OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Tip & Curb Side Finds Victa Corsair

Have this Victa Corsair that I don't know what I'm going to do with. Originally I was just going to wreck it out and use it for parts,but after looking at it.It is in fairly good condition.It's not going due to carby not complete,but I do believe it would go,it has good compression.Does any body know anything about them? Is it worth getting going? Is there any exciting history with this model? Don't know just trying to work out keep or use for parts.Here some pictures of the old girl and info would be great.
Thanks guys and girls.
Jeffrey

Series 80 motor and alloy base, ball bearings wheels.
Looking at it, it looks to be in good order.

If that were your day to day mower you would be hard pressed to find anything any better.
Id say that mower is easy 30 years old and it would be better than anything you could buy new.
If its got the round cutter disc on it and its cracked, put a later model raound 4 blade disc on it. Then it will cut better than anything new as well as out last the new junk.



Being the later alloy base a catcher would not be too hard to find.

Washed, running, serviced and with a reasonable catcher i would ask $150 or so for that mower.
Bob.

I agree with what bob said, however I think it may not be the original engine as I can see there is a cutout on the cowling for a pull start on the top. I may be wrong though as it may be a "between models" mower where they were using up old parts at the factory.

I have a feeling this may well be one of the in-Betweeners Joe, that was indeed the cowl that was used in the crossover, and this model was one of the ones in that bracket.

From that, i would put it as 1980 or 1981, Series 80 as Bob said, MKI (There were very few Series 80 MKII engines, and they were later)

It would probably have the last of the G4 carby's, with the face plate familiar to the LM, though it could have an LM, Parts are easy to get for this one.

As to the catcher, I cant be certain, but i would take a strong leaning that your mystery green catcher will happily fit this one.

Fix up the carby, Put a new boot on that spark lead, and there's a good chance you will have yourself a winner.

Can you pop up a photo or two of the carby as it is, so we can see whats missing?

I will take some more pictures of it tomorrow and post them on.I never thought of trying the green catcher but will give that a go tomorrow as well.As to the top having the starter there.There in no hole for the cord or handle,but it does have that section mouldered for that reason I guess.

Must have missed the picture of your catcher.

Best i can work out theres two types of thumb catch ones.

If you look on the side of the opening at the back the older ones have a longer top indent and 2 peice flap and the newer ones have a short top indent and a one piece flap. The longer ones the earlier model and takes a catcher that is sightly higher (all of the ones ive seen have the bi fold handles with the latch on the base). The bases with the shorter indent takes a catcher that is not quite so high. This base is one of them.

I think its about 3/4" height difference.


The shorter catcher will go on the earlier base. But not the other way around.


I have a cover the same as that and it has never had a 'Zip' starter in it. That would lead me to believe that these were used on the series 80 motors.


I had an early 80's (exactly the same base as that) Mustang with a Power torque on it. Was a great mower. I definately preffer the series 80 over the powertorque so that mower would be a fantastic unit.

No you didn't miss the picture of the catcher as it wasn't added.However it is now.Not sure what it is off.If somebody could shed some light as to what it is off.It doesn't fit the corsair.Ty I had added the picture of the (what's left of carby.Also a picture of the cowl where the pull starter at the top could have gone,but didn't.

Now that i look at the two together, yeah, this one is the bigger one bob was talking about, so things like mustangs or silver streaks will take it, I will have a dig around if you want one for the corsair, should have something here.

The carby only appears to be missing the face, jet, seal, float and pin, i can give you those as well, i wont put prices in the thread any more, but i will let you know through PM what i would like for those pieces (don't worry, not much!)

The rest of the carby seems complete, they are fairly simple to service, and you should be able to get this one up in no time

did this one come from Mugga lane? i tend to find these parts are missing from allot of there mowers.

Good idea putting up the pic of the series 70 cord notch, now there's one for reference on here!

Expensive thing is the jet. they are $15 new. All the other parts will be about $20.

If you put the O-ring seal on the primer face/cap, lay it on around about 1/2 of the outside and then grab it in your fingers and stretch it out and 'snap' it on to get it on the rest. Ive found that the O-rings generally do not work the best if you roll them on as they twist.


That catchers is off something more special than just a Mustang. Its the twin grip one, same size as the super power catcher. Actually it might be for a mustang, the same as the one i have here with the series 80 motor on it. look for the 283cent tread. That came with a catcher the same shape as the earlier VC-Mustang catcher but its the same green as the one you have which is slightly darker than the eariler VC-Mustang.


There are plenty of catchers about that will go on that. If you keep an eye out one will turn up. From that base in the 80's right up to the very end of the 90's or even into the naughties the catchers were the same, then the alloy base went to a design that uses the same catcher as the steel base.
I had a powertorque Mustang with the same base as that, twin grip green catcher the same as this;


Above is a late catcher on the early base. Note how just above where the join line in the catcher meets the base there is a gap. Thats the difference i mentioned above. This catcher is not as tall as the propper one so when full of grass it will be hanging off the top corners. And being green (and most other colours) they dont handle the UV as well as black ones and tend to crack up easier.

Heres the two mustangs, a VC and a series 80 Mustang.
Same at the rear of the base and the catchers are interchangeable.

IT'S ALIVE!![Censored] I didn't think it would have been that easy,but I spent about 15 minutes putting the carby back together fixed up the spark plug lead.Poured fuel in the tank and 4 pulls of the cord later and of she went unbelievable.So I think it was Ty that said he had a catcher for it.I guess I will need one now.I couldn't wreck it now not that it's a goer.[Censored] I don't know what to do with it now.I guess it comes down to keep or sell.That I can't decide.I think it has earnt the right to at least have a good scrub down now.Also does anybody know what type of clips are used to hold the back axle on with these.(ie a VC's).As after I got it going again I noticed that somebody had drilled a hole in the base,and had the hight adjuster was cable tided to it.When I cut the cable tie I realized the spring clip that holds the axle on was gone.I will need one of them.

Well done on getting her running

Yes I was surprise at how easy it was to get her going again.It's like she just wants to live and maybe even mow again.I think what I might do with her is clean her up and get a catcher and just keep it as a spare mower.As the one that I mow the lawns with had some problems last year.It blew the engine.I got it going again with another engine,but I just don't know how good it is.As I only got to mow once with it.I wasn't real happy with the noises it made.So I think the corsair will stay as a spare.

If you go to a mower shop they will have a clip for the axle.

The steel base uses a straight clip (front axle only). The alloy bases use one that is like a W shape. If you grunt hard enough you can get a straight clip to fit.

Theres probably a pic in the shop on the site here. You could just buy one there.


Bob.

If you still have that banged up VC-160 base, the clips are the same for the rear wheel by memory.

I will dig through and see what i can do you for in the way of a catcher, and let you know.

Thanks Ty yes I did take one of the scrapped VC and put it on.It's holding but not great.I may have to take it back off and bend the clip a little to try and get it tighter.I think if I mowed the lawn with it (That has stopped growing by the way.To cold for the grass.Don't blame it) that the clip would fall of.Just a bit of tinkering I think.

Yeah, they can get a little worn out, often a bit of fiddling will do the trick, as long as its not badly rusted.

If you have any troubles with it, i have a stack of them!

Ok will let you know.I don't think it's to rusted so hopefully it should be ok

OK well it is still loose (the clip for the rear axle that is),but it doesn't fall out.When I get home I get this old girl out and give it a clean.Then I'll take some pictures of it and put up here and you can see how good it looks at the moment.It has come up fairly well.Considering I didn't know what to do with it.Also I only got it to wreck out for parts.Well that's not going to happen now.That's for sure.

OK guys I have a question as my mower collection is getting bigger I need to start selling some off that aren't quite as collectable.This is one that I have decided must go.I'm going to clean it up.Now it does go.So what I would like to know.How much would it be worth? I don't want a million dollars,but I don't want to advertise it and have it sitting here for the next 10 years.So what is a reasonable price for it?

If you gave it a good scrub up, get a catcher, new blades I would see an easy $120 on ebay for it, now is the time of the year to try and sell mowers, I have to really get my finger out with mine!