Hi Max, I wouldn't mind repairing the 2 stroke Victas because the motors are so strong, but if I can't get float needles to work then best they all go to scrap
I'd say the Victa 24 mowers are worth the time to fix ,it's just in my area I could only get $60. for a good 2 stroke that looked the same as the mower below and now I recon I'd have to list the mower for $30. and it would still take a month to sell.
That's why I stopped selling 2 strokes as the 4 strokes sold for more and I'd sell 4 four stroke mowers in the same time it took to sell one 2 stroke mower.
I guess you would have some Tecumseh carbies that you could take the seat and needle out of to try ,I've never had a problem with Tecumseh mower carbies flooding or needles sticking.
It makes me wonder if the Victa brass seat isn't machined and they just stamp the taper as that would explain the burr they get on the seat .With all the ones you've had flood you would think the brass seat taper isn't centered properly.
I thought you would have kept the carbies and coils Norm .I need to collect a few of these engines as I've pinched too many carbies and coils from good motors and used them on other mowers.
What was the scrap prices like these days Norm as lately because the iron ore price is about half of last years price the scrap price is down as well.
Do you still want the 1 and 1/4 Ariens mowers for $50.
I put the Tecumseh needle and seat in a Victa 460 Pro Utility today and cut some grass ,the mower worked well ,had no problems.
Hi Max, Still interested in the Ariens , just time has been against me for the last 12 months, I just don't have any play time these days every day is just full on. I will get to it. They are paying 50 cents a KG for complete motors and $1.30kg for the motors I stripped down so the 50 cents is much better because it means I am not wasting time stripping them and they are then paying me 50 cents a kg for the steel inside the motor. I didn't bother keeping the carbies and coils, I just can't keep going round in circles fixing stuff for people who want stuff repaired for nothing
By any small stroke of imagination has anybody come across Victa float needles and primer caps that work, if not I will have to scrap all the 2 strokes I have here, not worth wasting time on this chinese rubbish primer caps they are junk
Hi Aussie, For $40 it would want to be good but I'm sure it will be Chinese because the Chinese were making the powertorque mowers for many years and it comes with a plastic needle which I wouldn't bother with
I haven't had a problem when using the Tecumseh needle cut down and then used the Tecumseh seat Norm but the time it takes to sell a cheap mower makes them worth more in scrap these days .I see mowers on Gumtree advertised 5 days ago for $100. and are now 16 pages away from a search and mowers that have had minimal use not sell for $50 .
Yes Max, I know, I haven't looked at the Tecumesh needles, I tried it with the Briggs needles a few years back before the Viton tipped needles came on the market. I thought they would fix the problem but I have wasted hundreds of hours fighting them to get the odd one to work. At the moment I am trying to get some full crank motors for 24's but even those I am struggling with. One I have spent hours on, bore hone,new rings, new seals and I still can't pull start it. Drill starts ok and runs fine. I have 2 of them here at the moment doing the same thing. Might be I just no longer have enough strength in my arms
Yes Max, I know, I haven't looked at the Tecumesh needles, I tried it with the Briggs needles a few years back before the Viton tipped needles came on the market. I thought they would fix the problem but I have wasted hundreds of hours fighting them to get the odd one to work. At the moment I am trying to get some full crank motors for 24's but even those I am struggling with. One I have spent hours on, bore hone,new rings, new seals and I still can't pull start it. Drill starts ok and runs fine. I have 2 of them here at the moment doing the same thing. Might be I just no longer have enough strength in my arms
I usually have to drill start a good motor when the spark is a little weak (old coil etc) as we have seen the reasons why a magneto produces a better spark the quicker flywheel spins.
The later side start engines have a better spark on cranking speed and is why I use that coil with a PT module in a points engine.
The 24's are a lot slower to crank over ,maybe the high comp heads that they have standard also helps them to start easier.
It wouldn't take too long to shave a mm off a head to see if starting is easier than a standard motor swap.
I know with the points ignitions on Victa's people use a module but Victa used a different winding in the electronic coil so it would produce a better spark at a lower revolution for easier starting etc.
With old motors that need a rebuild the ignition system if far from new condition ,I've had rebuilt motors that you use a new coil in and there is a big difference in starting .
I would also usually test the magnets with a big flat screw driver because I've had a few that the magnetism is a lot weaker.
Reasons why a magneto produces a better spark with Higher RPM If anyone hasn't seen it before. A magneto generates electrical energy through electromagnetic induction, which is enhanced when the flywheel spins faster.
Electromagnetic Induction: Magnetos operate on the principle of Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, which states that a change in magnetic flux through a circuit induces an electromotive force (EMF) in that circuit. The quicker the magnetic field changes, the greater the EMF produced.
Speed of Rotation: As the flywheel spins faster, the magnets within the magneto move more quickly past the coils of wire. This rapid movement leads to a more significant and quicker change in magnetic flux in the coils, thereby generating a stronger EMF.
Increased Voltage: The strength of the induced voltage in the magneto is directly related to the rotational speed. Therefore, as the speed of the flywheel increases, the voltage produced by the magneto also increases, resulting in a stronger spark at the spark plug.
Faster Discharge: A high-voltage output translates to a quicker discharge of electrical energy through the ignition system. This can lead to a more powerful spark when it reaches the spark plug, improving combustion efficiency and engine performance.
Engine RPM and Performance: In many applications, especially in small engines and two-stroke engines, the performance is directly linked to the RPM and the efficiency of ignition. A faster spark means better ignition of the fuel-air mixture, leading to improved performance and responsiveness of the engine.
Overall, the quicker the flywheel turns, the more efficiently the magneto can produce a high-energy spark, which is crucial for optimal engine performance.
The old Victa utility full crank that I converted to electronic coil ,I hadn't started it for at least 6 months and it also has the Tecumseh needle and seat and I started it today and it has always started first time without much effort ,starts like a new PT.
I'm hearing you Max but I don't know what the answer is too difficult and costly to try and get new coils etc. I forget if we ever worked out if we could bfit a PT coil onto the sidepull F/C
I haven't tried the PT coil on a Full crank Norm as I thought it wouldn't work as the PT coil only has a 2 ended core instead of 3.
The 3 core coils and some 2 core coils like briggs ,the magnetic flow goes one way through the coil then when the magnetic flow is reversed the coil gives a spark but the PT coil with the 2 core, this only has 2 magnets and from memory just one north and one south and doesn't reverse the magnetic flow so I thought even if you got a spark with the PT coil on a 3 core centre the timing would be out.
I may test an early PT coil as they look similar to the Full crank coil but I could check part numbers first .
Looking online for a full crank side pull ,I'm not having any luck seeing a cheap mower ,always previously found one for $10. or less at a tip shop, market ,garage sale ,swap meet, etc.
I bought a few second hand side pull coils on eBay a year ago for about $14.
I was thinking of fitting an electronic Briggs coil on the side pull Victa mowers that I have pinched the coils from.
I didn't think a Briggs Sprint coil will fit under the points flywheel but haven't tested this ,it may fit.
There is usually a coil you can find that will work ,I thought some Kohler motor coils had a larger centre that possibly could fit a victa but would need to check.
I have quite a few of the sidepull coils and the ones I have tested all seem to be sparking ok but maybe they are not good enough for pull starting I am using a PT module so I don't think that is the problem. Has me a little confused. I guess the end is coming for the old F/C's. I do have quite a few here but they all need a lot of work