OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Tip & Curb Side Finds vc auto drives and an echo vacuum

Traded two vc160's today on mower I sold and they turned out to be AutoDrives. Unfortunately the one on the left has had the drive unit removed, engine changed and cowling swapped, but the one on the right is complete, and in good nick, except for needing a new barrel and piston.



Also scored this little vac for $20 from the tip shop.


It was missing the fuel tank and air filter so I adapted a tank and air cleaner from a junked snipper that was lying around. It does the job, but if anyone has some bits laying around, let me know.
Does a great job BTW.

Great find there mate, those look like a pair of MKII VC-160 Auto Drives to me, 1973-1974, V136.

Should have a couple of G3 carby's between them, the one on the left has a rather onteresting throttle set up going though, am I right in assuming someone has left the original airfilter housing, but jamed a second one, from a G4/LM for it's inbuilt controller?

Yes Ty I think your right.I bet the throttle control broke and seeing as they not that easy to come by they put a power-torque one on their.Also someone has had wheels of a Scott Bonnar put on the front,something like a 520 or 720 model.

To do this they would have had to cut and bend the centre wire of the throttle cable, cutting off the ball, and mimicking the screw in hook of the G3 cable, however I doubt it would retain full function, as the reason the original cable as a coil thread and a hook screwed in, is the need for rigidity in that hook.

The bent end of a centre wire would struggle to apply enough pressure to the G3 carby's cut out pin in order to stop the engine.

Either way I'd say their would be some damage to the cable.

You might find that between those two though there is if not all, at least pretty close to it, you need to create a verycomplete VC-160 Auto Drive MKII.

The catch flap lever is there on one, you should be able to complete a full drive assy, and between the two getting an engine up to scratch should not be to hard, from here it looks the only things i can tell might be missing is the corect throttle lever, and perhaps the drive engagement system locking bolts (cable top end)

Thanks. I actually have a 3rd bitsa as well, no rear axle or cowl and incorrect engine. But has really nice bars (less drive handle) and a few other good bits. I will probably use all 3 to make 1 good auto drive, sooo, I will probably be keen to swap/trade some bits for bits i will need. Now where do we start!!

Right on about the dicky throttle cable assy.

Do these run a belt guard/cover??

End of the drive cable has been bodged up, and the bolts are missing



The 3rd bitsa suto drive, nice chrome handles, but as the auto drive i do up will be put to work, I'd rather save these for someone doing a restore.
Also, which is the correct throttle handle, I have a few early ones on some other mowers and wouldn't mind fitting up the correct one.

Well I certainly am in the need for some parts.Like a cooling cowl.As well as other bits I have in my VC-Auto Drive wanted add.If I was you I'd keep the good handles for yourself as if anybody is going to do a restore the handles would have to be re-chromed. To re-chrome handles have to be sand blaster and remove all of the chrome.That's why I'm to fused on the condition my are in,unless they get to rusty that is.As they will be re-chromed when I get to the restoring part.

Well i think i could help out with the cowl, is any of the VC range correct, or a specific model?? (I take it by cooling cowl you mean the black metal cowling?)

It appears it is raining VC's at the moment in South Tas, just had this one dropped off to me today.
I know it;s not an auto but....

That looks like a VC-160 mark I from 1970,engine number should start as 5270. If original. With the impulse started removed and the zip starter put on. Also jonesy has found me a cooling cowl. It's a bit rough but I can certainly do with more,and yes it's the black metal cowling.

I would agree, MKI, the badge is the MKI badge, the retaining clips for the screws on the impulse starter cover remain in place, and the air filter is black.

So, assuming these observations ring true (as blumbly suggests, the engine code will give it away)that Mowers specs should be:

Model: VC-160
Code: 70VJ
Part Code: V80
Generation: MKI

The Engine would be a Series 70 MKI, with G3 carby, no decompression valve, impulse starter (originally, though it is common to see this changed due to failure)Box muffler, etc.

The change in starter, is common due to failure, as mentioned, the impulse starter is victa's old wind up starter, and did often fail, from the VC-160 MKII onwards, this mower used the zip start system, and replacing a broken Impulse with a recoil from the Zip System was the cheepest and easiest repair.

However this does not make the mower a Zip start, the Zip start system coupled a tuned ignition with a recoil starter and decompression valve, as this only has the recoil, you will still notice the engines compression when pulling the cord.

Prior to the change in starter, your machine would have looked like this:

Or like this,with handles of course.

I will check the engine number in the next few days and see.
I also have this one with half a cowl, by what you have said, it's prob a MKI with conversion as well!! (sorry about the crappy pic)

Well with that dress cowl if it is the correct one I'd say it's a Mark II.

Yeah, I'd hedge the same, MKII.

I can't see evidence the impulse starter was ever fitted along side that cowl, and the mid-height handle fold lock lever is white. Further, a little hard to say from here, but those look like the larger rear wheels.

Odd's are, you will find a decompression valve hiding up under the cooling cowl, or a spark plug jammed where one should be!