OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Other Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Late Model Lawn Patrol with Victa Engine

I have a 1956/57 18" lawn patrol with a model 2 Victa Rotomo engine, does anyone know if this engine could be original, it appears that the 2 front mounting holes may have bee drilled to fit the Victa engine, the only odd thing is the engine number being X565 , I have been told it is a unusual number for that model engine, any help would be appreciated.

is the engine No X565? and what makes you think is is a model 2 engine? a picture speaks a thousand words if you could put a couple up there are people on here that can set you straight if you supply the info i'm sure, I seen your add on ebay and did a google search and found a bit of info that i'm sure you have already found

Hi Rods and welcome. I knew you'd find your way here. Now could you take a picture of the engine from all angels. See if it has Victa 125 on the top of the crankcase at the front. As that engine number is making me think it could be one of the first model 1 engines that were actually make for boat motors. I'll find some other info on it when I get home as I have seen them around before. Once again

Hi Guys, thanks for your interest in this engine, trying to add some photos, hope they work out.

Hi Rods no I can't see any pictures.Let me quickly show you.

Click on the icon I have circled and then just follow the window that comes up.

I saw the image on ebay also,and yes it certainly appears to be a Rotomo engine. I would be inclined to say model 1 because of it unusual number.

As blumbly says Victa used the early model 1 for industrial and Marine purposes before the introduction of the Tiger" engine they used for Marine Fitments. And yes they were coded with an X prefix and a very short run. Id be surprised to see them in high numbers.

The only other X prefix preceding the serial number im aware of other than the villiers X is the Hurricane. They started their serial numbers with an X also but ran into the thousands. BUT to my knowledge they were not fitted to Lawn Patrol mowers.
The fact its been redrilled tells me it was more than likely running the BMS 10 which was their own company designed and made engine. The VICTA 125' of the Rotomo Era was never fitted to this mower,or any other.

Hi,
heres the pictures.

Looks like a model 2 engine to me. Which makes me wonder about the engine number. Hmmm. I can't quite work out what the cylinder is though. As I'm looking at it on my phone. Hopefully Blue will come on later he might be able to see it better. So yes confirms that it is the wrong engine for that base. Not sure where you would get one for it.

I should have waited 10 more minutes....and the Images would have been up!lmao.
No need for me Blumbly,You got it on the money,definately a Model 2...Everything confirms Rods assumptions on it being a model 2.

Going back to the original query of the engine no though. Id still maintain it as being Marine or industrial with this number. Its definately not a repairers mark,as ive seen before. A few years back i spoke to a bloke who had a lot of roto engines he was selling and he also had one with an X in the 200s and it was Victa Stamped as well,so I just thought it a bodgy,Since my conversation was by phone and I couldt see. Id only ever seen model 1s with this code.

Anyways, What engine? BMS as I said would be a close bet,BUT where to find one? I found a site a while back when looking for lawn cub stuff,and they seemed to know a fair bit about the company. Ill see if I can find the link Also find out who posted that pic of the lawn patrols jonesy put up and go straight to the source,im sure they belong to a member off VM.

Hope youll keep that rotomo engine,would be a nice one to do up and maybee one day we can confirm what it actually came off for certain.....Im going with Marine:) Or you can always donate it to me! lols

Yes I will certainly be doing up the rotomo, will have to find a carby and head for it. I will also restore the Lawn Patrol if I can find a engine, chances are it was at the clearing sale where I got the mower as there were some old engines in boxes in the same shed that I didn't look at.

I have been informed from a early Victa enthusiast that this is a marine engine probably from a Mermaid outboard, X or a+ is the identifier for marine.

There you go Blue, spot on again!! Lols!

Some Lawn Patrol Ads these ads are dated 1960
Ian

Hi everyone! I know this is an old thread, but yesterday I bought a lawn patrol base that is sadly missing the engine. But it has the exact same holes drilled into the base, and a Victa fits perfectly!

I will get pictures if you would like.

G'day Kye I'm keen to see those pics mate

I will take some on Monday for you Slash, going camping over the weekend.

G'day Kye and S/B

I think this would be a good one to record.
I am convinced this is a modification.

It may be that some dealers converted these bases because
of a manufacturing defect in some Boundy engines - the magnets
on the crankshaft have been recorded as separating, causing
engine failure. The Victa was a reliable alternative ...

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Jack

Sorry about the wait, and sorry about the bad pictures, but here it is.



The height adjustment has had some modification, but everythings fixable. If this was done by a shop then I will try to hunt down an X marked Model 2 Rotomo engine for it.

Cheers! Kye.

G'day all
This is an old thread that I now feel better informed about ...

I have changed the topic title to read "Late Model Boundy Lawn Patrol with Victa Engine."
The chassis here are not 1956 or 1957 or 1958 year models.

These are modified late-model Lawn Patrols.

The added complexity is the back-yarded Victa engine.
The 'X' crankcase number does indicate a Victa donor engine originally
used on a non-Victa piece of equipment, perhaps an outboard (as has been suggested).

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Jack