OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Say hello to My Little Fan.......

Hi All,
A quick peek at the first progress pics of my next project,Late 54"Victa Model 2 Fan mower,Ive noticed a lack of earlier models so over time I will put up a few of the real early ones some complete some restored and some in progress:)
As some of you know these are very rare,and while there a couple on you tube and some images ive not seen anyone post one in progress(correct me if im wrong)All parts are correct.Clingcast pully,fan manifold,carby and engine.Base has been blasted and the sides lead wiped and reshaped.Parts remaining are new rings and gasket kit(melbourne)new throttle cable...thats about it.Oh the Fan...Well,ermm she is very shy and doesnt like her photo taken.lols naaaa just kidding,its in storage and will be the last piece to be put on.The "Crowning Jewel" so to speak)lols.As the mower nears completion all parts will be displayed and explained for those who havnt seen this model before:)...Next model is............Model 1 Rotomo unrestored original....Ill post pics soon.Hope you all enjoy:)

Looking forward to seeing pics of the model 1, I have one out in the shed that will never be restored on my watch, new paint would just ruin its charm and it does run relatively well, I wouldnt mow with it though cos she is too frail.

This is your Avatar joe?My oldest model 1 will never be restored either,To valuable as she is its all original and I can mow with it,(Id go so far as saying its rarer than my fan,since it is 100% original,where as the fan I will need to make a few new parts and restore a lot to get her back to new)It is one of the most accurate and earliest ive ever come across.Id really love to see yours,these are a real favourite of mine.A funny little story for you Joe.A while back I was buying some engines and I ask this guy a few questions.he knows nothing of mowers so answers as best he can.So I get the info I want and its all sweet.He then says to me I have an old mower I use and Im selling these parts to buy a new mower as shes running a bit rough..Ok so he says can i buy points and I say yeah what model..He dont know just really old.ok so I confindently say yes should be no trouble thinking it a 60s victa ute or something.Anyways the pics come through and I GASP.This guy has been mowning his lawn every week and for the last 20 years with an original model 1..How awesome is that!!!!!! His words EXACTLY.I dont need a whipper snipper since this mower goes right up to the fence line.....An actual example of a TOE CUTTER...the blades must have all but stuck out past the base....

OK, now I'm the one trying to pull things through the screen!

Wow, I cant wait to see how this one turns out mate, and yes, thank you for adding it, It's good to get some of the older and rarer ones up here, as more collectors are starting to participate in the forum.

Is it possible to get a close up inside the ignition box, that looks like quite an interesting set up, from here I'm under the impression the points are controlled by a lever to the cam?

cool we want lots of pics to see how its coming..........

Hi Mal, and many thanks for posting the pics...as Ty has said, there are not many pics of the early Victas on the forum, so this is great for the archives, especially progress pics...so Mal, please keep 'em coming!
I, for one, am interested to see how the fan set-up actually works, so I am looking forward to that.

Yes, that too will be interesting to find out more about.

From what I have seen/heard, they were friction driven off the flywheel, and head a spring pulling them against the flywheel so you could see them moving back and forth a little while running.

I have also heard they had a nasty habit of "Taking Off" at high RPM.

Hahaha!! I'd like to see that!!

From what i have picked up, this attributed to their downfall, and is also why it's sometimes easier to come across a fan-less fan mower.

If you watch some you tube footage of fan mowers running, you will see how precarious the fan seems in motion!

All I can say is [Censored]!!! Something I guess I'll never see in my collection.After all this one (In the pictures I've added) was on ebay and sold for $3800.I guess I can't see me spending that much for one even if I had that kind of money sitting around.



I know this is a Mark I but [Censored] that's a lot of money.Hopefully I can find one in somebody's shed.Anybody out there who has one or two in a shed let me know.

Finally got this old relic running,and very happy with the results.She runs beautifully:)So Ill strip her back down and blast the barrel and repaint,and tidy up all the little bits before fitment.Coil was shot,rebuilt the points assy.piston is at 30 thou with very little use thank god.new rings gaskets.plug is period and works fine.shimmed the crankshaft so it has minimal play.Need top cover and throttle return spring for the carby.And of course the Fan.Throttle control is like new just might fit a new cable.Wheels have been lead wiped and in putty.The base is now complete and painted.ready to rework the axles and brackets.Tank and bars are fine+badge need painting.Wants....Fan assy have original braket,top flywheel cover,carby return spring,and tyres??? Might just lathe some up if i cant get originals?Think thats it.Hopefully soon things will progress quicker and we can all see it complete....Hopefully! lols

good job looks new, the brass flywheel looks awesome...

I have a very similar engine fitted horizontally to a funny little reel mower here, and another similar engine fitted to one of my motorbikes, the way I polished the flywheel on the bike to have a similar finish was pretty stupid and unsafe so I wont say how I did it here, but they polihsh up well eh?

You are one lucky bugger to have one. Don't think I'll ever be lucky enough to get one. Looking good keep up the good work and keep us informed.

In one word Mal....Awesome.... mate

Thanks heaps Guys.Chris,the fly wheel was lathe polished a few years ago,but ive had it sitting since then,the engine will be stripped down again and repainted and polished.And Joe Dont be shy,how do you think I gave this a quick polish?????Dangerous??? Bleh The fumes in the shed were worse...lmao.
You dont have a spare top cover in your mass of goodies do you Joe?...Its one of those stupid parts that rarely comes up often.Found a spring, still need a fan
so everyoneone PLEASE keep on the lookout...PWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE

I wish you the best of luck finding that. It isn't going to be an easy find that.