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Got the plug outlast week and peered inside, seemed OK. Plug is a rather worn Champion N-21 , covered in black soot- looks about normal actually.
Does the N-21 plug sound right, are they available and what would be the gap? (Small engine manual says: consult the dealer)
Yep, that looks right for that engine [north-south orientation 160cc], of that vintage. They are available, but I'd use the equivalent NGK B4ES - better quality, and possibly easier to get from Autobarn, Bursons, Repco etc. Gap 0.025".
Cowl and starter
Intending to get at the carby, first thing was to get the cowl and starter off. First thing I noticed: one missing bolt and two on one side sheared off- actually saw this last week. Not a good start, but anyway three bolts later and here's what I saw. Even by my newbie standards, it's an "Oh, dear" moment. Some queries will precede/follow each pic, please have a look and help me out if you can. Thanks!
Starter drum(?correct?)
- I assume it's not meant to be in this condition, looks extremely worn to me- teeth (I assume?) gone and you can see where something's been rotating in contact with it on the top surface (starter base)?
- And what's the little sector of metal- is it a shield/shroud part from the starter unit itself (pics further down)?
Usually called 'starter cup' now. The 'starter drum' was Victa's term in those days though.
Your Q's: Yes x4. It's worn out. You can see why I warned against using an impulse starter with missing cowl bolts...
Starter base from underneath
- Again, contact from where the base has touched the drum?
- Contact likely caused, I assume, by collapsed shroud bolts?
- Should there be three 'prongs' (dogs?) extending, also is the broken off part likely the shroud around the outside between the prongs/dogs?
Yes to all Q's, once again. There should indeed be three pawls/dogs.
Flywheel
- Basically every flywheel blades seems to be broken- again contact, no doubt, collapsed cowling?
- Contact again can be seen at top of drum(?)?
More like some neanderthal with a hammer has been at work. That isn't the correct cup for a 2-stroke, BTW - that's a Kirby 4-stroke type. And it doesn't engage the lugs on the top of the flywheel, as the correct one would.
Cylinder outside
Probably least of my worries, but
I wonder where all the contamination came from, and whether the engine overheated (and was damaged) as a result.
That's a quite normal crud deposit, on Victa cylinder fins. Dirt and fine clippings always tended to build up there.
Ignition and compression test Last thing was to test the spark: I pulled the plug and spun the engine, both by hand and by a rope around the pully. I guess I would have simulated a zip-start speed. Even moved the throttle cable, though I can't see any kill mechanism connected. No spark found, darn.
But it does seem to give compression, so that's help.
No ignition cutout switch on these models, so there must be other problems.
Next steps
- Pull the carby
- Pull the exhaust
- 'ave a look inside
- Pull flywheel (get to test my new purchase )
- Look at ignition
- Examine/dismantle carby
All worth doing.
ConclusionSo my first-off opinion is whilst it
may be fixable it's pretty well a write-off from the start. But no matter, that just makes it great to learn on, doesn't really matter what I do to it!
So I'll probably pull it apart and try and get bits working anyway. Some may even be salvageable. I suppose if the cylinder's good then the flywheel, magneto, carby etc can be replaced/repaired and it can work anyway, perhaps replace starter with something else.
Already a good learning experience!
That's the best way to regard it, I'd say - a learning experience!
