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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,200
Likes: 234
SENIOR TECHNICIAN
And to add to this I also have some Powertorques that won't start for some reason, but as I have these motors everywhere it is easier for me to just swap out the motor that won't start and replace it with one that does. I guess one day I will have to confront the reason why they won't start and that will only happen if I stop buying these mowers from ebay and gumtree. The big problem is I get plenty of these mowers but the bases and wheels are usually shot, but the motors are fine. I would say I probably have at the moment 5 motors to every base and wheels. With the Rover stuff it is the opposite, 5 bases with good wheels for every motor because they use Briggs motors on them. If you could fit Victa motors on the Rover bases it would be a good combination, but I guess this would not be in a manufacturers interest, they have to make something wear out/fail www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/81193/Powertorques_that_won't_start.html#Post81193

Last edited by NormK; 24/02/17 08:54 PM.
Joined: Feb 2017
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Novice
I probably have at the moment 5 motors to every base and wheels. [/quote]

Hello Norm, you wouldn't happen to have a fuel tank for a Cortina 70 Series? Picture of my original one is on this link below.

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/83055/Re:_Victa_Cortina_Series_70.html#Post83055

Best Regards, Renzo

Joined: Jan 2016
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Hi Renzo, not sure, there is mowers here I have never even looked at, is there anything special about the Cortina fuel tank. I guess the fuel tank is removable from those metal cowls, years since I looked at them, not sure if they can interchange

Joined: Jan 2012
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Originally Posted by NormK
Gadge, the ones I used with the decomp removed were full cranks fitted with rope pull start and I was using those probably 30 years ago, my point was to say that with very low compression they will still run ok
G'day Norm,
Just to be sure we're on the same page here, the self-retracting rope starters are what Victa always termed 'recoil starters'. The wind-up ones were 'impulse starters'.


Cheers,
Gadge

"ODK Mods can explain it to you, but they can't understand it for you..."

"Crazy can be medicated, ignorance can be educated - but there is no cure for stupid..."
Joined: Jan 2016
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Hi Gadge, I'm talking about the pulley on top and you wrap the rope around, not those fancy new fangled impulse starters

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No worries then, Norm.
That setup is more correctly termed a 'lanyard start'.

The early Victas didn't use rope lanyards, but square section leather ones! When my family bought an established OPE/farm machinery business in 1973, the Victa spares old stock included NOS leather lanyards, in their Victa skin packs...


Cheers,
Gadge

"ODK Mods can explain it to you, but they can't understand it for you..."

"Crazy can be medicated, ignorance can be educated - but there is no cure for stupid..."
Joined: Mar 2015
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For those of you that may still be interested in this topic, I decided to rule out the head gasket and starter o-ring, so I replaced both today with no improvement.

I'm officially calling it, this one is dead. I've got a couple of spares, so I'll just bolt one on. What do you guys do to freshen up an old running engine? Just clean the ports? Is it worth rinsing out the bottom end with fuel to wash out any debris that may have made it in?

Joined: Nov 2013
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Hello greens_tuf
That's unfortunate - that there was no resolution.

I sprayed a small amount down the air intake hose, which didn't do anything, so I sprayed a small amount in the carb where the air intake connects, also did nothing.

I guess you went through every check - including whether the
crankcase seals were affecting the scavenge of fuel; and you would
have tried a different spark plug... and ...

This is a great project - love the images!
Please let us know what is the outcome.

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

Joined: Feb 2017
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Thanks Norm, Yes the tank for the Cortina needs to be the correct one to fit under the metal cowl.
Regards, Renzo

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Hi Renzo, can you post a pic of it so I can see what it looks like

Joined: Mar 2015
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Hey Guys,

I can't seem to let this one go...

I changed the piston and rings over the weekend, the old piston was scored on the exhaust side. This didn't make a difference, I'm not surprised. I have essentially changed every o-ring, gasket, piston and rings, except for the lower crank case seal.

The fact that I can't get it to fire is leading me to think that it is an ignition issue, however, since I can see a spark when I test the plug I previously ruled this out.

So my question is, can the ignition modules be tested reliably using a multi-meter? and secondly has anyone ever experienced a case where the plug would fire under normal atmospheric pressure, but wouldn't fire under compression when in cylinder head?

I am going to try swapping the coil with one from a running motor to see if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

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My money is still on the carby

Joined: Mar 2015
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I ruled that out by running my carby on a another mower and it idled perfectly. Also, I tried fuel in the spark plug hole without any success, so I'm leaning towards an ignition issue of some sort.

Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 33
Novice
Another update, I replaced the coil with a working unit. Still no improvement, so I figured it must be compression.

I tested the compression and got a reading of 50psi, which seems low according to what I've been able to find online, however my running Mustang reads 60psi.

Thoughts anyone?

Joined: Jan 2016
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
I will say it once again, compression is NOT the problem, vacuum maybe and you will not know that unless you have a vac gauge or you replace the bottom seal. If the seal is ok then it is the carby, and because it works on another motor is not proof it is ok, trust me I have been down that path.

Joined: Feb 2006
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Try the reverse then. Put a carby from a good mower onto it.


Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 33
Novice
banghead

What about squirting some fuel in the spark plug hole? or some starter fluid? Wouldn't this point to carby issues if it does fire? Because this hasn't made a difference either.

But I will try a carb from another mower just to be sure.

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