OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines Victa Super 24 - Back into Service again

Hi Guys,

I recently picked up a Super 24 to re-furbish and get it back to use. I have only ever had one of these mowers before and I re-sold it before I got to do a complete once over. The offer I got was too good!

To date I have completed the following:

� Cleaned and re-set ignition system (points). The engine now has nice bright blue spark
� Cleaned the G3 Carb � bowl gasket was in good condition. Reset air vane in accordance with the Victa Manual.
� Repaired ignition lead
� Installed new blades
� New Air Filter
� New Spark Plug.
� Re-tensioned belt
� Cleaned all of the carbon from the exhaust port (piston and rings were in excellent condition)


I have read a few threads on these mowers and checked the following areas of concern for these mowers:

1) No damage was evident on the blade plate
2) Axles were all in good condition with no cracks evident
3) Height adjuster works perfectly.
4) Minor repair conducted on alloy base � no further cracks evident
5) Drive Belt assessed an in good condition.

The mower takes a fair bit of effort to crank over but I can generally get it to start within 1 pull of the rope from cold. This particular motor does not have a decompressor so that does make it a little harder.

Before sending this mower off to work I�d appreciate any other pointers to ensure its service is as trouble from as possible.

I have included some pictures of the finished product.

Thank you

Jaffa

G'day Jaffa J
I've been fascinated by these machines for years.
They were Victa's first and only entry to the slasher market.

The earliest entry I have found for the Super 24 is the 1972 Range.
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/61969/CATALOGUE_-_Victa_1972_Range.html

The first engine fitted was the 70 Series MK2 - the first engine
fitted with a ... decompressor.

However, the booklet says this was a "more powerful version of the 160cc Mark 2 Series 70."
I cannot believe that this involved the removal of the decompressor - given it had 'Zip Start'.
I am also curious to know what gave the engine 25% more power?

Any help in clarifying the record appreciated.

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

I'm inclined to agree with CyberJack here - no decompressor doesn't sound right to me, on one of these. They were always Zip Start.

Does it have the vacuum line fitting on the barrel intake spigot and/or the decomp port in the head?

Jack, I believe that the 'extra power' 160 [later 'Power Plus'] version of the full crank 160cc engine was the one that used the high-compression cylinder head, and accompanying low-restriction muffler; the one that had the hole in the side of the outlet.

That engine also saw use on Series 70 self-propelled models, and later on, on a few other push models.

There is no port in the engine head for the decompressor to be fitted.

I have included a photo of what appears to be the vacuum line port however I might be wrong as I am not familiar with the term � Barrel intake spigot�.

If you guys have any suggestions on additional maintenance items they would be appreciated.

Can't really make out the detail well enough in that pic, I'm afraid.

The vacuum line fitting is on the top side at the inboard end of the intake spigot [this is the tubular bit that sticks out of the side of the barrel/cylinder, which the carby mounts to]. It was only used with the G3 carby, BTW - earlier models didn't have decompressors.

Like the one in this pic, with the vac line on it:

Hi Gadge,
The engine has the vacuum line fitting however it was blocked off in a similar way some of the powertorque engines are blocked off when they don't have a decompressor. The head definitely did not have the port for the decompressor.
Nevertheless I took the mower out into a paddock and gave it a good test. It performed exceptionally well and mowed down long grass with ease.
Hot and Cold it performs a 1 pull start quite easily.
The mower is now being used by a farmer who let me know he is extremely happy with its power & performance to compliment his ride on.

Hello Jaffa J and Glo Mod Gadge

I am convinced this machine has had, at least, a cylinder head change.
The evidence is there in the starter... it's got 'Zip' written on it
for a start (pun intended).

'ZIP' starting was Victa's name for their decompressor engines
that were fitted with the newly re-designed recoil starters,

In the 1960s, Victa engines were overwhelmingly started by Impulse
(wind-up) starters. A couple of models had recoil - but these were the
rugged designs from the 1950s.

If the round Zip recoil starter is original (as fitted to second model
Super 24s), then the head cannot be original.

p.s. I understand that the '25%' more power was achieved by a larger main jet
in the carby. A decompressor should have no effect on rated horsepower.

It would be interesting - and informative - to see what the crankcase
numbers reveal. That may solve this mystery.

I'm hoping Engineer Gadge can help solve the riddle of the Super 24
without a decompressor.

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

G'day folks,
I'm with CyberJack, on the head swap by a previous tenant. For whatever reason - if any...
If the barrel has the vacuum line port on the intake spigot, then it definitely had a decompressor ex-factory.

Not to detract from the performance of the machine - these were/are a great mower. My old man still has one, an ex trade-in from the 1980's. I'll check if it has the High-Comp head and muffler on it next time I visit, if I can remember to.

The only thing about this machine not having the decompressor, is that the starter will wear faster than it should - it wasn't designed for an engine with full compression starting.

Jaffa, I would imagine I would have a bucket load of heads with the decomp port if you want one.

Just so. The key components of the 'Zip Start system' were the decompressor valve, and the plastic housing recoil starter.

The plastic housing would be much cheaper to manufacture than the earlier all-metal types, and could later be incorporated in an outer dress cowling. But of course it didn't have the mechanical strength of the all-metal types, so it wasn't suitable for use on a non-decompressor engine.

He'd need a 'long' decomp valve as well, preferably a rebuildable type, with the spring clips around the diaphragm housing. These are NLA new now, but rebuild kits are cheap.

I can make him a long decomp valve without any problems:D

Norm thanks for the offer however I have plenty of spares. I keep them fairly organised for ongoing repairs.

The guy who bought the mower was a pretty handy individual so I don't see any issues. He understood how it all worked.

Gadge, The performance of these mowers is why I take the time to bring them back into service. They seem to be very popular on the second hand market and sell easily even within the ACT. The balance of these mowers make them quite popular as they are very easy to push through long grass.

That's what this motor is originally off I believe! A super 24!