OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Victa 18 Oil Seals

Does anyone have a method for fitting oil seals on an 18 without the special tool mentioned in the workshop manual? I've taken out the top seal on a model 5 and having a hell of a time fitting the new one

are the cases apart or still together?

Case is split, top seal is out. Bottom seal and crank shaft are still in place

well if the cases are apart I just use a socket the same size or a tad smaller than the seal and gently tap it in with a hammer, or use a pin punch working your way around the out side very gently and very gradually or you can wreck the seal by making it out of round, if using a punch try to work opersite sides like clock numbers working your way around, most of the time it is getting it started that is the hardest, just dont get too frustrated, take your time and a swig of beer when it starts to get the better of you.
some of the seals have rubber outside and can be a pain, others with the steel outer are a lot easier to get started, a bit of rubber grease on the rubber outer ones sometimes helps.

Beer indeed! Already tried the socket and used plenty of WD40, but still no go. Trashed one seal in the process, but have two more to go lol. Ill give it another try tomorrow using a punch. Cheers mate.Hows the Predicta coming along? Picked up any more parts?

There are two different size seals a 17mm and a 21mm. I just can't remember which one is which I think the bottom seal is the 21mm and the top is 17mm. I'll check for you when I get home. They shouldn't be that hard to put it. Maybe they are the wrong size. They shouldn't be hard to do yes use a socket but it should once lined up and square then tap them in.

Agreed Socket,Rubber grease or mollybond. Ive had some trouble with a couple of the later seals as well,also with springs falling out...Cheap I guess. I save as many soft genuine seals as I can get and soak them in lanolin or rubber conditioner.

Thanks for the tips, fellas. Persistence paid off but I swear i'll never try to change one of those suckers again!

I knew you could do it.Still not sure why you had so much trouble though.There not really that hard,but I guess I've been playing around with engines for over 25 years so maybe I just do it an easier way and don't realize.Good work.