What should I do with these Super 24 frames I got home today? These are definitely a different kettle of fish to a domestic machine. Very heavy and cumbersome to transport even without the handles and engine. Did I make a mistake bothering with these machines I admire, but have no personal use for at this stage?
The one on the left had a more worn out frame in general with cracks I've identified in a couple of places. The one on the right looks to be for a four stroke engine. Both have their belts and blade carriers. I also found their handles, one with a petrol tank.
Not sure it's worth my time to try and create a working machine out of the two. I'll still have bits missing like the pulley for the motor and an adapter plate to fit a full crank on the undamaged one.
Rear wheels are not in the greatest shape.
What do you guys think? I feel like I bit off more than I can chew.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I would be all over them if I was closer, if you decide you don't want them I will gladly buy the blade carriers from you. I guess it would be too costly/difficult to freight them down to Melb. One mans trash is another mans treasure. I have driven to Newcastle to pick a Honda bike motor up,driven to Bathurst and to Sydney to pick bikes up but I think Woy Woy is just too far to pick a couple of bases up. Pity because I would love them, so many good bits there.
BB at this time of the year as fast as I build one it is gone, but they can take me up to a week to get one fully operational. I just picked up a 1964 Royal Enfield Interceptor so that is going to bring my mower repairing to a halt for the moment. I should make more money on this than by rebuilding 100 PT's, at least this is what I have told Jean. She is not a happy camper at the moment even though I tried to give her a cuddle and tell her it was an investment LOL
Like Norm I would be all over those if they were closer. What are the blade carriers like, particularly on that one with the cracks. They tend to flog out the diamond shaped blade bolt holes.
The cracked one is probably too far gone. The other might be OK. Bit of nuisance the engine pulleys are missing. They are hard to make but I did manage it once.
Pulled off the rear wheels, belt and blade carrier from the more far gone base and disposed of the rest. The blade carrier on it was in better condition than the other mower.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Keep the belt. If it's the genuine Victa one they are very expensive. I would add also keep the spindle. The aluminium belt pulley on mine has a very decided step worn in it from the belt. Still seems to work alright. I might need another one someday. Spindle not easy to get off the base but no problem if you are wrecking the base.
Well I took it off. It's held on by a circlip and a lot of black grease!! I've bolted the blade carrier back onto it and have stored them as a unit. It looks like the shaft is pressed in and can't be taken off the base.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I could not the shaft away from the base either without doing damage. Surely it just fits in there and held by the bolt I thought it was just corroded in there by the dissimilar metal corrosion. Like many of the other bolts through the alloy It seems to me that you have a great opportunity to see what's in there. Get the angle grinder out and see if you can dislodge it .Base is already had it so not further damage.
Norm .
Have you ever been able to get that spindle shaft off a base I guess we are unlikely ever to need that shaft as it should not wear with all the grease.
MF
Does that pulley have a step worn into it from belt I thought maybe they all do.
Hi JfB, I had a brief look at it and the answer is pretty much no. I thought I could detect a very faint one but I'd have to take another look. It's certainly not like you describe. It looks in all round good condition. I suspect both it and the blade disc have been replaced at some stage as they both look in better condition than their counterparts on the better base and thre rest if the trashed base looks like it's done duty in the Amazon forest!!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi Jeff, No I have never needed to pull the shaft out so I haven't tried. I do need to get on and build a couple more of the 24's because they sell easily, but they do take a lot of work to get them up to scratch once they have been stripped down to a bare base.
Hi Gadge, pity the blade carrier is missing, at least it still has the tank carrier brackets. Always good for spares and it still has the engine pulley, just little hard to get bits