Hi All,
Well here I go. Ive just taken a couple of photos of what I have to date. First is my VC160 collection in various states of serviceability. Two V80's, one will be used as a "spares" machine the other will be a working example. I do have the impulse starter surrounds in the shed. The same can be said of the two V96's. The V111 is in Excellent mechanical and deck condition EXCEPT the handle bushes are so worn that they lean back so far the catcher falls off !!I will turn up some new nylon bushes as time pemits. The VC Autodrive is nearly finished except it starts but won't keep running for more than 10 seconds at a time. It has had a full engine rebuild including the later NOS crankshaft with the roller small end bearing. I suspect a faulty ignition coil as the carby is A1. I've ordered two new ones plus some condensers. When it is running it sounds excellent -very quiet mechanically. I fitted an M32 drive belt and I am also very pleased that the drive system works as it should.
The second photo shows the rest of the collection( so far) including two V147 "store brand Corvettes". I was lucky enough to get a brand new old stock catcher for these as both originals are lousy. Both have had little mechanical work done except a carby and fuel tank clean and air filters. Both start and run just like they should. The first could do with a set of starter pawls. The next one was my first - a Sunbeam LawnKeeper 160 G4.This was in excellent condition deck and catcher wise but has had a carby kit and complete engine overhaul. Runs like new but as with all the early G4 carbs is not as easy to start as those with the primer bulb. A nice mower all the same. Next is one of my prize items. The Victa Supreme 170cc twin. I have only had this for a couple of weeks and have done nothing at all to it except fill it with fuel and mow my lawn ! It is fairly "grubby" and when time permits I will clean it, overhaul the carby, clean the tank and fit an external inline fuel filter (something I do to ALL my mowers). This mower came with two spare engines, one complete and intact, the other in pieces, AND 3 spare ignition coils. I was surprised at how easily this mower starts usually first pull, and how smoothly it runs.
Next is a mid '90s Power Torque mower salvaged from the gutter, complete with excellent catcher. This mower had obviously been looked after for many years as it was in excellent condition deck / catcher & handle wise. The engine was clearly worn out so a recond engine was bought from my local mower shop for less than $100, which was cheaper than having it bored /pistons/ rings/ bearings etc myself. A carby kit finished it off and it now runs like a Swiss watch. I have to have one Power Torque model in my collection and the alloy deck clinched it. I like this mower. Lastly is a Mk 2 VC Mustang. This was given to me by my local mower shop owner after my request for a secondhand cylinder head ! It was traded in on a new mower. Again, all I have done to this one is steam clean the whole thing, clean the carby and fuel tank, fitted a fuel filter and away she went.
As you can see I have a few projects up my sleeve but the main one is the Autodrive, then the VC160's in order of manufacture, V80, V96, V111.
Cheers,
Wombatini. [Linked Image]
[Linked Image]