OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Victa 2A - A little help with this one please.

Hi guys,
I went to check out a collection of 26 mowers a chap had for sale today and have some questions that I hope someone can help me out with, the mower in question is a Rotomo 2a as far as I can tell however the engine number should fall into the Romoto model 2 range from what I have read but would like it if someone can confirm this as being correct, also with an engine number under 75,000 it should have tin wheels? of course if the engine number is a model 2 it would have no relivance to the 2a body, the photo of the throttle is not a very good one but was wondering if someone could make out enough to tell me if this is also correct or wrong, it seemed to be made of a sort of plastic??? dont really know what it was. well any help would be appreciated, cheers guys.

another question is how many 2a's were made and what is one like this worth to the buyer???

Apart from the engine number (im not sure on) everything to me looks more or less correct apart from the paint colours, but it looks like the guys used it on a few of his restos by the pics. I know in my early playing around with mowers I didnt give much regard for engine numbers abd maybe whoever restored it had to swap the bottom end for one reason or another.

Every 2a I have seen has plasticwheels, but as with a lot of victa heritage it was never formally documented.

As for a price? well the cowling and starter cup could fetch a couple of hundred, but as with everything I buy I start with a very low offer and go from there.

Yeah thanks Joe, I knew the cowlings are fairly rare, I think the 2a was a short run but not real sure, trouble is the guy wanted to sell them all as one bundle which does not interest me, the onlt ones that took my eye were the 2a, a model 8 and a Villager, he had a model 5 series 1 also that I did not really want, made him an offer of $300 for the 2a and model 8 as I have neather of these but he said he would give it a go to get rid of the lot together but dont like his chances as he started out at $3500 then said he would take $2000 but for the quality and correctness of the stuff he had was not worth anywere near that so he said he has my number so you never know I could still get a call, will leave it a couple of weeks and give him a call as I would love the 2a.

Another thing I would like to know is did the 2a have the circlip carby????

Hi Jonesy, from my research, I have found that the Model 2a Rotomo was the 6th Victa produced, it was the first to use the plastic wheels, had the a 125cc engine.... was produced in 1957-58 and had the Model 3F carby as did the Model 1, 2 and 3 Roto's. It also had the first Victa magneto.
It must have had only a short run, as the Model 3 started production in 1957 also, and it itself was a 'transitional' model.

Thanks Deejay what I have read the engine numbers start at 100,000 but so do the Automatics, so would like some clarification on the engine numbers, also the circlip carby, my green book has the same carby from model 1 to sheerline 6 & 9 but surely there was a change someware along the way???

Hi Jonesy, yes there was a change in carby at the Model 4 Automatic Predicta which was the Victa model 5 carby then back to the 3f for the Standard, Special, and Model 6&9 Sheerline.
Hoping this helps mate...

It's an interesting case, the early carby's, the book will indeed list the same carby, the 3F, but it variated extensivly, to start off, when it first came in (replacing the Villiers Carby) it was attached to the engine using a large brass compession bolt lock, similar in concept to the locking mechanisim on most pedistal fans, this was dubbed the "Brass Nut" carby, but is technically a 3F to my understanding.

The Brass Nut design was a flop, simply, it came loose during operation, so the lock was changed to a simple clamp, such as is on yours, however, the cerclip cap lock remained, untill around the model 4 time, upon when the carby was altered to acept either a normal, spring clamp cap, or the two cable spring clamp cap needed for the Predicta without needing to produce two different carby bodies to accomodate the predicta.

As the predicta failed, plugs were released go fill the second throttle cable hole when converting them to standard throttle, abd the original casts for the two hole Predica capa were retained, but the second hole was just left undrilled, leading to 3 caps for the post-circlip design 3F carby's, one hole, two hole (or one plugged one open) or space for two -one hole.

Then cane the 3L, same as the 3F, minor jet changes, but mainly just sized for a lager intake port, and later the 3S, same design, shape and appearence as the 3L (&3F) but jetted for 160cc, and marked to distinguish it from the 3L, around the same time the 3Q & G2 designs were released , somewhat experimentally, but the popularity of governing on the G2 lead to the G3 taking over for almost all applications shortly after.

Thanks guys, so the CirClip carb should be correct then, my mistake earlier when I mentioned the engine numbers starting at 100,000 the same as the automatics, as I should well know the automatics started at 110,000, but would still like some conformation about weather or not this 2a has the right number range.

It's a hard one mate, there is consensus to the ranges, but there is also variation, as some stamping was done by dealers at assembly, and some stamping during crank case repair or replacement, leading to a lot of confusion.

I'm not entirely certain the consensus on numbers for the 2a, maybe A pm to Blugmhtmonaro1969 might help?

Hey Jonesy,
Ok engine number innacurate...its a tin wheel mid run roto 2 sydney built.
Correct engine sequence for 2a is 100, 000 to 110, 000...
Plastic wheels and carb as per roto 2
Correct throttle control as carried on from late roto2
Cowl and pully correct
Fuel tap can be roto 1/2 dog leg or cigar style as per late roto 2 and auto
Badge roto 2 2a and 3 style
Choke should be red smiley face as per roto2/3
Chassis correct as per model 2 roto
Nothing more to know:)
Ebay price range 500-800 my price 150-300

Thanks Guys, that confirms what my original thoughts were and the bits I was a bit sketchy on and my offer of $2-250 pretty much on the money, was also thinking $300 for my final offer probably next week jsut to give him some more thinking time. I would like to end up with a 2a as I have not seen any around and with only a 10,000 run puts them in a little more special range to aquire,(for me anyway). once again thanks for the help.

Well looks like the wait begins, I rang again and made my final offer but the guy is still going to hang off and see if he can unload them all as a bundle, he said he would call if he has no luck, so wait I will.

Well jonesy it is a hard one. As the heart wants what the heart wants. What you have to look at is what you are purchasing would only be 2a cooling-dress cowl and starter. As the other parts are easier to find,the rest of the mower is basically a model 2. The hardest part to find is indeed a correct engine as they were very limited. From 100,000 to 110,000 as blue said. The cowl and the starter however are still around quite often on eBay. However be careful as a few years ago their was a guy doing repos on both the starter and cowl. Their is a way to tell but you couldn't tell unless its in your hand and know what to look for. Not saying that one has then as I really don't know. Just don't go silly on your offer as they still are around. In fact I seen one on eBay about 12 months ago in Melbourne sold for $50 and was the same as that one didn't have the original engine. I mean if that had the original engine on it in that condition it could easily sell from $500 to $1000,but not the original engine really knocks the value down. An original 2a engine could sell for as much as $250. I have seen them sell for that. Not me though. So just don't be dishearten if you don't get it they are still out their as my grandmother said good things come to those who wait.