Good Afternoon Mick,

Thank you for your earlier advice, and I am pleased to report success with the repair to our Hayter machine by replacing the Variator assembly.  It is a bit of a fiddle to get at, and even with the underdeck cover and the left hand wheel cover removed it still requires fingers like 'Twizzle', but there was no doubt when the old part was removed that one half of the pully system was very stiff on the splined shaft whereas on the replacement assembly everything moved smoothly.  While everything was in pieces I treated it to a couple of new belts as well, and when the machine was fired up the Varispeed control now goes from 'Hare' to 'Tortoise' with no more rattling sounds.

I know this is mainly a do-it-yourself forum, but I have to say thank you to the staff at Crewkerne Horticulture who kindly confirmed the diagnosis of the problem from my description.  They are presently very busy so I purchased genuine Hayter parts on-line and did the job myself at the weekend.

Jim

Good afternoon Mick,

Thank you for your prompt reply to my enquiry and for correcting my muddled description of the drive belts!

It's too cold and dark to venture into the garage tonight but I will check all of the matters you have suggested and will give feedback to the forum in due course.

Jim

Our Hayter Harrier 41 is regularly serviced by me and has had new belts for both the cutter drive and the gearbox drive.  If the Varispeed control is advanced to anything more than a slow walking pace the machine makes a loud rattling noise as if something is striking the frame/deck.  I have removed/dismantled/cleaned the pulley Variator assembly [411001] but this has made no difference.  I did note that the pulley sections did not slide very easily on the splined shaft.

I would be grateful for any guidance as it will only be a few weeks before the Head Gardener needs the grass to be cut again!!

Jim