hi guys need a bit info if possible just been given this victa and for the life of me i cant find any info on it the only thing ive worked out is its a 1980 model ? i put in the model number to a few victa sites and it keeps saying it cant find anything matching that number i also cant find any pictures of it so i dont know if it needs a throttle cable or other bits ive had it running it runs well any help is appreciated also attached is a pic of the progess of the toecutter not the original colour but it not going to run due to missing parts so might just do the coffee table thing again thanks for any help
cheers phil
Last edited by CyberJack; 19/09/1702:10 AM. Reason: Topic Heading
A curious one for sure ... There is something not right about this.
I have not seen a Victa Utility with a four stroke from the early 1980s. The second issue is the dial control on the Briggs - never seen on an Australian market Victa. [see Max's response below]
I feel there are two possibilities: 1 - and engine swap from another non-Victa mower; 2 - an export Victa machine that has found its way here (from NZ?)
I guess the best clue is the Model Number. I don't recognise it as Victa.
Does the green/silver sticker at the front give any information?
Hi guys thanks for the help Interesting you say about it coming from NZ Jack The people i got it off are kiwis (wont hold that against them) I will talk to them and see if they brought it with them... Also the green sticker on the front is just a sticker from here where they got it serviced over here
Greetings all, As Jack says, that model number [MQ331A0] isn't on the domestic Victa 'quick reference' parts list for the 1970-1991 period. I'd say it's a real Victa model number, though - it has the format used at that time [early '80's].
The closest models in that parts list, would be the MK326A0 and -A1 Mayfair Utility models from 1980-81 and '82-83 respectively.
These both had the 160cc full-crank 2-stroke engine. As it happens, I have an MK326A1 on hand as a project mower, and the handle and deck look basically identical to this one.
So the theory that it's an export model is looking quite good...
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..."
Hi Max, Gadge and Phil This is certainly an odd one.
Max, more great research there. You certainly have added a possibility ... but it is unclear whether the Goldline Utility was a 2 or 4 stroke. I know Pope used the Goldline brand - but it now seems clear that Victa did too!
The problem is that Victa never published Store Brand information. Yes, they had generic Stencil mowers - like the Mayfair, but Mum was the word for individual orders by stores. We see this from the earliest days - with the store Model 5's.
Phil has enabled us to record this machine - a second example on this site. Max has enticed us with the possibility that dial control Victa Utilities did sell here. I guess it is a wait and see. I certainly don't know the answer though.
Great thread. -------------------------------- Jack
Hi all Spoke to the people i got the mower from No joy im afraid.They got it from a garage sale for 5 bucks.So cant help there Im still not sure if i need a throtle on it or if its an automatic
Hi Phil Thanks for the update. It is certainly not a clear case at this time.
Given we have a couple of examples, I feel it is important to keeps it original. Dial controls were popular in the USA and other markets (like NZ).
The interesting historical bit is: did Victa use them here on Briggs engines? On-board controls for vertical shaft engines never gained momentum here, but there are examples ... [see below].
I would also like to add my thoughts on on-board controls. Most small engine companies offered on-board controls and I feel there were a number of reasons why ...
[1] On-board controls suited stationary applications with known rpm loads. An air compressor, generator, pump will work better at suggested rpm ranges.
[2] Lawnmowers are not stationary, and attract extreme spike loading - higher grasses or demands. The best solution was to give the operator better control - in the form of hand throttles. [When you're cutting high grass, you don't set the throttle to idle!].
[3] The experience of hand-throttle-less lawnmowers in the late 1950s was short-lived. The operator was a better judge than the governor working alone.
[4] On-board controls were an advantage in manufacture. This is why they took hold in some markets. A lawnmower maker production worker would not have to fit an external cable, cable ties, and throttle control. [This would take production time and many extra parts]
[5] Gadge favoured the export model - as I did too! Max has raised another possibility. Whilst Victa published 'stencil brand' information, it never revealed 'store brand' mower information. This means that small production runs to individual companies remains largely a mystery.
Hi Jack Thanks for the info I want to keep it original Im going to paint it up I have to make up the little piece that connects the control to the carby to see if it works without a throttle Also do you know if i can get replacement stickers for the mower
G'day folks, I'm still inclined to favour the export model theory; Victa's policy then was to make store brands as variants of domestic model lines.
With different decals, and sometimes different colour scheme combinations to make them look distinctive, but always under domestic VictaCode/Model numbers; they stated this on the index page of that 1991 'Instant Parts' book.
Some of the 'big box' retailers who sold store brand Victas didn't carry even basic spares for them, back then. So Victa supplied the servicing dealers with a complete reference list, that covered all of the locally sold model variants.
Screenshot of the relevant Instant Parts book section is below.
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..."
G;day Max, coolrussy, Gadge, tubes and all Many thanks to all for advancing the knowledge of on-board controls on domestic AUS rotary lawnmowers.
The big surprise, for me, was that our largest mower maker also used these controls on their Lancer and Goldline 4. Many thanks coolrussy and Max for the research here!
The first AUS users of on-board controls would have been Rover and HG Palmer (on Briggs engines).
It now appears Victa did offer a couple of 1980's models with dial control throttle.
New Zealand rotaries certainly used these controls on-mass. Here, they were not commonly used.
Cheers ----------------------------- Jack
p.s. I note that early Briggs had linear, lever on-board controls. Later, they would use dial on-board controls (like ovens). I wonder if there was anything in that?
Evening all Bit off topic, but I am quite interested in the first of Maxwestern's photos - a 1980 Victa 125 ute. I always though the 125 was axed in 1978.
But the facts don't lie, a 125 being sold being sold in December 1980.
Evening all Bit off topic, but I am quite interested in the first of Maxwestern's photos - a 1980 Victa 125 ute. I always though the 125 was axed in 1978.
But the facts don't lie, a 125 being sold being sold in December 1980.
Tyler
Hi Tyler, It seems you may have settled a question I posed earlier this year on when the 125 was axed. No one could give a definitive answer but 1977 was suggested. One thing that made me think at least a year later was the fact a former neighbour had a 125 high arch with an LM white float chamber cap with a black "press once only" deck label pointing right toward the primer bulb. The LM was released in 1978, so your suggestion fits in with my theory that it was discontinued sometime after the LM was introduced. 1978 is probably it. That one in the 1980 catalogue is probably left over stock. I recall yellow Vortex still being displayed alongside the white Mustang GTS replacement (introduced in 1987) well into 1988 and even possibly 1989 from memory.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
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