OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Tech Talk Self propelled Victa power plus

G'day,
Do I have something special here?

nice id like one of them looks in great nick as well..Are you going to restore it?

Not fantastically rare, I have have 3 of its sucsessor with the series 80 here, a nice solid machine though, unfortunately the alloy bases dont last very well out here in the west...

Well from what I've seen there not that common but not that rare either.

Thanks fella's, this is the first one I have seen.
Chris, I dont so much restore mowers, I am more about getting them functional, I have painted alot of frames because they needed it, to stop them rusting.
I have had a quick look at it, turns over, but I think the gear box is faulty, belt is broken.
I will let you know how it goes.

I am giving this some attention today, it has been sitting there waiting patiently.
Biggest drama is jeft wheel spins freely, right wheel is hard to turn.
Looks like gear box can come apart for servicing.
Base is good
piston and rings look good.
Would like to get self propel working again, if not turn it into a push mower.
What do you reckon?

Thanks to Blumbly I have started taking notice of stampings on the engine.
From what I can tell engine was made in 1978. I noticed the HC above the spark plug, so assume it is a high compression head. Looks to have some components missing from belt drive area.

Have the gear box out and when I turn the pulley by hand, both wheel cogs are turning as expected, gear box is operating smoothly.
Drive wheels look like replacements.
Under the grime doesnt look like it has done that much for its age.
I will not pull the gearbox apart yet.
I will clean it all up & put it back together & see how it goes.

Yes it is from 1978 and yes it should have a high compression head,but I think you should just scrap the project and give it to me.......no [Censored] bugger.OK looks like your doing alright so far,still would be better in my garage.Anyway have fun with it.

Funny, thanks, you wouldnt like it, the muffler is rusty.

Oh yes I would a rusty muffler won't stop me.

hey mark , it would appear that your missing part is the idol pully that puts tension on the belt.

Yes good eyes there tomo4192 your right I didn't notice that.Yes there is some bits missing.It should look a bit like this.

Thanks tomo & Blumbly, those photos are great.
I will have to get one.
Can I make one, no!
Can I buy one? maybe.
Might have to buy a wreck to get the parts.

I have discovered that this gearbox and axle will have to be stripped down.
I want to make sure it is right, I have been sitting here playing with it, not really knowing how it works.
Seems the bearings are not that flash.

This will not be a flash restore, I am aiming to give it a full service & just have it functional, I think I will paint the base with Killrust (Pewter) as I have a tin of that here.

Thanks to Ty for posting this image, it will help me pull this axle apart.
So far I have removed the roll pins, thats it, the rest is a mystery at the moment.
I will tackle it again tomorrow.

I have the rear axle a gearbox apart, I havnt done this before & dont expect to do another.
The hardest part was getting started, first I removed the 2 roll pins, then I drove the shaft out towards the height ajust handle. Before I did that I sand papered the shaft shiney and oiled it so it would go easily.
The rest wasnt that bad if you have the diagram above.
Mind you I have to get it back together yet.

Hi Mark,

Yep, that's indeed a 1978 Victa Power Plus Self Propelled (WV-173-A8) using the MKII Modified Auto Drive Gearbox & Drive System, A G4 Carburettor, Series 70 MKIV High-Compression Engine, and mechanical (Points Based) ignition.

The muffler in the pictures seems to be the incorrect one as far as I can tell, the Power Plus (HC) system used a muffler that had been tuned to the higher compression engine, this muffler is identified by a hole punched in the exhaust outlet.

While the linkages for the clutch lever are simpler on this gearbox as compared to the earlier VC gearbox Blumbly has posted, you definitely are missing a few Items, in particular I notice there is no tensioning pulley.

I will have a poke around and see if I can get you a few photo's of the set-up as it should be to help you identify all missing parts, I may also be able to help you source some of these parts.

I can't wait to see what you make of this one mate, it looks like a good candidate for a restore!

G'day Ty that is all great info,
I had a look at the muffler, it has no hole.
Yes, this mower is complete except for the pulley area.
Your help is much appeciated.
Thanks from Mark

is the tensioners from a series 80 sp power plus the same? I am about to wreck two of them to make one good one and will no doubt have parts leftover.

Not sure whether to try and pull my autodrives gearbox down, its almost falling apart as is but I am going to try and find a new (secondhand) one.

Joe, I was surpised at how dirty it was inside the gearbox. It really did need doing after all, to think I was going to leave it.
It sounds like you have some similar projects on the go.
Yes, please let me know what you have when you get round to it, there is no hurry.

Yes, the muffler does have a hole in it, It was clogged up.
I'm not sure what difference that hole would make.


While the paint dries, I will start the engine.