This mower belongs to a friend of mine bought it sometime in the last 12 months I didn't bother asking too much about it except that it runs for a short time and stops.I brought it home and it was obvious it was choking from the black smoke. I removed the filter and it runs fine, put the filter back in and it is choking. I believe this mower has probably only been used once before it started giving problems. Filter looks clean even though there is a slight oil stain on the bottom section of it. Any thoughts?
Does any smoke come out of the crankcase vent tube when running? I have heard of a few of these engines completely s**ting themselves soon after first use
How much metallic silt is in the oil, and how are the valve clearances?
Oh the dreaded Victa Chunder!!! It looks very consumer grade designed to look flashy but with very little substance -much like many people!
You'd think this friend would have taken full advantage of your heads up on the powertorque but obviously snob value (if you could call this snob value) is a much higher priority for this guy. Served him right I say. I wouldn't take on this burden for him.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Not really the thoughts I was after after she paid $500 for it at Bunnings. What I really want to know is what can I do about this filter, I'm wondering if I should try fitting a snorkel and see if that chokes it up as well. Apart from that if it had a decent blade carrier it would probably be ok as it is a 20 inch cut and maybe the drive is superior to the Honda ones MF, designed to suck the consumer in complete with its tool box so you can carry out the repairs in the field
Hi Speedy, Yes it does look flash, as far as I know it was only used once and it didn't finish the lawns before it started playing up. Runs fine (without the filter), starts first pull 160cc motor but once again with this dumb bar blade, world is full of morons that design this stuff
I would try a different spark plug and every mower I work on the carby is dismantled and cleaned then reassembled ,it only takes as little as 30 days for fuel to go stale ,chemicals in the fuel can varnish up the inside of the carby blocking important passageways inside the carburetor.
The mower is pretty new but has the air filter been replaced with an after market one ? is it foam or paper ? These new engines are set to run so lean that any alteration to air flow will have a big impact. I went to clarke rubber and got some offcuts of foam which felt and looked like it would do the job for air filters but gave the exact running issue of the mower you have Norm. I would suggest trying a genuine replacement air filter, if that isn't the answer at least they will have a spare.
Fuel didn't go stale, it was the first tank of fuel put in it, thing was brand new, it has done less than an hours work from new, it is just another disgraceful pile of Briggs junk that is being forced on the unsuspecting public that believe the fact is as it is a Briggs it must be good but infact they are the opposite, I would prefer a Chonda any day over this rubbish Yes AVB it has this infamous plastic carby on it
Yeah, the average dumbo thinks Briggs & Stratton name automatically means "prestige mower engine". With the never needs an oil change garbage they peddle, that will change soon enough.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Still not sure what to do with this one, tried a new plug, that didn't help. With it running with the filter on it is choked just pull the filter off and it runs perfectly. Filter is nice and clean, it is just putting too much restriction on the air flow. It must be covered by some warranty seeing she bought it from Bunnings and paid top dollar for it. I'm not going to tell her that Noble Park mowers have them for sale at $140 less than she paid for it
I thought it may have been sitting around not used for a month or two but a new mower like this , Bunnings will exchange it no problem.
I've seen a contractor buy the Yardking 138cc Self Propelled Cut And Catch Lawn Mower from Bunnings and it won't last 12 months so they just use it and when it's stuffed before 12 months they take it back for a refund.( 12 month limited domestic warranty) I guess they lied about using the mower every day for the refund or Bunnings have now changed to a domestic warranty.
Hope the fuel they put in the mower is new ,also seen some new carbys that are full of swarf.
Does anybody know how to remove the top plastic cover without breaking it on these plastic fantastic machines. I need to get in there to see if I can work out why this absolutely amazing automatic choke doesn't work and then I may be able to fix it. Just another moronic idea some clown came up with to put on a lawn mower. If you don't know how to use a choke on a lawn mower you shouldn't be bloody well mowing lawns
I think you unclip the silvery bit (2 clips toward back and another latch at front) then a few 10mm bolts under it.
Despite all its problems, at least you can get a g4/lm carb off pretty quickly (although some FC engines are a bit of a pain with the snorkel in place).
Maybe the paper air filter has somehow got soaked in clean oil mist - any blow back through the carby?
If I were to buy a new mower today I would have to go for the Masport President 2000 - 19in, 4 swing blade, ball bearing wheels, decent handle mount, and the Alko Loncin 160cc Chonda with a cast iron liner (would be my main selling point).
It has to come off from the front somehow, I can feel 2 tabs on the front that are hooked over the inner shroud but I don't want to force it too much in case it has to go back under warranty if she can find the receipt. My son tells me that Briggs have a factory in Hallam which is only 5 mins away so I might go there and see if they will tell me. Can't find anything on utube either Anyway I decided to have a break from it and start putting the little side throw slasher together.
Had a look at the thunder while there (figured if I break theirs trying to get the silver cowl off there is no problem haha)
effectively at the back of the engine (catcher side of mower) there are the two clips. You can just see a 1cm wide square hole in the black cowl where the silver starts. each hole has 2 downward latches from the silver that face rearwards. if you stick a small flat screwdriver in at each edge of the holes and push the top of the screwdriver toward the catcher, you will disengage the latches
Alternatively, the plastic is so thin that you can grab where the rounded corners are and gently bend and pull upwards
