OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Tip & Curb Side Finds A Four And A Two From Victa.

Looks like my reply last night went to the cyberspace. My question was, how much rev control have you gained on the PT?

Plus well done - I was interested. Although I must admit I am less interested if the Briggs runs haha

Hi Tyler,
not sure as I didn't want to annoy the neighbours. I did move the lever to the mid position to see how low I could get the idle and it wasn't the best. It starts well and stops and doesn't over rev therefore I won't be fiddling any further.

I'll still keep people posted on how the Briggs is as there are quite a few quantum groupies here and they are my favourite four stroke -not that it's saying much.

PS thanks for the not so subtle acknowledgement NK. Beats being ignored anyway

Iam just joking MF - I don't mind the quantums either (especially the old ones which will idle nicely like a Honda) - its the tornado decks that annoy me. I swear they are made of poorer grade metal as I was given one last week, and the amount of sandblasting after 1 mow is amazing.

Plus I need to weld up the cracks around the handles

Can you recommend a good beginner's welding set up for the home handyman? I want to be able to weld some car body bits as well as minor repairs to things like steel decks on mowers.

I was going to ask you the same question haha. Never needed one as have always had access to a MIG and Oxy. I am thinking of just getting a cheap arc welder - will do my needs fine. But then, like you, I think should I get a mig because of the potential car uses.

But then you need a gas bottle for mig, or pay more for a gasless mig (never used one). I reckon 'stick' (pun intended) with an arc welder

I won't get one just yet though - I just 'invested' in a Ryobi one+ 18v Impact wrench - most expensive tool I have ever bought (needed batteries)

I haven't used my mig in probably 10 years because being a cheap one I bought 25 years ago it is always problematic and I can't be bothered messing with it each time I want to use it. Luckily I scored a bottle years ago and got it filled the last time I used it so bottle is still full. Doing bodywork on cars mig is the only option and I have only tried gasless mig once and didn't bother with it after 5 mins so wouldn't bother with it. Arc does everything I need ( I have oxy but only use it for brazing and that isn't too often ) but then with the arc I have been using that since the mid sixties so I have had a lot of experience with it. A small arc doesn't cost much and it just takes practice to get a feel as to how far you can push it without blowing holes in things. One problem with trying to lean how to use it is that in many cases, such as repairing mowers you are trying to repair thin tube or sheetmetal and that does require a fair bit of practice

Hi all,
Yep you can't beat the arc welder for the cheapest way to repair a mower but being thin sheet metal you do need to
know how to weld ,the oxy ,tig or mig is easier to weld sheet metal than the arc welder. I always see cheap arc welders for
$10 or advertised for free and nothing wrong with them ,I have all the welders and a plasma cutter ,people just give them
away for free or very cheap when there is a minor problem so I just repair them but the plasma cutter I have not got to yet but was told it
worked but needed one part to be replaced.


Cheers
Max.

With a bit of luck Max the plasma may only need a new tip or cap, very handy machine

I was told it just needs the Plasma Cutting Torch Head Norm , around $16 on eBay ( for a torch head made in China)

The Briggs had spark so I fueled it to see what happens. Big mistake., started trickling out the centre of the primer button and didn't have the luxury of a fuel tap so had to strangle the fuel hose with vice grips and recover the fuel back out the tank by tipping the mower onto its side and emptying it back out.

I pulled the starter cord but no response after pumping of the bulb a few times.

Found two more - across the street from each other. Powertorque one has a lot of surface rust on atop the base as well as the chute. Missing a spark plug. Motor turns over smoothly.
K Mart store brand is a 125cc with G4 carb. Has a hole and a crack on top of otherwise good base. Epoxy filler should do the trick. Catcher is good.

Very nice MF - especially the low arch. Shame about the rust on the PT

I had a drive around as well today - got 3/4 of the zone done. Raining and lost light

End result:

Rejected: 1 talon mower (rusty deck, stuffed engine, wobbly wheels
2x grey ryobi trimmers - too many parts missing

Picked up:
1x 1963 Victa Ambassador (average cond with later B&S, but has the windrow cover)
1x Scott Bonnar Diplomat (No engine, but otherwise complete except a few bits)
1x Viggen 2.5kva Inverter generator (hopefully valve timing not stuffed)

So I am happy

Plus, it has rained well today - and I fertilized & wettasoiled the lawn on friday. Should also give my newly spread lawn seed a nice start

Tyler It's hard to decide whether to take something, especially when you have a space problem. You have to weigh that up with how much you'd regret not having taken it!
I never used to care for non high arch Victas, but there seems to be a growing interest in low arch models on EBay and they have grown on me and they are a pretty capable little mower as long as you're not tackling wet grass or huge thick growth with it's lack of non clogging chute.
Lots of bits to be had, if the complete mower isn't your fancy and that catcher, while a bit unsightly, empties better than any other.

You boys just keep making me jealous, all these good toys you keep finding. It is not even worth us in lockdown Melb to even bother chasing anything on gumtree or ebay because you risk being fined just going to pick something up even if it is only a couple of ks away. I hate Melb now and wish I could move out into the bush somewhere

Norm, only 1 week of curbside left - then I will find next to nothing for months.

MF - I knew I would regret the victa, gen and SB, the talon not so much

Norm if only I had a good lawn to cut. BTW does the Tornado base take long shaft PT or regular shaft?

Tyler not finding any is a blessing when you are running out of space and have plenty on your plate. You may as well keep looking while the sun shines though.

Hi all,

The K Mart mower was a good find Mf and the Victa Ambassador with windrow cover was also a good find Tyler ,I have
a couple of Victa Ambassador mowers but still looking for a side cover .

You can pick up whatever Norm if it's less than 5 ks away , just take the dog and say you are driving to a park for exercise .

Having said that you would still want to be safe and not get covid 19 from touching old mowers so wear gloves and maybe
a hazmat suit

I should stop going shopping ,on the way I found a 1979 Rover Utility 4 HP or whats left of it ,replaced the coil for an
electronic one and it ran fine ,didn't even blow any smoke ,probably the cast iron bore model.

Cheers
Max.

Hi Max,
I know you can push the limits with the 5k boundary but I just couldn't be bothered with all the bull#^*# they want to go on with. I have to go to the hospital in Clayton tomorrow so I had to get them to send me a text so that I have proof of an appointment if I get pulled over.
Good score with the Briggs, base looks good and a quick coat of hammertone and it would look great. The sidethrow slashers seem to sell ok, I have a few of those bases I might put PT's on, good tough slasher then.

G'day everybody,
lovely find maxwestern. I love old Scott Bonnar and Rover slashers. I presume that grill on the top of the Briggs denotes a cast iron bore.

Got the K Mart mower going after replacing leaking fuel tap , cleaning out float chamber and swapping faulty spark plug with a spare working one. Starts easily and runs beautiful.

Hi Norm,
Yes these days the overzealous police will probably Taser you first for being out then ask questions .

I probably have 10 Rover ute mowers ,a few have Suzuki 2 stroke motors already and I have a few Victa
ute mowers with PT's , three of my old Rover ute mowers look a little different ,one someone has extended the wheelbase
and another is fitted with a Lawn Beatle engine and one has 1963 Victa Corvette handle bars, the Rover ute should look
good with a PT motor.

Looks like you have a few mowers you can get ready to sell Norm until restrictions are lifted .

I think the ones with the plastic grill are 4 hp Mf ,the numbers on the cowl should reference it to having the cast iron bore,
but for such an old mower still with good compression I would think it has lasted longer because of a cast bore.It has the
4 hp sticker on the cowl still.

The K Mart mower is especially with the gold catcher.

Cheers
Max.