OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Sheerline Model 6 or Model 9.Which is which?

Hi everybody I have recently been shown some documents that have made me come up with a big question.Thanks to tomo4192.
As we all know there are two Sheerline models.Model 6 and 9,but really which is which?
As we have come to know the one on the left is the model 6 and right is the model 9.Or is it?


The next is a scan from the 1969-1970 green book.Which really doesn't say much at all.


However the next picture is from the 1971 reprint of the green book.
Now this clearly shows the models and which numbers correspond to which model.

Now before you say this is a miss print as I thought that as well,also some collectors also believe that.There are 2 things stop me from thinking that.
1.If it was a miss print why did no-one (like the dealers) change it.I certainly in both of my copy's of the green books have pen marks and new part numbers etc,to change to the correct information.
2.The discovery of a second document that also states we could have the models around the wrong way.Thanks again to tomo4192.



Here is a look at the second document. Now I believe this is a photo unfortunately it isn't the greatest picture,but it is clear enough.Maybe somebody else has this that would like to post it up.
You can see the victacode which shows the same in the 1971 version of the green book.
Now I know of some of you out there may get upset with this information.As I know it has been the wrong for quite a many years,but we are in the search for the truth.I'm not sure there has been a lot of research into this.So maybe it's time we all got together and sort the truth.I mean I don't want to go around saying that one model is this when it may not be.
Any thoughts pictures documents in this matter would be great.Lets find the truth.

Hi Jeffrey, Here's a link that seems to confirm that the Model 9 has the fuel tank on the top rear of the cooling cowling as per your first pic.....
Click HERE
But.....as you say....Is it correct!

Yes that's right Deejay.That is on Johns VM website.I have spoken to John and he said that he originally thought that was the way they were,but he also told me that he hasn't done a lot of research in finding out which was which.So I said I'll will do some investigating as I would really like to know which is which.Something else I found interesting when I looked at my mowers on the weekend.Was the engine numbers.Now at the end of the run of the model 5's.Mowers were being produced so fast that the engine number order went out the window,and the the engine numbers started with letters.Believed to be codes given to dealers on behalf of Victa..On the now new Model 6 this one.

I found (As I have 4 of them)at all there engine number start with letters,and all the now model 9's,this one.

All (Only have two) start with 162,and had no letters.Which would specify that the date year would be 1962.Interesting I thought.Could this just be another sign.If anybody else has found the same on there mowers then please feel free to add the numbers.If you don't feel happy with adding the whole number then just add the start just to confirm, or deign this theory.

will check mine . will have to wait until the weekend so i can dig them out again.

this also shows them that way. from the powerhouse museums website.


this shows v6 and v7 no slotted base

this shows v6 with slotted base


as you can see . still a lot of conflicting info. i thought the double sided base (for carb) either side was for a consul2?

Thanks gizmo that's awesome.I know the pictures shows the double hollows like the consul 2.I can assure you the Sheerline bases are not like that at all.They only have the one.I wonder if the artist did do that wrong,or maybe they were suppose to and changed design at the last minute.I'm sure the pictured wouldn't have been changed then to suit.Great picture of the model 6 chassis it shows that it is the other one with tank at front again.Wow.
I also have come across this from the VM as well.


These two have come from the 1968 version of the green-book.
This is where the original naming that came from on VM and became the means that we identified them,but wow this is getting confusing.
Now I'm even more confused.Which is which?

Hey Jeffrey ,
this is indeed getting interesting, it seems victa couldnt make up there mind i keep digging here and see what other docs i have.
also makes me wonder what other models we got wrong.
cheers, mitch

so the one i showed before is a model 9 ? engine number is dap29000. carb on one side only opposite to normal .
and it was all green , dark cowl and handles , light green base with victa in red . and it is getting confusing now and if it is a 125 still , why is the plug in centre ?

Well vccomm as to what model it is,is still really unknown.However that engine makes me believe it could have come off the other Sheerline model.I do think that one has been played around with.I mean gold cowl and gold handles there is no reason for that other than somebody a long time ago changed it.That is the correct sides for the carby and muffler.Spark plugs were in the middle of this style of 125cc.They did run it that way for quite a few models...and yes confusing it is really getting.I really hope we can find an answer for this.

Hi Jeffrey, I have spotted something here that to me does not make sense....the first illustration (above) of the Sheerline Model 6 states that the engine is a Mk.10 and the Victa magneto a Mk.5E and on the second illustration of the Sheerline Model 9.....it states that the engine is a Mk.9 and the magneto is a Mk.5.

My question is this: Why would Victa use a later model engine the Mk.10; (9 comes before 10) on the Model 6 and also an upgraded magneto (Mk.5E); then seemingly go backwards with an earlier engine and magneto on the Model 9.
This just does not make sense.
The plot thickens!

The whole thing is getting confusing Darryl. Non of this makes sence at all. What were they thinking and or doing? This why I want the truth. I mean its at the point if somebody asked what model they have you would have to say model 6 & 9.

What if they were released together ? high series and base model ? they were only aroumd for 18 months

Well that is possible as well,but they would still have to have a model numbers.I'm leaning more to the one that we use to call the model 9 the model 6.Manly due to the engine number set-up.As the end of the model 5's seen letters before the numbers as did this one.Then the next one had only numbers with the date as well.However I still could be wrong.

they might have been released at the same time yes , both 1960/61 maybe it was just a starter choice ? and they didnt see a reason to change the cowling to suit impulse start so just used the more common one for the job . Dave

No I don't think so as the engines numbers were different,as I had mentioned before with the letters at the start.Also the impulse starter had a ring that would fit both types of cowls.

well vccomm.
thats sounds like a reasonable explanation to me.
so the better design gets first release.
maybe the new released sheerline did indeed have the longer cowl and later engine mk10. with probably slight modification to the magneto as in the 5e .to accomodate the longer cowls shape.
then as you suggested the other variants (developed at the same time)use the square cowl for the impulse starter etc.
they surely would have had more than 1 engineer working on a design?
we do know that much later down the track they start putting all their fuel tanks under the cowl.
which brings me to another question what really is the difference between a mk9 and mk10 engine. other than to accommodate different cowl shapes?
sorry for my speculative ramblings guys. i am just excited and curious. bazz

Well I think that is just all speculation as far as releasing something that may or may not be better looking.I can't see how that could be proven also I really don't think that would have been the thinking behind it.Besides we are really just trying to find out which model is which,not which one is the better looking mower.Sorry but I really don't want this post to off topic as I'd really like to know which is which model.I have a few of both versions and I really don't know what they are right now except for Victa's made in 1960 and 1961.As far as the engine with the MK9 and MK10 engines is the 10 is just the updated model.I don't think there is any difference it is just the next release.

Hey all,
This has been in the back of my mind for a few days now , Jeffrey using the consul as an example model 511 and 521 which is pre victa code yeah ? , is it possible to find this number or parts of a number like (511 or 521) from the engine code ?

Hi tomo as far as the Consul 2 Victa codes,yes they do have a Victa code. The 511 is V18 and the 521 is V24.Not sure if you are interested but the Consul 4 codes are,model 512 is V19 and model 522 V25. I've never actually seen the Consul 4's but would love to get some.As far as the engine number telling you what model it is I have found (through my experience)the consul 2 numbers start with the number 2.I have one here that starts with a 25,but it still has that 2.Now in saying that I also have a cadet that starts with a 2.So I'm not real sure as to what the go is there.So it goes 2 then the year and then the serial number.Now as I said through my experience I don't have that on paper.So I hope that helps you a bit.I mean this could well be another question without an answer.As is this topic but its something that would be good to find out.Unlike the Sheerline the Consul 2 and especially the Consul 4 were not as popular,so it will be harder to find the answers.
Whilst I'm on this topic I'd just like to add,that if I have offended anybody or said the wrong to to anybody I do apologise. It was never my intention to do so.I would just like to find the answer.There may not be an answer.So I'm willing to work as a team with you all and hopefully we can find out. Hopefully you guys are as well.Thanks I'm glad I got that out there.

i talked to the guy i got it from tonight , his brother got it from a gent that had it new , said he never changed anything but the aircleaner and only moved it up out of the dust . his brother painted it gold and i did find a little paint under the cowling , it was a dark green as are the handles . same i think as model 6 ? (one with the tank on top at the back) as far as he knows , no one changed the engine and it starts with letters , DAP ... at least this one has a little bit of a story from prev' owners . might help a tad ? Dave

That's one thing I love to hear story's behind mowers.It doesn't change the value of them but it's great when there is a story behind them.