OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Tip & Curb Side Finds Victa Commando 2 Key Start autopsy

It's a Power Torque, 1990-91 model.
first a dead battery. I have two spare batteries so i would like to get this PT going....
And no spark...
Full of large cockroaches ... clean LM carb. but all hoses and gaskets hard as...
I thought I'd have a look at the piston and rings .





I sprayed the engine with insecticide and stomped on heaps of cockies. I hosed it out at first..... They are probably in the muffler......
This electric start looks like it wold fit any PT , as they have gap in the plastic fairing and lower flywheel cover...
Anyway I will just keep going.
I like finding out why they died...
speedy

Maybe get the engine off the other one. Does that go? You can test the starter motor by connecting the terminals to a car battery via jumper leads.
That's how I tested out my Mustang key start before spending on another battery.

Hi Speedy, nice pickup, the starter will fit others but you'll have to drill the block and tap the threads to mount the starter and change the flywheel and coil wiring loom also.
Keep us updated on the autopsy. If i have any questions can i reach you at the Coroners Office?

Hi guys,
I connected a 12 v battery an the wires heated up..... so I'll take the starter motor apart.... clean it and try to get it going .
Took the head off, starter, need a new big o ring of course. rings were not worn thin.... a bit of blow past and burn on the piston. No oil ring n the lower ring....
Fitted the piston to barrel, no gap , or no piston slap... good bore.
Took the rings off the piston and cleaned the grooves, and rings, rings look like new. scrape carbon off.
I can't get the blade plate nut undone, have to get my mates rattle gun on the job. I bashed it over and over....



I just like to get a little done every day.........
Then it it adds up....

cheers
speedy

The rattle gun didn't look at that big nut on the blade plate.......I was going to take it to my tyre shop, hoping for a more powerfull rattle gun....
Screwed a piece of wood onto the plate with 3 roof screws... to get the plate to hold in place.... and put a pipe on my sidchrome socket handle.... I finally cracked....a bit of rust in two threads will do it.... slightly bent my sidchrome handle.....


Now I can take the motor off and take off the electric start. Took it apart, full of gunk..... all gears in tact, but the motor is frozen. Sprayed it blew it out and put some wd40 in to soak it .....



I want to free the rotor in the starter motor...... it will probbaly be OK, just needs a big cleanup.
Only problem it is a throwaway motor, with pressed down lugs to hold it together. I am going to have to prize them open......... I hate getting beaten by modern technology................. If I can't fix the motor, it will be a pull start......... but it will work.........
cheers
speedy

I was playing with motor today and cut two slices down the middle of those two lugs. It made them easier ti lift uo, and lifted the other pressed in pieces. Got the end off with the brushes, perfect, put some wd40 on again...... ttwisted the armiture and it moved, then freed up. Blew it out with air and some more wd40, put the end plated and bushes in place and applied 12V, motor is sweet, so I tapped down the lugs and oiled the shatf. Looking good so far....
Still need a module for it.....
speedy

Well speedy, I really hate to be the bearer of ill tidings, but that WD-40 use may well come back to haunt you!

When WD-40 dries out, it becomes a sticky brown crud, that's really good at gumming things up.

This stuff is the shizzle, for a general purpose spray electrical lube/dewatering fluid;

So many naysayers of WD-40 and it's properties.
It got the seized height adjuster on my Victa ute going like clockwork after leaving it on for a week and forgetting it. Probably worked much sooner but that is how long it took for me to look at it again.

I guess both are good. WD40 $5.99, couldn't see crc at supercheap today.
I ran out of degreaser and had no kero. Washed carb in petrol, ok.
Wanted to wast starter motor parts in perol, but didn't, as I was going to use wire brush on cordless dril. I was thinking maybe a spark could have ignited he fuel and I would have had a handful of fire.....
speedy

Well, my point is, that WD-40 does have its uses - I don't deny that. However, even when it first came onto the Oz market, there were long-established superior penetrating lubricants available.

But for far too many folks on ODK, it's a case of the 'if the only tool you possess is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail' syndrome.

WD-40's useful properties are very limited indeed; and for a long time now, there have been quite a few far superior multi-function aerosol DWF/penetrant/lubricant products on the market.

And, as I've said in this very thread, its use will [not may] have long-term detrimental effects in some situations. As it will in a starter motor.
Which are easily avoided, with prior info on what other products are appropriate to use in a given scenario - as I've done here.

I can post a pic of the array of aerosol products in this class I have on hand just now if you want - and yes, it does include WD-40.

Some years ago Gadge I pulled the bezel of my Interceptor speedo for some repairs and I wiped the faded grey face of it with WD40 and it restored the colour exactly back to original and is still the same today. I haven't had the nerve to pull the tacho apart just clean up the face so one is faded, the other looks like new. Also I wipe plastic catchers over with it, refreshes them like new. everything has a use, you just have to know what its use is

Does WD- 40 always leave a residue permanently behind or do they eventually evaporate?
I have been told a long time ago that it rots rubber.
Is that an XB coupe you are talking about Norm?
I'd love a 77-78 XC Falcon 500 four door sedan with bog standard 4.1 crossflow six and column shift auto. I have simple tastes.

G'day speedy,
Well, they don't have the nickname 'supercrap' for no reason...
Nothing wrong with that. My old man's OPE mechanic used to love using BP Zoom 2-stroke premix for cleaning parts!
Good call there. Every chance that's what would have happened...

Yes, it does leave a 'permanent' residue, of sticky crud.
It's actually the hydrocarbon 'carrier' it contains [very close to kerosene] which does that.
An old automotive engineer mate of mine [sadly now deceased] had a TD Cortina with 4-speed manual box, LSD and 4.1 crossflow, and he'd fitted it with a 2V head etc. That thing went like stink! He'd set up the front end to his own specs [not Ford's], so it handled very well, too.

Hi Gadge, Yes I will get some CRC. Can you still get penetrene for loosening nuts?
speedy

Mowerfreak what I was talking about is my 1964 Royal Enfield Interceptor

G'day speedy,
Sure can! http://qsmart.net.au/sample-post/penetrene-2/ Their 'orange' industrial hand cleaner is ace stuff, too. I get it from one of the local bearing shops here.

Put the starter back together the proper way.....
Just need a module and have to make a pine prame for my molasses bath and soak a few bits for 3 weeks............. got some Aldi metal paint $9.95.....
I have a good Deepriver 12 V blue battery which moved the motor. It was off a electric pushbike but should do the jub, just have to adapt a carrier for it.....
See you in a few weeks.

The rains are here in Bundy and with a bit of
heat, GRASS...... to mow.
speedy

Here's the new molasses bath.... all loaded up.
speedy

The motor looks like it is hankering to be put onto a good frame and do what it was designed for.
Good set up for the molasses bath.
Can't wait to see it painted up.

The base after almost 3 weeks, all rust gone, but a few bubbles and there's a lot of work to do to prepare for painting....... sandblasting is so expensive... paint remover?? I am just going to go over it with a sanding disk....



cheers
speedy
well Cyclone Debbie sure gave us some grass......

Speedy, have you got a 100mm angle grinder? If so, go and buy a 'twist knot cup brush' to fit it - it will rip paint and rust off incredibly fast.

BUT: Essential PPE for this job is a full face shield, a pair of long welders gloves AND a leather apron.

Trust me, the busted bristles that fly off will penetrate normal clothing, and stick into you...

I can vouch for that, having treated a fire damaged steel base recently. Made quick work of the surface rust and damaged paint without grinding away the good steel.

Still a lot of work...........

Just have to watch out for getting into the wrong angle.. hold on tight....

cheers
speedy

Does your likeness to a certain 1970s racing driver for Ford have any bearing on your choice of user name?

Who was that? We just watch supercars every weekend..... '
I managed to use twist knot wire brush and straight sander on a drill. and hand sanding ,That's enough.....
Put some Aldi rust paint on, it's like a two pack, the air makes it react...

Gloves $8 from Bunnings..... finally a bargain.

All the other stuff is clean and shiny from the mollasses bath..

Do I have to spell it out? Alan Moffatt. You instantly reminded me of him in the pic.

How thoroughly did you mix the paint? I used some of the black Aldi metal care paint I had stored unused for 18 months and despite stirring thoroughly with a metal stick, it didn't cover the work very well, as though there wasn't enough pigment. Next time I will need to try borrowing my local hardware's store paint can shaking machine.

The color looks great. I never knew they had that one in their range.

hi Mowerfreak,
I used this as aldi black is a bit thin....
And it dried a bit thin over my stuff.....


I had some time so put some bits together, and she is ready to test with pullstart as I have to bodgee a holder for this battery I got .
A bit of intrepidation incase it doesn't work.........
try tomorrow...it's been a big day........





safe easter to all.
speedy

I did the LM mod, decoke engine, took rings off, didn't need new ones.
Now it started 2nd pull after many years of sitting under a house.
I reckon most old mowers that stop arn't worn out. Something small stops them and the owners don't take it to a shop preferring a new more reliable one.......
Still have to connect battery..
speedy

With what some mower repair places charge, no wonder they prefer to go the new route.

Your beautiful mower is now somewhat spoiled by the wheels and engine cover.( Still looks great).
A soapy sponge on the wheels and some old tranny fluid for the engine shroud is in order!
Good work.

Love the cat BTW.