked a treat; the cutter was secured using an 8mm set screw allowing the cutter to be rotated using a "T" bar and socket.; 2 Dec 2023_0003.JPG (85.33 KiB) Viewed 13188 times

: After using the tool; a bit of lapping and then a bit of valve stem end grinding gave correct valve clearance.; 2 Dec 2023_0002.JPG (97.34 KiB) Viewed 13188 times

: Original seal on left new modified seal on right.; Rotavator seals_0001.JPG (105.06 KiB) Viewed 13188 times

: Modifying seal on lathe removing half the outside width; the original seals are "Special" and no longer available.; Rotavator seals_0003.JPG (141.31 KiB) Viewed 13188 times

: Gearbox seals.; Rotavator seals_0005.JPG (144.27 KiB) Viewed 13188 times

: Removing tine hub with home rigged puller; these hubs as were the wheels incredibly tight needing a great deal of force to break them free.; 7 Nov 2023_0003.JPG (176.46 KiB) Viewed 13188 times

Enough for now but more to follow; Pictures not in right sequence but it takes time posting so I'm being as quick as I can; I've been retired 23 years and never have enough time; I'll post more time permitting.

Kind regards, Colin.

Retired · Post by **Retired** » Thu Dec 21, 2023 3:16 pm

Hi,

Many thanks for the video link DWD it's interesting. I use industrial Paramose paint stripper having 5L of it bought at Rufforth Auto Jumble years ago. I dislike paint stripping of any kind it's always messy and unpleasant; I used Gunk first though to clear the dirt and oil etc; it takes time but works for me.

More pictures;

: 29 Oct 2023_0003.JPG (186.06 KiB) Viewed 13183 times

: 18 Dec 2023_0008.JPG (187.09 KiB) Viewed 13183 times

: 18 Dec 2023_0007.JPG (248.71 KiB) Viewed 13183 times

: 18 Dec 2023_0006.JPG (257.41 KiB) Viewed 13183 times

The paint used is Scewfix red oxide water based primer and spirit based machinery enamel Howard Orange; both applied with a brush; I like spraying but living here in Yorkshire with dire weather most of the year I'm unable to work with the workshop doors open; brushing is much slower but still looks decent.

The rotavator leaked from it's seals hence it turned into a much bigger job due to the correct seals being unavailable; correct size seals are available very cheaply but need modifying which I could carry out using the lathe. The wheels were incredibly tight to remove being mounted on tapered splines. The set screws and nuts are UNC. One gearbox casting was broken across the corner through a screw hole but it would have been too much trouble stripping the entire gearbox in order to weld it so I used Milliput having made absolutely certain the broken joints was clean; I used meths.

New silencer was fitted as were hand grips both bought through eBay; a new drive belt completed the restoration. Now I need decent dry weather in order to use it in anger rotavating the meadows; an interest and very useful project; this is a professional heavy duty rotavator built to last a few lifetimes with some TLC. I've tried it out up our steep garden and what joy to have it power itself up; much better and quicker than using a spade.

Kind regards, Colin.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Thu Dec 21, 2023 3:26 pm

first picture i though heavy duty trimmer like a strimmer for grass and small shrubs then the paddle wheels gave it away as a Rotavator lol now i could have googled but it doesnt sink in when you take the easy way out

well done any way the satisfaction off bringing back to life far exceeds the possible 3/6d an hour you time is adding to the value

Retired · Post by **Retired** » Fri Dec 22, 2023 8:37 am

Hi,

Thanks big-all,

3/6d per hour for my labour would be a good estimate.

As you know though such restorations aren't for making a profit they are a labour of love; I enjoy such projects and end up with excellent machinery which cannot be bought new these days; these machines are classics and if looked after will last for ever whilst giving reliable trouble free service. Now it's ready for work I'm unable to use it due to our dire climate; I've been out shopping this morning and it's been bucketing down with rain driven by gusty wind; the grass in the meadows is laughing at me whilst it grows and all I can do is to watch it.

Kind regards, Colin.

fin · Post by **fin** » Sun Dec 24, 2023 2:24 pm

nice one col. hope bron feels a bit better soon

Retired · Post by **Retired** » Sun Dec 31, 2023 3:06 pm

Hi,

Many thanks fin for your kind regards; Bron's still struggling with health problems but does her best and tries to hide her pain; I'm doing as much as possible to help her with normal household chores like shopping; doing the dishes; laundry etc; also I'm now doing some baking to help out; yesterday teatime four pancakes then after tea made a mixed fruit cake; simple thinks make a huge difference. We hope you're keeping well and busy fin sending our very best New Year wishes.

I've been using the restored rotavator in anger in spite of doing the rotavating on our mountain side of a garden in terrible weather conditions. I was rotavating the middle meadow when the rotavator suffered a breakdown. The power from the engine is taken to the gearbox by V belt; drive is applied by pulling the control rod which in turn moves a lever allowing the engine to lift it being on a hinged plate. The lever is a simple throw over kind; it pivots at the bottom and there is a ball bearing about half way this bearing runs under the engine mounting plate; the lever having gone over center is then arrested by a bit of metal bent over from the engine mounting plate; this bit of metal dropped off due to metal fatigue allowing the engine to drop again.

I tried a quick repair drilling a hole and adding a set screw with two nuts; unfortunately I wasted an hour in freezing conditions; the lever wouldn't go over center and lock; I gave up in disgust fed up of working in our Yorkshire black hole with perishing high wind. To do a proper repair would mean removing the engine allowing the mounting plate to be carried down to the workshop for a bit of new metal welding in; just what I didn't want after doing the restoration and stripping the plate out in the cold garden hut in the dark using a torch; we've had many days when it's not become daylight and with driving rain and terrific wind.

Awake in bed I gave this problem a lot of thought and dreamt up a solution,

: 27 Dec 2023_0001.JPG (114.84 KiB) Viewed 13082 times

If I couldn't repair the engine mounting plate without lots of hassle here's my simple solution; a clamp I made to clamp to the lever control rod.

: 27 Dec 2023_0004.JPG (87.96 KiB) Viewed 13082 times

Now it's got about 36" of adjustment.

: 27 Dec 2023_0006.JPG (134.52 KiB) Viewed 13082 times

The new "Stop" is much stronger and more robust than the original bit of bent metal on the engine mounting plate; this won't suffer metal fatigue.

: 29 Dec 2023_0001.JPG (264.25 KiB) Viewed 13082 times

Here the middle meadow has now been rotavated.

: 29 Dec 2023_0001_01.JPG (241.57 KiB) Viewed 13082 times

Rotavating up such a steep very wet slope wasn't fun unaided by terrific bitterly cold wind buffeting me around whilst I tried to retain footing and control this 75kg rotavator; the wheels kept coating with compacted wet soil which I cleared often using a screwdriver blade.

: 29 Dec 2023_0002.JPG (291.03 KiB) Viewed 13082 times

Flushed with success and ignoring feeling perished whilst the rotavator was out I rotavated the entire top meadow again then called it a day; in bed that night I just dropped into a coma but was delighted to have the rotavator working so well and the meadows rotavated. Next March I'll rotavate again then broadcast new wildflower seed. Aged now 76 this heavy work is keeping me fit.

Kind regards, Colin.

wine~o · Post by **wine~o** » Fri Jan 05, 2024 5:19 pm

Have to say when I saw the first few pics I thought "Surely not even Col can sort that mess out"...

Crikey, what a result.

Nice to see you back.

Retired · Post by **Retired** » Mon Jan 08, 2024 9:40 am

Hi,

Many thanks wino~o for your kind comments. With Bron being unwell I don't have the spare time I used to have but I've been posting on a gardening forum because the time I have had I've been grafting in the garden; I'm still learning to play my violins and also because my memory is so poor I'm learning to play from violin music sheets which is very interesting indeed.

A few years ago I bought an Hyundai petrol rotavator but it wasn't self propelled unless the tines engaged the soil; by the time I'd dragged it to the top meadow I had to wait a short while in order to recover then have the strength to start and use it; it was incredibly hard work. I then sold this Hyundai and bought a smaller petrol rotavator which was lighter but after two years use the garden killed it. The tines were flimsy and kept bending also they easily became clogged; it bounced around out of control. I made two new tines from 1/8" steel sheet and carried on using it; one day it stopped and refused to restart so fed up with it I scrapped it and bought this proper heavy duty self propelled Howard Bulldog. What a difference; the Bulldog rotavates without clogging up but it's wheels do get coated but are quickly cleared using a screwdriver; it's genuinely self propelled so I can engage the drive whilst lifting the tines clear and it's a joy to watch it pull itself up the mountain.

: Hyundai_0002.JPG (236.19 KiB) Viewed 13018 times

Here it's grabbed a tree root and is clogged again with wet soil; if I wait for the soil to dry it could take months.

: Hyundai_0001.JPG (269.09 KiB) Viewed 13018 times

It was difficult fighting the slope and having to keep stopping to clear the tines but the Hyundai did the job as seen.

The Hyundai was a decent rotavator but couldn't cope with our usual dire wet climate always clogging up and was uncontrollable; when it rotavated it had to be held back and many times it dug itself in; it was hard work so I bought one of these through eBay;

: Cheap rotavator.JPG (23.86 KiB) Viewed 13018 times

Here's the cheap rotavator which considering the cost was well worth it; it lasted two years but on a level allotment without lots of buried debris I'm sure it would come into its own; I'm certainly not knocking it.

This cheap rotavator was pretty good for the money but coping with stones; bricks; tree roots and clinging wet soil killed it. The Bulldog is much more robust but a lot heavier it being more of an industrial machine built to last many years. The Bulldog I believe is over 60 years old and with a lot of TLC in restoring it; it could now last another 60 years; it's still hard heavy work due to our steep slope but a lot easier than when I dug the lot over twice using a spade to remove most of the debris; the Hyundai simply bounced off grass; I dug the meadow over by spade and even then the Hyundai couldn't cope until I dug over a second time breaking up the grass sods; I've had an hard time taming our mountain of a garden; it didn't help having a forest of 17 very tall trees on it. I think I'm now on top of all the heavy work around the bungalow and gardens it's only taken 36 years.

Old machines like this Howard Bulldog are well worth looking after; they were made when made to last unlike modern machinery; no fancy electronics to go wrong either; simple controls and they can easily be rebuilt with simple tools not needing mission control to plug them into; please don't scrap these old machines; they are worth money and for people like me they are an excellent hobby to restore them.

I've rambled on enough.

Kind regards, Colin.

bradleytr · Post by **bradleytr** » Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:05 pm

It is obvious that a lot of effort has been put into, good job :)

Retired · Post by **Retired** » Wed Feb 07, 2024 12:11 pm

Hi,

Whilst restoring this Bulldog I found it only had four tines but the tine hubs were drilled to accept eight tines? In use the rotavator tended to pull to one side; one side the tines were very worn. No problem just make four new tines.

I had a long length of 2" x 1/8" mild steel flat bar stock which was perfect. Four lengths were cut using an angle grinder then the profiles ground using my home made 2" wide belt grinder fitted with coarse 36G belt. Two tines had a sharpish bend the other two a more rounded bend; I selected a short length of steel pipe which fitted the rounded bend and set this up in the heavy vise; the pipe former was adjusted for height and a hardwood support was cut on the bandsaw this kept the pipe at the correct height for forming each tine. With the blank tine set up and tightly nipped in the vise I found it easy to form the bend using a 2lb hammer; an original tine was used as a gauge for the forming.

One job I did before grinding to shape was to drill the mounting holes it being easy to do whilst the blank was still flat. These tines are "Handed" two right and two left so a lot of care was needed to get them right. I used the largest original tine to draw around placing it on a blank using a black Sharpie; without allowing it to move from the first marked position the tine was rolled over allowing the blank to be fully marked; the belt grinder made a good job of removing waste.

Although I took a great deal of care I wasn't in the least surprised to find two of the new tines sharpened along the wrong edge; I'd got the bend correct in relation to the mounting holes but the knife edge was on the wrong edge; two more new tines were easy to make; in the past I've measured five times and still got it wrong; I've now got two spare new tines.

Having now successfully made the tines I was browsing the web looking at Howard Bulldog posts on another forum; how unusual; these Bulldog rotavators only had four tines fitted from the factory. I wonder if the initial design for eight tines was too hard on the engine power so were reduced to only four tines? The original tines were removed and the new tines fitted bringing up a slight problem; on one side the tines cleared the gear drive the other side they jammed against the gear drive unit; it wasn't a big job to remove both tines and grind a bit off. I hope to try the new tines this afternoon on the top meadow.

: Bulldog tines_0004.JPG (186.51 KiB) Viewed 9709 times

Ready for bending.

: Bulldog tines_0003_01.JPG (164.95 KiB) Viewed 9709 times

Completed tines ready for fitting; I didn't bother painting them.

: Bulldog tines_0002.JPG (188.23 KiB) Viewed 9709 times

This home made belt grinder has seen lots of use; it cost very little indeed to make using offcuts and an old single phase motor I had to hand.

: Bulldog tines_0001.JPG (183.69 KiB) Viewed 9709 times

Very basic method of bending; crude but worked a treat ensuring all four tines were bent in the same place; it's so easy at this stage to bend tines the wrong way; I avoided this mistake but made the mistake of grinding the knife edge on two of the tines along the wrong edge; I never learn however hard I try.

The new wildflower seeds arrived from Meadowmania yesterday costing £91; these are for both meadows. Snow is forecast tomorrow & Friday and although very cold today so far it isn't raining so I'd like to have a go at rotavating the top meadow; I'm keen to put the rotavator through it's paces.

Kind regards, Colin.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Feb 07, 2024 12:19 pm

fred dibbnah would be proud

well done