I promised myself a new rotary come spring, and she arrived today! A Victa Pace 18" with a Briggs 125cc 450E engine. What a ripper! I've finally joined the ranks of 4 stroke push-mower owners. Here's a picture of the box.
It was late when I got home, so I guess you'll have to wait until the morning before I unpack it.
Enjoy!
Edit: Hmmmm, you'll have to wait a bit longer just for the picture of the box? It's not allowing me to add an attachment larger than 0 (zero!) bytes!!! Can any of the mods help out?
Last edited by Mystyler; 23/08/1901:46 AM.
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutions™.
Hi Mystyler, I had the same problem loading photos with that massage coming up quite a while back. I thought the mods had sorted it for good Looks like it's reared it's head again. This forum is afflicted with various glitches efit some reason. Maybe the host is problematic. Other issues have been not staying logged on when I click to another section, the quote function not working properly and links I post not working. In the mean time, I'd like to see this new mower of yours lol!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Why does Victa persist with the use of that brand when they effectively killed it decades ago upon takeover? Pace products were generally considered a cut above Victa when they were still competing as independent brands. Honestly, it should be banned for a company in the same field to take over another, unless it's going into receivership and it's demonstrated that it can't be saved. Also ban them from adopting the trademark if they do take over a factory after approvals have been met. But this is Australia with weak politicians beholden to the whims of companies yes? I consider it anti competitive conduct.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Much better than any Pace I'd say and "MyStyler" is very lucky to get what was probably the very last machine left in captivity that was for general sale by any Greenfield dealer around Australia.
Cheers, BB.
Note: Cox Mowers are still in two minds whether they will resurrect and build another limited run of these in 12 months or so. My guess will be...... no, as they are just made way too good and are not cost competitive with all the cheap push mowers that are out there in the common marketplace.
PS. note the spark plug lead in the photos, that looks typical Asian Production standards LOL !!!!
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Thanks to BB for tracking this one down when I came up empty handed. Thanks also to Bolton Motorcycles and Machinery in Kyneton, VIC for agreeing to ship it interstate for me.
It's a Suburban 725, the "entry level" offering from Greenfield.
It's an ex floor model, so has a mark or two on it, but it's sound. Bolted it back together, put some oil and fuel in it and away it went in a puff of smoke. Spat a bit of oil out of the exhaust but settled down nicely after a few minutes of running.
When it comes to rotary mowers, I've used Victa, Honda and Rover. Push and self propelled, but this thing is something else. The best thing I can liken it to is perhaps an old Honda HRU194 "Commercial." It's bigger than my current Victa Commandos, but out handles them easily and it's a real pleasure to use. The last few years I've been using nothing but the Power Torque Victas, and didn't realise how truck like they handled. I've given the lawn a quick once over, even though it didn't really need it, and the amount of debris it picks up is staggering.
Like BB mentioned, Cox has stopped production of the push mowers. I actually contacted Greenfield and this is one of the messages they wrote back:
Hi (Mystyler), thank you for your interest in our products. Unfortunately at the moment our production is focusing on our Ride On range. Our Push Mower range is currently in review for when we will visit them for a manufacturing date. When a date or decision has been reached we will be sure to update our website/social media pages and advise all of our dealers. Sorry for the inconvenience and thanks again for supporting an Australian Made product."
I do hope they reconsider, and get their name out there properly. The thing is a weapon. I'd loved the optional poly catcher, but none were to be found. Nevermind, beggars can't be choosers.
If you're reading this and are in the market for a new pushie, snap one of these up if you come across one. Absolutely worth it.
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutions™.
Thanks to BB for tracking this one down when I came up empty handed.
If you're reading this and are in the market for a new pushie, snap one of these up if you come across one. Absolutely worth it.
Firstly regarding the above comment........ the pleasure is all mine.
I'm so glad you can see exactly what Jack, David and I see in these marvellously made machines. They actually are in a cut above Honda in my opinion.
David's first comment was on how well these mowers suck up all debris and as such MS has noticed this instantly as well
i'f you're looking for a new pushie and you really want one of these, either ring Cox Mowers up and voice your displeasure that they haven't built a single unit since they took over Greenfield, or secondly maybe settle on a second hand unit, and that's if you can even find one as anyone that owns one won't be selling it any time soon for exactly the reason that MS has mentioned above.
Anyway.........another happy ODK Member.
Glad to be of service MS.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Yep, get in contact with Greenfield any which way you can if you want one. They're very responsive on social media too, if you're that way inclined. Then, importantly, OPEN YOUR WALLET. No good wanting and then not buying.
Hi Norm, I was wondering which one of you would notice that first!! If you're a really keen spotter, I hadn't pulled the starter cord up to its little holder on the handle bar either. I had been reassembling it and my arms/fingers were in the blade arc. Hence popping the boot off.
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutions™.
If Patrick Bateman from that amazing movie American Psycho was a mower nut he'd be saying something in his head like:
"Look at that hardened steel strip that prevents the left hand edge of the base from wearing out from scrapes against rockery et al! And check out it's tasteful and hard wearing grey hammered finish that could withstand a meteorite impact!! OMG those sturdy looking large diameter ball bearing wheels!!" *Breaks out in a cold sweat*
Better watch your backs any Greenfield pushie owners!!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
BB I did not notice, and had to scroll back up to see for myself. Sorry Norm, I guess you're the runner up!
I did have a quick look at the spark plug. Looked a little cheap and not something I recognised right away. I'm guessing it's a Chinese Champion. It works for now, though. Aside from it having lots of plastic, the motor did run nice and smoothly which is all you can hope for. It's fairly quiet too. Briggs reckons it's a "Just Check and Add" motor and that the oil will last the life of the motor. I'm going to give it a change in about 5 hours time, don't you worry about that. No iron liner but with some care it should do the job for a few years.
MF, great movie and book. Business card scene is just absurdly funny.
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutions™.
Hey you're jumping way ahead of yourself with your new found excitement and I totally understand that, as I'd be the same.
It's not a competition in any way of who spots what first, it was merely my sarcastic way of understanding your enthusiasm for a great product.
BTW the reference to "Asian Production Standards" had nothing to do with the way the engine was built, rather it was a backhanded comment about the spark plug lead not being mounted on the plug and that's generally what we've come to accept when we buy something from Asia and bits of the whole process are not done properly, thus a plug lead not properly installed. There is nothing more that I was insinuating in that throwaway line.
BTW I always knew that the lead would've been removed by either yourself or Chris over in Victoria as a safety precaution of some sort as that's good work safe practice and there's no way an engine can accidentally start and remove body parts on it's own account.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Haha, it's all good BB, I guess my sense of humour was also lost in the single dimension that is text only.
I am also a bit iffy with my thoughts on the longevity of the motor though, but there aren't too many complaints about it around the place. I did find a "service bulletin" that was issued to dealers in the 'States concerning the EXi series of motors. Here it is for those whom are interested:
Check and Add
A few years ago, Briggs & Stratton’s smallest lawnmower type engine, the L-head 90000 Classic series, was phased out. The same fate awaits the 120000 Quantum L-head engine family. Neither engine would be capable of meeting ongoing government emission standards.
A new 9 cubic inch OHV engine was designed and built to replace the Classic engine and a 10 cubic inch engine has just been introduced to replace the Quantum.
Most of the product the company sells comes from these two engine families so it was important to meet current and future customer needs and expectations.
After extensive market research, a list of features most desired began to take shape. It probably comes as no surprise that the engine needs to start reliably and the starting procedure must be simple. The top 4 or 5 comments fell into this category.
That the engine needed to have sufficient power was the next most popular requirement.
The 3rd most important concern highlighted the consumers’ dislike of having to change the engine oil. This is perhaps not too surprising as it can be a messy procedure and somewhat intimidating to those with little mechanical experience.
Armed with this information, the engineering departments went to work to see if we could make an easy to start, powerful and reliable engine that you never have to change the oil.
Now, if you’re a technician that’s worked in this industry for more than, oh, shall we say 2 weeks, you’ve seen the damage done to an engine run with low oil, maybe no oil and possibly the wrong oil. It isn’t pretty and it’s more often than not a fatal error.
If you’ve made a career in this business, you may have come across a customer that has actually admitted to never performing maintenance on their lawnmower other than adding a little oil now and then. These engines generally fair better than the no or low oil crowd but often exhibit premature wear. This is generally caused by the failure of the lubricant and wear particles inside the engine.
To make a long story short, engineering found that the oil most often failed from molecular breakdown caused by high temperatures and foreign material.
Some of the wear particles inside the block were left there by the manufacturing process, others were machining asperities from the break-in process and still others from outside the engine due to poor maintenance issues, usually in the air intake system. Regular oil changes generally keep these items to a minimum.
The task of building an engine that would function well without oil changes boiled down to:
· Reduce the oil temperature
· Clean up the inside of the engine
A big help in allowing oil to survive without being changed is that modern day oils are far better than they were 10 or 15 years ago.
The EXi engine design reduces oil temperatures in several ways.
· The OHV design of the EXi runs 10° F cooler than the L-head configuration. Cooler oil means a slower decay of oil properties
· EXi design sheds external debris such as chaff better so cooling fins remain exposed to airflow
· The flywheel scroll and flywheel fan focus air on the fins for improved cooling ability
The engine design also reduces oil consumption and internal debris by tightening up internal clearances.
Before manufacturing began for the EXi engine, the Poplar Bluff, Missouri plant was completely rebuilt with improvements to provide better control over the manufacturing process. The cylinder, sump and cylinder head machining lines are new and a state of the art piston machining line was added.
As a result of efforts to tighten up the manufacturing process, engine oil consumption dropped off significantly.
Typical oil consumption comparisons:
- 675/725 Quantum averaged an oil consumption of .3-.4 ounces per hour
- EXi Series consume an average of .1 ounces per hour.
– At .1 oz/hour it takes 40 hours to get to the “add” mark on the dipstick
– Adding 4 oz of fresh oil replaces 25% of the oil
One of the first elements of engine lubricating oil to deteriorate is the additive package. By adding oil as needed, these critical materials are refreshed.
We still count on the customer’s involvement in that they have to check and add oil when necessary. In fact, the concept of not changing the oil only becomes feasible if the customer rigorously performs other maintenance such as a yearly air filter change, replacing the spark plug, keeping the cooling fins clear and of course, keeping the oil full.
Like you might be thinking right now, “I don’t know, this still doesn’t sit right with me” the same thought will be had by many customers, particularly those that have diligently cared for their own equipment over the years.
Don’t worry; they can still change the oil if they want to! But, if it helps, we did do our due diligence by sending oil samples to an outside lab from multiple EXi engines. These each ran for 600 hours without an oil change [only adding] and the oil was still reported as serviceable.
Bear in mind, the Check and Add feature only applies to the EXi engine.
Seems reasonable. And to be honest, marketing aside, I think Briggs has maybe put some engineering work into accepting that almost no one will change the oil, but will top it up from time to time.
Last edited by Mystyler; 24/08/1912:53 PM. Reason: Formatting
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutions™.
