OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers HG Noble & Co - Rotomo 2

Ok so its been awhile but I have made a little progress in my restoration attempt. Just to recap, my intention was to revive my old rotomo purchased in 1978 before I got side tracked with the HG which was meant for parts.
I decided to start with my original base as it is very round (no flat sides) but the downside it had a crack (now welded), also used handle and cowl but went with the tank off the HG as it is much thicker gauge steel and almost twice the weight (260gm v 490gm) and no it's not full of crap. Could this be a model 1 tank ?

The old dog purchase in 1978 for $10 at a flea market, ran it for 5 or 6 years before retiring it


Cracks are now welded

60 years of rust removed and it looks and feels more like a crocodile than a mower !


Rust proofed, filled and primed ready for paint

Now for a tech question, I stripped, cleaned and inspected the HG motor then started to reassemble fitting new rings and base gasket. When I put the transfer port covers on I was stumped as to why they fitted better in reverse direction so I started to look more closely at the cylinder.
It has several differences to my other motor as pictured below.

HG above has different port at head end, also note position of stud compared to the one below and second fin from crank is shorter



Right way looks wrong

Wrong way looks right

Shorter fin with more angle

Looked at another cylinder that is the same as second pic with the exception of the carby intake. Now I am truly confused !

So hoping someone can identify what I have and tell me if the port covers are correct for this cylinder or do I need different ones or just fit them reversed ?
Cheers

Hello Rufastoo

A big thank you for sharing this update and your observations
on the subtle differences in cylinder and tank designs.
I guess any answer must be speculative, as Victa was using
outside suppliers for components.

Most of the answers have been lost to history.

That is a fantastic job you have done on the base.
Amazing! I hope it offers inspiration to other members.

--------------------------
Jack

Hmm this is interesting!

Rufastoo the barrel wouldn't happen to be a Model 1 barrel would it? With fins like this above the exhaust.


Your engine number was about 80K, something interesting on your post was Bill Minehane's HG Noble Rotomo, which had an engine number of around 82K, if i'm not mistaken the exhaust on his is a Model 1 exhaust.




My HG Noble Rotomo is also around the 82K mark and it has a model 1 base and model 1 axles.

Perhaps Victa used older left over parts on HG Nobles mowers or maybe they just put a much higher engine number on the HG Nobles despite being earlier mowers. Its super rare to find model 1 parts on Rotomo's that late!

What do yous think?

G'day Jack and Kye
Thanks for the kind words Jack, I will continue to update as things progress.
Well Kye it should be obvious I don't know a lot about old Victas but am trying to learn as I go. I only have my old Rotomo, newly acquired HG and HG Palmer and parts that came with HG (1st pic of post) so trying to identify thing isn't easy.
The black barrel is the one in question and hasn't got rounded fins like your mod 1 but is quite different to the others I have.
I may be wrong but I feel the answer lays in the different style port at the head end.
So if you or someone else with a mod 1 could please have a look at the ports (and hopefully take a pic) to see if they are the same as mine. If they are the same and no one has a better answer then I am going to call it a 1 1/2 !
Cheers

I'm not real sure what Kye is looking at (Sorry Kye) but I defiantly don't see any model parts on the HG Noble.It all looks to be model 2 parts to me.
I think you are comparing the HG Noble cylinder to the HG Palmer cylinder and yes they are different and the HG Palmer engine was more based of a Model 3 engine.Which is a completely different casting from the Model 1 & model 2.

G'day Blumbly
No that's not the case at all. First pic is the HG Noble barrel I am trying to identify, second pic is my old rotomo bought in 1979. The last pic is off the HG Palmer tiger motor and it is identical to my old rotomo with the exception of the carb intake.



I still think its the port that holds the key to its identity.
Cheers

I do believe Tiger engines did have a different cast than say a Rotomo.Does the crankcase have Tiger on it?

No it dose not have tiger printed on the crank, only on the tank but the serial number is on the opposite side and no victa 125 on the case. From what I have been able to learn from this site I was under the impression that tiger was never actually stamped or cast on the case, please correct me if wrong and would love to see a photo of a stamped case if possible.

Unfortunately I don't have one at the moment as the one I had was stolen (long story won't go into it now),but I'm sure mine had an engine number on it.My thinking is that it could be possibly parts from a tiger and parts from a Rotomo.I'm really not sure,however I really don't see anything that is from a model 1.I'm sorry I can't help any more than that I just don't have the books and or an engine to compare with.

Ahh ok, I thought the HG noble pictured in my post might have had a Model 1 exhaust. I didnt quite understand Rufastoo's post when I read it. All good.

A member on my page just messaged me this info for you.

The square port barrel is model 2 rotomo
The cross drilled round port barrel is the 3.6 hp from 2a on
It has nothing to do with noble
Or tiger
So the round port barrel doesnt belong to either of his rotomos
Model 1 square port
Model 2 square port fin design change
Model 2a and 3 crossed drilled round port
2hp
2.5hp
3.6hp
Stud length is different on the round port as they no longer needed the dome nut on top as it was covered
All port covers face the same way
Opposite to what they look like they are meant to go...

Hope that helps

Yes Kye, that does make sense if what you are saying is square port = correct cylinder for rotomo 2.
I would however disagree that my old rotomo cylinder (photo 2) is incorrect as serial number 97747 is getting quite late into production and would assume that they didn't change port design bang on 100,000 , again I am only guessing but seems logical.
Thanks for your help.
Cheers

NICE MOWER, LOOKS FAMILIAR, OH YES ITS MINE. ANYONE EVERY SEEN A HG ROTOMO 1
CHEERS CHRIS

Hello bunipper

I have never seen a Model 1 with a Noble plate.
It's one reason that I doubt that Noble's sold the first
Victas in Queensland.

-----------------------
Jack

TA DAA !
So it's pretty much finished with just a few bits left to find.
I think it's close to correct for the engine number (97747)but probably should have a metal fuel cap, clear fuel line and spark plug cap.
Other things that are wrong, bottom snorkel clamp screw is wrong, muffler is off set type also not sure about the unmarked choke knob.
Just looked at the pics and probably should have put in a better plug as well !
Please feel free to add to this list if needed.
Obviously paint is not standard but think it looks ok.











I do hope I haven't upset the purists too much, please feel free to comment either way.
Cheers

Hello Rufasttoo

The paint looks fantastic!
This is a simply stunning full restoration and a BIG
thank you to you for the project and the images.

This is were machine and art become one and the same ...
This must be personally so rewarding.

The money shot for me must be this one ...


Congratulations!
---------------------
Jack

Thanks Jack, your kind comments are greatly appreciated and yes it does feel good to be so close to finishing what appeared (wrong)to be an easy resto. Experience gained should make the HG Noble project that much easier although finding affordable parts is another story.
I forgot to ask if anyone knows where I can buy the Castrol decal for the back of the tank ?
Cheers

G'day Rufastoo

You're welcome, and I feel members really enjoy a top-level resto.
The issue of affordable parts is one not likely to go away, as these
old gems are now way past half-a-century old!

I now look on these old gals as works of industrial art.
For me they cease being lawnmowers; but represent an AUS icon
and the boldness of Mervyn Victor Richardson.

If you can't slot this machine into the lounge room, then
one of your great photos would suffice.

I wish current owners of this iconic brand had the same enthusiasm
for preserving them.



-------------------
Jack