OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Power Torque mowers idle high?

Hello all, my first post.

I currently have 3 Victas, the first being a side gear pull start 160cc model 1983. This mower will idle very low just ticking the engine over like I would think it should.

I have now got two of the later, power torque mowers and have found both idle very high, I can mow my lawn at idle with both of these! Idle, on all 3 mowers is at about half way on the throttle control.

The power torque mowers produce good power and run well, all three mowers have new air cleaners, new spark plugs, all new carby 'O' rings and diaphragms, I have also checked the large 'O' ring under the starter assy on the red one and the upper crank shaft seal on the side gear pull one and all ok.

Should the power torque mowers idle higher than my older one?
1996 or 1997 Power Torque

MVC,

The gear start mower does operate on a lower rpm compared to the power torque engine. In order to slow the rpm's on the power torque engine you would need to check the spring under the primer cap as they have three different colour types.

Also you can use brass shim's to slow the rpm's down on the power torque engine, which go in the carburettor.

We have detailed information in the parts list and manuals area of the forum.

Hi MVC,and a big warm welcome to the forum.
Don't forget to check out the forum features and post any queries you may have; as we're a friendly bunch and we all love to learn new things and tinker here.
It's great that you posted some pics, congrats on having a fine stable of Victa's

I agree that full crank victas always idle smoother and slower than powertorque motors, the utility full crank I use every day will idle and sound just like a little motorbike or something similar, it is also much smoother to use than a powertorque.

Bear in mind that if you operate that cantilevered-crank engine below the manufacturer's recommended minimum speed (which seems to be close to 3,000 rpm and is probably the speed it has been running at) you may encounter a resonant vibration which could chop out your one-and-only main bearing in a matter of minutes. Victa set that governor at warp speed for a reason.

If you want an engine that runs slowly, use the old 1983 model- it has two main bearings. The cantilevered crank engines are for full speed only.

Thanks deejay and another one on the way! HAHHAHHAHAH. Victa 18!

Ok, thanks Bruce, Joe, Grumpy. I assumed this was normal operation.

I think I will be using my 1983 full crank model from now on. It is looking a bit better now as well since the pics, I have been doing some work to it.

Bruce, interesting you say the spring under the primer cap will control rpm?!?!!? Is that right?

I did notice the 1983 model (carby butterfly?) did not open as far as the power torque carbys did. I was manually operating it by hand. Carby butterfly, I mean the white plastic piece with the pointy end (goes through the centre of the diaphagm) that runs through the centre of the carby.

Pic of the pointy end.

MVC,

Try removing the large washer on the diaphragm and see if the RPM is reduced as I have had some issues with them.

Also check the gov lug that comes out of the engine is clean as that will stop it from working properly.

The valve should be set to C where the cut out is in the carby because if if it is set to either A or B it will affect the RPM's.

Ok I will check that, I did notice the A, B, and C on the carby valve but the valve itself looked symmetrical so did not see it would make any difference, but I will check.
Should it be set to 'C' for all half crank and full crank victas?

Thanks

MVC,

Here is some information from the parts list and manuals area.

Optional top springs for LM carburettor:

CR03417A 150g-I.5N Red

CRO 3643A 200 g-2.0 N Yellow

CRO 3594 250 g-2.5 N Natural

CRO 3638 300 g-3,0 N Green

Vortex and turbo blade disc models which are governed to 2700-3250 rpm have a restrictor installed in the governor vacuum line where it is attached to end cap.

This restrictor reduces the engine speed approximately 150 rpm. In addition to the rest restrictor, the poppet valve in these carburettors must be set with the letter A facing the spray hole. Refer to heading Adjustable Poppet Valve if necessary.

The final engine speed adjustment is pre-set in
factory to ensure that the engine noise level does not exceed The decibel reading requirement. During normal service it is not necessary to change the colour coded spring.

Hey MVC, Good stuff!!Don't forget to post a pic of the '18' when it arrives!!

Ok, an update.

Thanks again Bruce for the info I have pieced it together and I now understand, I think. The 'primer cap spring' is actually the big diaphragm spring? I can see that if Victa had different spring rates for the diaphragm this would affect the rpm's.

The 'gov lug' is the hole in the carby diaphragm end cap that has the hose going to the engine block. I have found both my power torques was clear and open and easy to blow through, but the full crank mower did have a restrictor and only a tiny hole in it, it was also clear and working.

I rechecked the carby valve face and found it is not symmetrical! I needed to look closer before but did not. Here is a blury pic.




I have reset all my mowers to 'A' on the carby valve and found a slight lower ideling on the power torque mowers so this is good! They now are better and more user friendly. I know all my mowers had been set to 'C' on the carby valve before I had got them. I think this must be the normal setting for Power torques and maybe full crank models.

I am more happy now with these set to the 'A' postion.

Should be next Monday!

Some dodgey video of all three mowers ideling!

Full crank model.




Power Torque 1.



Power Torque 2.





Sorry about the background noise I should have had them on the grass, the concrete reflects alot of sound.

MVC,

Great to see that you got your problems sorted out.

Have a look out for a video that I will be uploading next week of some Atco's that I have received and possibly a Victa Special 18. I will be using Picasa 3 which I can edit and upload straight to YouTube.

It's interesting to hear that red and blue one 8-stroking so consistently, though it tries to burst into song a couple of times toward the end. If you apply a load (i.e. roll it across some grass) while it's 8-stroking, does it switch smoothly to 2-stroking without a change in throttle setting?