Ill throw another spanner in the works... The Owners Manual in your post isnt the First....There was a five page manual in foolscap with text only.

This in my opinion will possibly reinforce your evidence of This Front Carrier Arm Variant.

Now A manual MUST have been provided at sale yes? So If they were still amending the front Carrier Arm Assy a month after the release as you say,would this Text only manual not suffice until the Pictorial Manual was printed?...Why print a whole new manual a month or so later..EXPENSIVE!

So if you check your parts manual,you should see the Carrier arm assy has the PT no 6-006 yes? Or,If the other Arm was actually released on a few earlier models,perhaps a Note of amendment or superceded pt no reference would be in the Catalogue? If the parts Catalogue doesnt list another front carrier arm PT no,then this might prove the earlier carrier arm was either A: Never actually released OR B: (More likely) Recalled and retro fitted with the new carrier as you Suggested:)

All very credible evidence Unkie!!! ....See if you can confirm this pt no 6-006 in the Victa Parts catalogue is the only one listed if you havnt already...Would be nice to see a match:)

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Page 1 of The Early Automatic Manual.