OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers My Victa 18 Automatic project

Hi all, great forum

Picked up this 18 last week from the auctions, no one seemed to be interested so I bought it for a song.
I need to I.D. the old girl (year, model, etc) before I begin the resto, so if anyone could help with that I'd greatly appreciate it.

The mower turns over and runs, none too well but runs it does!! The period 'strut' attached to the handle appears to only hold the handle in the upright position, as the fold bracket doesn't do up tight and slips. There are no cracks visible on the handle tubes or the bracket.

I gave it a bit of a steam clean to get rid of years of oil and dirt/grass.
Engine No #110107 with the number #3 stamped under it on the lower case.

After researching on here I believe it is a 'Predicta' converted to a later model setup? I've gone a bit crazy with the pics 'cos I'm a bit excited to have it!!

I've added the 'Before' shot, as I picked it up

This is the one you referred to in the other post Second cut?.Well what can I say?.You Have for almost certain a beautiful little reverted Model 4 Predicta.Less of course its main bits.The engine no puts it in the very early class,being approx one of the first thousand built.Its running the hammer axle housings and oil nips,which again denotes the early style.As ive stated before,with the exception of the purpose built model 4 STDs.The predicta was often reverted back to its base form because of parts/operation failures and issues.Either way this is a very nice example of one of the reverted models and NOT a model 4 STD.As for parts to make it complete,the front and rear predicta setup and side skirts/bolts/springs,are very expensive and hard to come by.If it is left like this which personally I would do,until you come across the other bits,you will need
New choke,yours is correct but broken.
pull knob for the starter,
new or a good set of SH wheels
correct.cigar fuel tap.
also I cannot see your throttle.
Dont think ive missed anything,
All else appears correct even the red crank case drain plug.
So this is/was without a doubt a genuine model 4 predicta.
And huffs,Yours is a few hundred earlier than mine..pokes tongue out*
Lovely little buy second cut,very happy to see more come back to life,whether they be 100% genuine or a revert,they are still a great model.

Oh I forgot,Date code for this should be "1957" since yours is a very early model.
Also I looked again at the engine no,I looked quickly and thought it to be 111,107 when I posted,
but its actually 110,107 which If im not mistaken,would make it aproximately mower no 107...How cool!!!! never seen one this early before..Gimmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee grrrrr!!! lols.

Thanks for the info monaro, I feel all warm and fuzzy now !!
Yes it is the one I was eluding to in my other thread.

Wow, you made my day!

Seeing as it runs as it is, I may take your suggestion and leave it, It's kinda growing on me with the signs of age/use.
Cheers!

Restore it if you like,I prefer them unrestored is all.Ill post some pics of one of mine,I have one identical to yours and another later one which has its rear flap only,it can stay in storage untill i get the other bits,along with half of my collection since ive got so many going already.I fully strpped my early one cleaned tidied and replaced anything broken,rebuilt the engine with gen parts and left it at that.actually just need to fit the starter knob and its all done.

Heres the earlier of my two Secondcut.Pic of the starter knob and original instructions.5 pages on foolscap for the early models then they released a proper booklet with the later models.As you can see they are all but identical and both originally predictas.)






If you Havnt Already,see if you can find Another member from here,BLUMBLY.He has a more complete Auto than ours and from memory all correct parts too.If not he will tell you whats what

[Censored] secondcut good work.Yes I would have to agree with Blue on this I do believe that your mower was released as a Model 4 Automatic.I can see that due to a few things engine number,correct edger gaurd correct colour of axle towers and the correct fuel cap.It's a shame the flaps are not on there,but if I was you I would start the search.It may take a while to find,other things will be easyer like cigar fuel tap.Still hard to find but are out there.Again well done and hope you enjoy your rare find.

what a great looking pair hope at least one of mine looks half that good someday . guys

I'm sure it will as I know you'll put the effort into it.

Hearty from me on finding an original Model 4 Predicta....Well done mate! You never know when you might stumble on the rear or even rarer front flap...just keep looking.
I don't know what the weird thing is on the left of the handle-bar...must be that it was folding whilst mowing, so someone put this contraption on to stiffen it....definitely not original!

Yes it is a strange bit,but that's what I thought it was for as well.Once the handles wear a bit it is hard to stop them from doing it.I guess that was somebodys way of stopping it.I think it would have been easier to do the old alloy can trick.That was the best fix I've seen so far.It worked very well.