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I have picked up quite a few mowers lately.One of which was a Victa 4 stroke with a Tecumseh engine on an alloy base.Now when I got it home the engine didn't work (it may I don't know yet).I also had picked up another Victa 4 stroke with a Briggs on a steel base.It's engine did work.However it did have quite a few problems.The front axle was not attached handle bars were hanging off and a fair bit of damage underneath.Such as cutting disc was bent out of shape and the boss had both teeth snapped of.What to do then a light bulb appeared above my head.This is what happened.










So this was the end result.A mower that is 10 year old but looks almost brand new.Here is a YouTube video address.
[video][/video]
That video was taken before it's final clean.So you will see some dirt on it.Tell you what you think.This is the perfect example of a mower that was descented for scrap,but now has a new lease on life.I like it that much that it is now not for sale,but it is going to stay with me and mow my lawns.That way I know it will be looked after.I couldn't bear to see this one look bad and that dirty again.

It looks stylish Jeffrey, but I hope it had oil in it when you made that video. Sounds appalling.

Yes it does in the video.If you hear it here or direct from the cameras memory card it sounds completely different.I don't know what you-tube are doing at the moment but all of my recent up-loads come out sounding shocking.They have a feature that says (we have noticed some shacking in you video.Would you like us to take it out?)I always say no cause if you say yes it sounds and looks worse again,so I'm not sure why it turns out so bad.Yes it has oil I gave it an oil change.

Thanks for clarifying that. Aside from the tinny clatter which has been caused by Youtube, it misses shots from time to time, but Briggs engines do that. In fact the only mower engines I can think of that don't, are OHV Hondas. So, if the engine runs as well as that mower looks, you have a good one there.

Ahhhh....Viva la Honda!!

Yes well I think I've done well considering it was bound for scrap.Actually it doesn't look as good on camera as what it does with the naked eye.I mean besides some scratches on the base it looks brand new.Not bad for a 10 year old mower.

good job....looks like a good daily driver

Better get it's Backyard cousin cleaned up and put them together for a photo shoot, now that you have finnished it!

2-stroke for the back, 4-stroke for the front, not bad, particuarly with the matching set!

Had to do some changing of parts today but all done will take some pictures shortly.

OK I have taken some pictures of my 2 mowers that actually mow my lawn here they are together.







The 2 stroke is a 2009 model.I don't know how it happened but the 2 stroke has ended up with a name.I call it Mow Mow.Don't know how it came about but it stuck.I would love to get a sticker made up to put on top of the cowl,with it's name on it.
I will try and get pictures of them during the day.As these were taken tonight,and yes they are both sleeping inside tonight.Hopefully I can get them in the shed tomorrow.

I know I'm revisiting an older post but it is still a current one.As I still have this old girl.Now just recently it started to run a little funny and wasn't going well.Also it was going through oil,not burning it.So I did a pull down,I followed the oil tray.I found that there was a gasket that was leaking,see below the circled area.

After fixing and giving her a good clean up and making it look how she did.I put her back together now she just won't start,wtf?What have I done?I have spark she getting fuel.
What I'm thinking is here.

Now I didn't touch the coil pack,but just by removing the flywheel is it possible I have changed the gap between them?Maybe reduced the spark quality?
What size is that gap suppose to be?
Help please as I'm really just scratching my head as I just can't figure out what I have done.

Blumby, there is a specific air gap but i dont recall it off the top of my head. The gap has a fair tolerance to deviation from the specified norm but i found an everyday ordinary business card to be the perfect size for the job. and you can do both sides at the same time, otherwise you need one of those long, flexible feeler guages. The card has never let me down in the past.
Also some obvious questions for you and i apologise in advance if they seem trivial. 1) have you got spark? 2) Is the keyway/flywheel in place and in good order? 3) have you tried some starter fluid in the plughole to see if that gets it going?
It can't be anything too drastic as you haven't done anything major in the repair.
Good Luck!!

Air gap as specified in the briggs manual is 0.15 -0.25mm

Yes it has spark (blue in colour)Yes it has keyway,yes all good.Also yes I used some start you bastard not even a bang at all.Yes thanks for the gap measurements I'll give that a go.

yep normally the brass feeler gauge is the one, thats why its brass/non magnetic, sounds strange to me if you have fuel, spark and timing is right,valve timing is the only other thing that may be stopping it have you checked the valve clearance?

Well I checked the cap it was only 10thou so I set it to 20thou.Sprayed some more start you bastard in. Managed to get it to kick about twice then stopped.Put the fuel tank on gave it some fuel..............Nothing.I might tomorrow check make sure the spark plug is OK.I just don't understand I fixed a leaky gasket and it the bloody thing doesn't want to go.Unbelievable.

Yeah, you got me stumped, given what youve done. Change the plug and go from there.

Yes I know it just doesn't make sence. It was running not well,but not too bad and now nothing.

havnt given the kill wire a little tug somewhere by mistake maybe ?

If you don't mind me saying check your key for the keyway this has got me in the past. Have a good look at for wear of the key especially if your flywheel is very easy to take off. Good luck