OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Unusual Customisation Projects My Victa 18 Special Coffee Table Project

Excellent looking pieces Deejay.The table will look nice when finished.
That silvery paint looks very much like the "Chrome" spray in cans I use for similar objects as on stationary engines, cream separators and very soon a Victa New Utility.
But probably is something different.
Stationary:)

Hi to Al and Stationary, and thanks for the kind comments.
To answer your questions, Al, yes, the alloy bright-work is painted; but I don't want to mislead any member to think that this is just an easy solution....A lot of elbow grease required, plus, I had the advice and help from an ardent Manly supporter who's restored many a fine Victa.

Firstly, the parts have to be very thoroughly cleaned and de-greased, then very fine wet and dry to remove any imperfections in the metal; cleaned with 'Prepsol" to remove any traces of contamination, then primed (Fiddly Bits grey primer), wait till thoroughly dry (to allow any residual solvents to be released) and finally topcoat with Auto One "Wheel Silver" (which is Stationary a much different silver than the spray 'chrome'...in the flesh, it is more subtle in colour and looks like polished alloy)
As a very wise man once said..."It's all in the preparation of the substrate"..(the article being painted)

Re: the fuel tap Al, I removed that from the tank that was firmly attached to the cowling that was on the mower when I received it, mate...
The machine appears to be a very early Model 5 and has a "5" with a dash, embossed on the carby, which from my research indicates it is a Model 4 Auto (Predicta) carby with the second cable blanked off.
Why do you ask about the fuel tap, Al....is there something I don't know??

Re: the frame Al, it has been blasted to remove all traces of rust and paint, primed, and is being painted later today....Can't wait to see it completed now.....Will have pics soon....

To sum up, the reason I have painted the bright-work is that this machine is for display as a coffee table, and a you would know, alloy corrodes and discolours...after 50 odd years, this machines bright-work was fairly stained and discoloured...I didn't want that to happen again, especially now it will be a piece of furniture!!

Hi to All, well coming down the home straight now.
Just a couple of questions, does anybody know where I can source a new (or good second hand) throttle cable from, and also the clips that attach it to the handles?
Thanks guys,

Why I asked about fuel tap is that I always associated that type of tap ( 90 degree ) with utilities / sheerlines etc. , you are most likely right in using it , as I have said before , I don't know the technicalities . Looking forward to seeing the colour , Cheers Al

Thanks for that info Al, I have since had a close look at Model 5's, and I think you are correct....Joe Carroll kindly gave me another tank when he was here last and it was fitted with the vertical flow tap....I gave it the salt and vinegar trick and it cleaned up nicely...

Unfortunately it is missing the brass slide retaining screw, and the screw in the other tap seems to be seized and I don't wish to break it trying to get it out....will try and find another, mate.
Here's some pics...



Will have the pics of the base,cowling, etc up soon...

***UPDATE***
I used some Penetrene on the brass screw in the 90 degree fuel tap and safely removed it...it fitted the other tap perfectly and have fitted the fuel filter as well. I will use this tap on the project, as I agree with Al, this is the one that seems to be fitted to the Model 5 Specials.

Well here we are, the frame is painted...just have to do the red on the Victa logo and the '18'....I hope you like the colour. it looks great in the 'flesh'....Here are some pics...Tadaaaa!!



Thanks for looking,

Darryl, that table is going to come up great! I quite like the colour you have chosen, does it look the same stormy metalic blue in real life?

I can't wait to see the final result mate, congrats!!!

Good stuff, looking forward to seeing it on monday!

Yes Ty, it has hints of blue and purple and the metallic really shines through depending on the angle you look at it...sort of like a pearl finish...it is an adaption of 'midnight blue'.
Also Ty, would you have a spare one of the little U shaped metal collars that sit under and over the axle before the housing bolts down...I just discovered one is missing. I don't know what you call them...a primitive bearing of sorts I guess.

Hi Darryl , that colour looks great , now to throw a cat among the pidgeons , do you really have to paint the victa/18 red ? you say the paint has hints of blue and purple .
As this is not a resto back to original , I personally would be tempted to paint it other than red , would look better , IMHO , silver or medium/light blue , or a blueish silver pearl.
One more point to ponder , are you going to paint the lightning bolt ? , it is not normally painted ( a little known fact ) , but maybe it would look nice painted in your situation .
Well young fella , sorry to throw the cat in ,but this might give you something more to think about .
Cheers Al

Hi Al, you must have been reading my mail...I was just sitting outside (bloody hot here ) and thinking to myself...'Do I really have to paint the logos red?' I'm with you all the way and think that light blue or silver would look much better; and as it is for (non-original) display purposes, I might paint the lightning bolt as well, as you suggest!!
Thanks for your kind comments Al, it seems we are on the same wavelength.

Hi Darryl , just noticed one other thing that needs commenting on , one of the handle bar brackets seems to have been drilled as so many were , hope that this is the top one and will not be seen when bars are folded , maybe it should have been nikkied up prior to painting .
Hope I'm not being too picky . Al

Hi Al, all is good mate, Joe Carroll kindly gave me that second bracket that is not drilled, that's the top one, so you won't see the hole in the lower, as you have said. (there going on backwards, as is the handle badge, so all will look correct, with the handle folded)
Well spotted, Al.

Another tip, one that Jeffrey mentioned to me when he was talking about his table, cut the air hose down, and mount the choke to the lower section (non folding U-bar) of the handle bars.

If you have the full length hose and high mounted choke, the big bent and folded hose ruins the picture.

The part you need for the height adjuster (the U-shaped block) is actually there to help prevent the wheels slipping while running and to help keep it all aligned, I should have one here somewhere you can have.

You are a double legend Ty, I have been hoping that blumbly would comment, as this is his idea that I have adopted...and what a great idea it is!!
I think that Meryn V. Richardson has been looking over my shoulder as I've gone along, everything has gone to plan and I;m so happy to be coming down the home straight.
Can't wait to have it all together...but I have to wait patiently until the paint hardens...
Cheers Ty.

Hi Ty, mate I have been through all the stuff I have dismantled from the old girl and can only find one (1) other of the 'U' shaped blocks....I know one disappeared with the grit blasting, it was seized into the base through corrosion, its mate is still seized into the corresponding upper housing, so I may be missing 2...Do you know how many there are supposed to be in a Model 5 Special? I suspect 4, 2 in each of the front and rear smaller housings, is that correct?

***Update***
Have fitted the tank cowling rubbers; fitted the tank and fuel tap, made some screws for the recoil and trial fitted it to the cowl....Put the sticker on the tank as well as the tank cap with the smiley face....



Thanks for looking.

*** Update***
Well here is "Mervyn" the coffee table,I need to put some paint on the Victa logo, supply and fit the throttle control and cable, cable clips and some fuel line on; the snorkel and air filter and it's all over bar for the axles, which Ty is going to kindly supply for the project....a long day, but all went together exceedingly well.

Now for a nice cold Coopers Sparkling Ale!!






Hope you enjoy! I can't believe its nearly finished...

looks excellent mate as per our phone conversation!

Hi to All, Thanks Joe for your kind comments...
Well this morning, I made up a couple of dome-head screws for the side-skirt attachment point ...and the Victa logo is now silver...

Thanks for looking,

Coming alone well Deejay,not sure about the colour myself,but hey it's a show piece.Now these pieces for the axles you are after.Are they the ones that go inside the adjuster housing under the spring?If they are you will only need 2 of them.I'm only asking as I know Ty will only ask me if I have any.If it's what I'm thinking then I may have some here.

Hi Jeffrey, If I can ask you, is there only one of the blocks in each of the small housings under the spring and one underneath the axle?....there was one seized in the base on the front right hand side that they removed during blasting.
To tell you the truth I didn't know there was a spring under there...the top housing on mine still has the block seized in... I may need second hand housing and block and spring...
Here's a pic...

Pretty stuffed, block seized solid, cracked as well.
Top housing is good tho..

I have a box here with 2 small housings, I'll check to make sure the springs are in it.

I have some axles aside for you, I'll make sure to get photo's of them up for you sson, along with the other parts I have here for you.

Hi Ty, thanks a million, mate...that will complete the project with just the snorkel and throttle to go...can't wait to see it back on its wheels...Joe and I have had a good day...recoil starter all complete and working like a bought one!!

The Scotty 45 has a sharpened cylinder reel and bottom blade grind...all re-installed and videoed ready for Joe to edit and upload....you should see it cutting the lawn...just perfect!!
Thanks again Ty, can't wait to meet you in Wagga!

There is only one in each housing.It is very common in seizing up.The way I get them free is to drop the hole thing in old sump oil and leave it for 2 to 3 days.Then with screw driver just to help it out.I have save many that way.Yes there should be a spring,you may find that the one that has seized may have stuffed the spring.It had in 2 of the ones I saved.See how you go.If you need more advice from me just ask.Good luck man.

Deejay, thats bl00dy brilliant!! a fine piece of furniture

I must say it's coming along beautifully. I'm no authority on these, so I'm just sitting back and watching your progress. Awesome. I love that colour scheme.

Thanks Jeffrey, yeah mate, the one with the block seized in it has cracked the housing and welded itself in there (see previous pics) and is completely stuffed!...but at least the other block, housing and spring are all OK...
Thanks for your advice mate...

To Redeye and Greg, thanks for your kind comments, all coming along now nicely...Joe Carroll kindly supplied some rope and rewound and re-assembled the recoil starter yesterday and now it is installed on the machine...A big thankyou to Alwil for supplying the correct rubber pull-handle for it.