Just joined so this is my first post (thanks Speedy for the tip)
I lived in Australia 20 years ago but had to return back to the UK. The good news is when I had my house in Sydney there was a Victa VC 160 cc Mustang left in the shed. I brought it back with and used it all the time. Usual bits changed filter, plugs, diaphragm, cable changes. Use to start first time every time but, a few months back it didn't start. Checked plugs and fuel all ok but still dead. My local mower repair guy sadly passed away so I took it to another Victa specialist who its beyond economic repair and didn't fix it. I am really struggling to get it repaired or get anyone to look at it. So I need help from anyone in the UK or any tips pointers from you guys.
that looks to be a 1976 -77 model going by the backward facing G4 carby and remote primer button. Also the VC Mustang label is the first style in blue.
That so call Victa specialist is talking out his behind. A shame your old trusted one has passed on. Unless the engine itself has a problem, it's likely to be a carburettor related issue for which parts are readily available. These were way better built than Victa two strokes mowers later on. That is an excellent chassis with good grass flow and allows the catcher to be inserted without having to lift the rear flap first. It was a premium product in it's day and a premium product today. Try getting a mower like that in such good condition as yours. Even the plastic fluting on the green cover is unbroken, which is quite rare and a sign the mower has been looked after.
Have you tested for spark? If it's irregular or not there at all, the points may need a clean. How long did it sit since it was last used? Did you forget to turn off the fuel tap before putting it away? It may have flooded and requires you to remove the spark plug and pull it over a few times to clear the crank case of excess fuel mix.
Check the basics before delving deeper to try and find the problem.
Thanks for the pictures. Many newbies describing the problem with their mower in their first post don't put any up.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Some so-called mower repairers are only there to leverage a sale on other equipment if they can’t instantly fix something and they often don’t have the skills.
Mowerfreak is providing sage advice above. The only thing I’d add is that I’ve found most times this generation fails to start is because the cutout assembly has deteriorated causing a permanent “off” status.
There’s a rubber/plastic boot on the carburettor that retains a pair of wires and one of those wires in turn sits inside an insulated rubber sleeve. The “off” point is when the two wires contact but they need to be kept apart for the mower to run.
There’s a couple of potential points of failure:
1. Either the boot breaks down or the sleeve breaks down allowing the wires to contact. The solution is to replace both. Fortunately these parts are small (cheap postage), inexpensive and readily available.
2. The wire itself breaks exposing conductor outside of the insulation. There’s brass terminals on each. To repair this all you need do is cut and resolder the terminals on the wire and apply heatshrink where it needs it. If your wire is foreshortened to a significant extent you’ll need to add in some more from a similar gauge. With this soldering the join and heat shrink over is best. Tape just unravels in this environment and causes more faults.
Many thanks guys, great advise.....I knew my Victa wasn't dead!
The last time it was running was Nov22. Just stopped? Started it again but ran for say 20 seconds but couldn't rev and was very lumpy - if that makes sense! When I got it back from the so called repairer, it doesn't even try to fire up.
I will what was suggested, but I'm just seeing if there is a manual on line I can download especially around the Carb and ignition?
There is no reason why this machine can't be kept running as long as the world still has fuel you can use in it. Bodywise it is in excellent condition, excellent example. First thing is to test the spark, if it has spark then the issue is in the carby. I find 95% of the carby issues are float needles and primer caps
First thing to do is, as Norm says, check for spark.
Leave the fuel tap in the “off” position and the throttle in the “run” position.
Clean around the spark plug using a brush and/or compressed air. Make sure there’s no clippings or grit around the fins that might fall in the plug hole once the spark plug is removed.
Disconnect the high tension lead from the plug. Use a plug spanner and remove the plug.
Check the plug making sure that it’s clean and there is a gap. I usually give mine a brush down with a brass wire brush.
Reconnect the ht lead and, holding the plug against the head, pull the zip starter.
You should see a nice fat blue spark.
Better to do this in a shady spot or in the shed without too much light.
I'd probably clean the points ,gap them and set the timing to make sure that's not causing any issues and make sure you are using a spark plug that works in another mower.
Once you have good spark you can put a little bit of fuel in the spark plug hole and see if it runs .
Found a man who can fix my Victa...so happy! He has striped the carb down and found the float chamber was bone dry! He has also drained the fuel tack and suggested using Aspen Fuel https://aspenfuel.co.uk/uses/
I found one around 8 years ago here in the UK. I stripped it down when I bought it to facilitate use of my limited space in the shed, hopefully I will find some time to rebuilt it soon. I really liked the look of this one, it has a large grass catcher (which was made from a more durable plastic) and a backward facing carb with no primer bulb. Strangely (if I can recall correctly) the engine on mine did not have a number..? (I will check the pics).
The cowl looks great on yours, mine has several fins missing.!!
As Norm has already said "as long as the world still has fuel you can use it.!"
Ok. Update from my repair man......He can now start it up but it cough's and splutters but doesn't run.
Looks like a fuel issue and has asked me if I can get a new needle and float or a cab kit? I have asked him if he can provide the serial number but he can not find it.
The carbymaster has aftermarket kits he has personally developed as an improvement to the OEM needle with matching aftermarket float chamber caps, floats and clips for needle retention.
He is Sydney based so postage time and cost is a factor but the new metal needle with viton tip is meant to virtually eliminate any problems with the plastic needle.
He has an EBay account called Thecarbymaster (one word).
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
The most vile awful component on a Victa 2 stroke. Do not think that by replacing the float needle and primer cap will automatically solve the problem with it. I find a new viton tipped needle and a new primer cap will give you a 50/50 chance of it working and I am probably being optomistic at that. The seat on the new primer caps need a file in them because the seat has a bur on it that causes the needle to stick, the seat depth varies causing problems with the needle making them either too long or too short or sometimes they are just right. This makes it very difficult if you just have one needle and primer cap to work with. As I have plenty I can mix and match till I get a combination that works but even then I find that even though it works today good chance it won't work tomorrow. They are garbage, in all my years I have never found a float needle to be so problematic and I have had a lot of years playing with float needles. I'm sorry but I could not suggest how to solve your problem but to say the problem is with the float needle but the fix I can't tell you
NormK keeping in mind you've changed over many more than me, I have found as long as the end still has it's pointy shape and isn't dulled and rounded, it works. This is the white or salmon pink plastic needle I'm talking here. Haven't dabbled with enough of the black or yellow aftermarket jobbies to get a pattern but the one or two black ones I've put in have worked for me.v
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Mf, I am totally sick of wasting time on these rubbish needles and primer caps, they are a never ending problem, think you have them working and a week or a month later they are back again, just garbage
For sure MF getting 14 running is easy, when they are in your own hands, if one gives a little problem you can easily fix it, but when they are out of your control and people leave the fuel on and the needle doesn't seat properly and you end up with a tank of fuel going into the motor, or the motor revs up and down because the needle is not flowing properly or it is getting stuck in the seat, all easy problems to fix if it is one of your mowers but the majority of people just want a reliable mower they can walk out and start whenever they want to. I can't achieve this with the garbage float needles and primer caps that are available. Every so often I get one that works perfectly every time but the percentage of failures is way too high for me to be bothered with them anymore
I have a tonne of the old orange genuine victa needles and have found the filing to have done more for reliability than anything else. It helps the plastic ones markedly and I am only rarely having problems.
The overrevving is more annoying, but easy to do Norms mod
Hi Tyler. I file the seat, then polish with Autosol but I still have problems. Once I get one settled down and seemingly working well I still need to prove to myself that it will continue working before I sell it and that involves mowing a number of lawns which I don't have. It is a catch 22, not worth selling if I haven't tested them fully. Getting them running is no guarantee they will continue to work
My repair guy has said he has seen a diaphragm washer between the return spring and the diaphragm. My carb hasn't got one? is it a mod and do i need one. Anyone know the part number or where I can get one, if needed.
Hi Tsuk, as has been said the critical components are the float needle and the primer cap and the difficulty is getting a pair that will work. When they work they are excellent but buying new stuff of the shelf is just so hit and miss
Depends on the carby model ,some have a small brass washer on the plastic spigot to make the carby idle ,when the cam wears the engine over revs and the washer brings the revs down.
Some early carbs have a c clip on the diaphragm but others have a much larger clip that looks like a washer.
Wish I could be more positive about these Tusk but I am concerned about the cost of these float needles and primer caps being sent at great postage costs and then they may not work
