Winter Builds: Is It Worth Rebuilding Your Cricket Roller, or Should the Club Buy New?
If the frame and rolls are sound, rebuilding is almost always the better value — and frequently the better machine. Auto-Rollers built in 1948 are still working on squares today because the parts that wear out have been replaced and the parts that do not have simply carried on.
Whether that is true for your roller comes down to four questions, and you can answer them yourself before you contact anybody.
The situation you are probably in
The roller is getting harder to start. Something is leaking. Someone on the committee has said the word unreliable out loud, and someone else has asked what a new one costs and gone quiet.
You need to take a recommendation to a committee that will scrutinise it, and you do not want to be the person who spent the club's money on the wrong option.
So here is how the decision actually breaks down.
Question one: is the frame straight and are the rolls sound?
This is the one that decides everything else.
The rolls are the machine. Ours are machined from 20mm steel for concentricity and edge radius, and they do not wear out in any normal club lifetime. The frame is similarly durable. If both are sound, then everything failing on your machine could be replaceable depending on age.
Check for rolls running visibly out of true, deep pitting or perforation in the frame, cracks around mounting points, and whether the machine tracks straight when rolling. If they are not, skip to the replacement section.
Question two: what is actually failing?
Nearly every "the roller's had it" conversation turns out to be about one of four things: the engine, the transmission or hydraulics, the controls and steering linkage, or general condition - where it works, but the club is embarrassed by how it looks.
Every one of those is fixable without replacing the machine.
For more information, see our maintenance guidance and article on signs your cricket roller needs servicing.
Question three: which winter build fits?
The Re-Power Kit
A bolt-in replacement for the engine, transmission and steering linkage. Remove the old power unit and the kit bolts straight in.
Re-Power Kits are available supply only for a competent person to fit, or we can fit the kit at our factory.
Best for clubs whose roller is mechanically tired but cosmetically acceptable, and who have a workshop or a local engineer who can fit it. Also for clubs who need the machine back quickly. You end up with a machine that has a new heart and the original body - reliable, but still looking its age.
Full factory rebuild
The Re-Power Kit plus shotblasting and respray of the original roller, and attention to everything else while it is in the workshop.
Best for clubs who want the machine to look and work like new and can be without it over the winter. You end up with effectively a new machine on a proven frame.
All refurbished Auto-Rollers receive the full treatment, including a brand-new engine, and come with the same one-year warranty as our new rollers.
Buy a reconditioned roller
Every reconditioned roller we sell has the Re-Power Kit fitted and has been fully refurbished, available in 3ft and 4ft subject to stock. We usually have reconditioned rollers available, so it is worth enquiring to see what we have.
Best for clubs whose own machine is not worth saving, or who need something before the season starts. Stock moves quickly in the run-up to the season.
Question four: when is buying new genuinely right?
We sell rebuilds and we sell new machines, so we have no reason to push you either way.
New wins in three situations.
• Your frame or rolls are gone. No amount of new engine fixes a distorted frame, and rebuilding a machine that is not structurally sound is money burnt.
• You need a different size. If the club has outgrown a 3ft, or taken on a ground where a 4ft is too heavy, a rebuild keeps you in the wrong machine. The ECB guidance on mass and width by pitch performance level is worth checking before you spend anything.
• You want the Electric Auto-Roller. Zero emissions, minimal noise, and ECB funding is available towards it for clubs that qualify. No rebuild of a diesel machine gets you there, and the funding changes the arithmetic considerably.
The numbers your committee will ask for
Your committee may ask what each option costs, what is included, how long the work will take and what warranty applies.
Get in touch with us today for a quotation and information on the options available for your club.
One thing worth knowing
We support many older Auto-Rollers, but some spare parts are becoming obsolete. Availability depends on the model, age and component required, so contact us with your serial number to find out what support is available for your machine.
That is worth weighing when someone argues for replacing a working roller because it is old. Age is not the problem. Wear is, and wear is fixable.
Find out what yours is worth saving
Send us the model and serial number and a few photographs including the frame and rolls, and we will tell you honestly which route makes sense. If it is not worth rebuilding, we will say so.
Winter build slots are limited and they fill from the end of the season onwards, so it is worth asking early even if the committee has not decided.
Book by 16th October. Our winter build deposit special offers a £1,000 non-refundable deposit to secure your winter build slot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth rebuilding an old cricket roller?
Rebuilding can be worth considering if the frame and rolls are sound and the machine still suits your club. The decision depends on what is failing, the work required and parts availability. If the frame or rolls are badly damaged, a replacement may make more sense.
What is an Auto-Roller Re-Power Kit?
The Auto-Roller Re-Power Kit is a bolt-in replacement for the existing engine, transmission and steering linkage. It updates the mechanical components while retaining the original roller body. Contact us with your model and serial number to discuss suitability.
Can we buy a Re-Power Kit to fit ourselves?
Yes. Re-Power Kits are available supply only for a competent person to fit, such as your own workshop or a local engineer. We also offer factory fitting.
What does a full factory refurbishment include?
A full factory refurbishment includes the Re-Power Kit, shotblasting and a respray of the original roller, with attention to other components while it is in the workshop. All refurbished Auto-Rollers receive a brand-new engine and the same one-year warranty as our new rollers.
Do you have reconditioned cricket rollers for sale?
We usually have reconditioned Auto-Rollers available, with 3ft and 4ft machines offered subject to stock. Every reconditioned roller we sell has a Re-Power Kit fitted and has been fully refurbished. Enquire to find out what we currently have available.
Can you still supply spare parts for older Auto-Rollers?
We support many older Auto-Rollers, but some spare parts are becoming obsolete. Availability depends on the model, age and component required. Send us your roller’s serial number so we can check what support is available.
How do we get a quotation for rebuilding our cricket roller?
Send us your roller’s model and serial number, a description of the problems and clear photographs, including the frame and rolls. We can advise which route makes sense and discuss the cost, work involved and timing. Email sales@autoguide.co.uk with your enquiry.
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