OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Transferring Victa 125 From Mayfair to Utility Base.

Hi everyone, I recently found a utility base without a motor and thought it would be a good opportunity to make use of a motor from a worn low arch Mayfair base.
When I went to fit it on I found it sat too low and needed spacers of some sort between the engine and base. I compared the side pull full crank on my steel deck rear catcher Victa and noticed an extra bit of space at the bottom of the crankcase measuring about 18mm.
Based on this, I fitted nuts and washers to make up an extra 18mm of height for the 125 I wished to fit but found the blade disc seemed to sit too high under the base, so I measured the built in 1cm raises on the Mayfair base (pictured below) and, based on that, reduced the spacing to 1cm, and found the blades about dead level with the skirt on the left and rear but below the front skirt. Is that how it should be or was I right the first time with the blades almost 1cm above the left and rear skirt and the disc just clearing the underside by a hair's breadth?
The final pic shows the disc I'll be using. Is it unsuitable? I don't have another utility to use for reference unfortunately. I hope someone can clear me up...

Looks fine MF, it will do the job no problems, spacers look about right.

Thanks NormK that's what I thought. I thought of painting it but it's a utility mower after all and I want to use it as soon as possible. The body, while scaly underneath, is sound and has no penetrating rust.
The height adjuster plate with the holes is abit bent inwards, making the lever a bit insecure. I have bent this plate out wards with pliers, should I do it more?
Front axle moves up and down quite a bit too, giving a suspension effect. I'm sure the mower will work ok though.

MF, the front wheel movement is as with all mowers, the front bushes are worn or the ends of the height adjuster bar have worn or the holes in the axle part of the height adjuster has become slightly slotted. In both these cases they require welding up to make the front firm again

Hi Mf and Norm,

Here are some pics of my Utility just for comparing where the blades sit.

This is the mower I put the steel needle in the carby.

It should be OK Mf with the blade plate you are using and the spacers on the motor.

Cheers
Max.

Hi,

Those blade bolts with the large square heads interest me. I have a set of those here that I can not remember where they came from. I thought they were from a Rover. Perhaps they are an aftermarket item for blade discs with flogged out diamond holes. Never seen them on a Victa before. Where do they come from?

Thanks Jeff

Hi Jeff,
The blade bolts above are standard Victa bolts for that Victa blade plate and blades.

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Cheers
Max.

Well, I gave it a run and keep encountering niggles.
The engine seemed to vibrate as though the flywheel was unbalanced. I cut some lawn with it but it felt too vibratory. I thought out might new my sharpening the blades had upset the balance, but I was careful to give each blade a pretty equal go on the bench grinder without taking too much metal off.
Then I thought out might be that one of the blades wasn't moving and was stuck in a slightly angled position (very slightly), so worked on eventually making it move like the other. Will see if that makes a difference tomorrow.
The motor was hard to start at one stage and would run for a second or two then stall. It eventually stays on after about five or six more times of this behaviour.
Spark plug looked ok, so I will try cleaning the points and magnets to see if that helps next.

Max Western, thanks for those pics. Mine hang about 6mm lower, but that may be because my blades are mounted under the carrier instead of over like yours.
I'm pretty happy with it as is.

One more thing. The lever keeps hopping out of the worn height adjuster holes, so I have locked it into the highest position. I'm pretty happy with the height for general use at the moment on this banger. Better than unwanted crop circles appearing on the lawn lol!

It's funny you should mention the blades looking low MF. Last month, I was doing some work on my old Victa Monaro with the old style blade disc. I didn't have any of that style Victa blade, but I thought for now I will just put on some of the skinny Rover blades (same hole size and overall length).

I thought they looked like they were much lower than the front skirt, so I have left it without blades (not using it yet). Its strange because the blades it actually takes are the same length

G'day everyone,

Good unit you have there Mowerfreak, at least you don't have to worry about not having or using the catcher with that one! lol

Cheers!

OK Max,

Obviously I have never had a Victa like that. So the hole in the blade disc is round is it? Not diamond shape at all? Although I think the bolts I had here had one side ground flat. They were on a Victa I had here with diamond shaped holes and were very sloppy to say the least. I replaced them with ordinary diamnd shaped bolts. All good then.

I learn something almost every day from this forum.

Jeff

"So the hole in the blade disc is round is it? "

Yes that is correct..

Max

Hi MF,
If you want it reliable, I would do a decoke, I put a better ring in if it needs it. Decoke exhaust manifold. Run a wire brush on a drill over all the alloy and it brings up a shine.
You find little problems that are fixable...... Wirebrush the coil face and flywheel...reface points....
regrease wheels, I soak the base in molasses and in 3 weeks it clean as.....
These are not 125s but 160s..... I mowed a few lawns with them and sold them.. a easy spray paint,
....... I have kept two utilities.......
Always on the lookout for utilities...
I swear I'll keep them in future...
cheers
speedy

Oooo! Pine lime flavour!! Mine's jaffa haha.
Fitted ball bearing wheels from the scrap bin to make it that bit nicer to push around. The originals were very worn.

I'd love a utility in my life. Sadly though, I need a catcher to pick up all the box tree seeds that fall into my lawn!

I love the utilities too, mine only ever comes out for the spring scalp though. The full crank has so much power. The big fuel tank that is fitted to the handle bars makes life a little easier when doing this sort of work too.

I got to finally use mine to finish the lawn today and it did ok but was a pig to start. It took a lot of tries before it would stay on after slowly running and stalling each time. Time to dismantle and clean out the carburettor.
One blade is very loose due to a worn washer. Runs out of balance as a result. Very concerning from a safety front. Afraid out was going to fly off due to fatigue and be a missile.

I know what you mean MF. My curb find Big Bob slasher (which takes Victa blade bolts) made one hell of a racket as the blades swung around on washerless bolts.

Ended up putting new blades and bolts on as one blade was quite bent.

This was it before I cleaned it up - slashed the council side verge the other weekend and went through 2 ft high thick weeds like they weren't there - half throttle and didn't stall once (well nearly did once).

Amazing what can be done with 120cc and a bloody heavy blade disc can do

I remain on the look out for a cheap Victa2 stroke ute though

I haven't seen one of those before. Looks solid.
I love all brands of side throws. A neighbour of ours years ago had a Scotty side throw with Briggs on top.
It didn't look like much but when I actually had a go it was a beautiful thing to use. Would love to get one!