OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Underrated Victa Models?

Im keen to hear about any underrated models of mainly victa mowers (70s, 80s etc) that would be worth having as a spare (looking at powertorques). All the talk on forums/ groups etc seems to be about Scott Bonnars and Victa 18s but there are obviously a few that are often forgotten (and not quite as expensive/ desirable). Keen to share you insights.

Cheers Jordan

ODK had a golden era from about 2011 to 2014 with lots of pics and discussion on 1970s and 80s models. Now just about all discussion is Scott Bonnar and anything BUT Victa Corporation's products.
All the gang who specialised in all the myriad of Victa hi arch thumb latch models and VC-160/125s have dissipated from the site.
I was dumbfounded to post pics of my 1981 Victa Corvette recentlyand and got plenty of views but no replies or acknowledgment. That said it all really.
I often just Google the Victas I'm interested in and just click on the results, most of which are from this site 2011 -2014!!
Sad thing is I joined in 2006 but was dismayed at the obsession with 200 year old Victas, which I had not the slightest interest, and no apparent interest in the magical wonderland of 1970s -80s machines. I only discovered that in the intervening years when I didn't bother anymore, all these new members brought life to discussing that very era.

Went to the local mower dealer today for a part only to be told he had 70-80 old machines from the early years he said he just couldn't throw them out.He mentioned when he sells the shop one day he'll spend time resurrecting some of them for something to do.
Just goes to show there are people out there who have a passion for old Victa's and alike.
Plus i pick up my Victa 18 this week end,i'll post a picture soon

All my search results for Mustangs, commandos etc are probably from those years mentioned. Still a few out there with people trying to get $100 for a runner with catcher. Just trying to figure out which ones to target.

Hello Millzy and M-F
I do feel compelled to say something about this...

I certainly do not disagree with most points made - but I want to make a few points...

[1] Interest in Victa mowers has been in decline for years. It's a generational change.
The typical Victa collector is in decline - as the whole concept of the domestic lawnmower
is in decline.

The lawnmower - as a significant piece of garden machinery - has been overtaken
by a new view: domestic lawnmower as throw-away appliance.

This has occurred at an unprecedented rate in recent years. Just look at the formula One
inspired 'toys' on offer in the power garden area at your local Bunnings'. And those pressed-
steel bases on many petrol jobs are just tin-ware waiting to rust.

Second, the idea of Victa, as an Aussie icon, is in serious decline.
Victa is no longer Australian owned, the famous Victa 2-stroke is no more, and Victa
is seen as just another maker. Nothing special either. It's all about market share now.

[2] Generational changes in interest in lawnmowers is evident.
It's no wonder though, is it?

[3] Speaking about the 'golden Age' of ODK Victa discussions is not wrong.
Discussion about Victas is in decline - and many thanks to you folks for keeping
the story alive.

[4] The forum structure - named after that classical period in World history -
clearly favours more serious discussion about things. We're not Instagram,
Twitter, or Facebook.

[5] I feel - strongly - that folks do record the more modern lawnmowers.
Many thanks to Millzy and M-F for your posts.

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

Hi Jack, I wonder what people will collect and treasure in another 25/50 years, I can't see them collecting any of the stuff being produced at the moment but I guess that was what people thought 50 years ago

I dont think anything modern will last that long!, Glad you commented NormK and Mowerfreak as i know both of you try and get more mowers "on the road" and have worked on various machines over the years

Hello everyone,

A good discussion, still plenty of mowers to collect. I have added a few Victa units to my collection recently, a full crank Commando and one of the first Powertorque models. Now I am adding Rover models which are the really forgotten mowers.

When I was a boy if you had grass the homeowner had a Victa but all the people who had lawns owned a Rover mower.

:-)

Hi Paul and Millzy555, the 2 stroke Victa brought grass cutting to a new level in the 50's/60's when people were now able to cut the long grass that they couldn't before. I love any Victa 2 stroke, amazing piece of design, tough as old boots. Doing what I am doing I am trying to convince as many people as I can to grab one of these 2 strokes before the world forgets what a real mower can do. Because I am flogging these off, not collecting them, the ones I need ( and I would like to find at least another 100 Powertorques at the moment) are any of the full crank G4 carbed or Powertorques. I want the G4/LM carb type because they are such a brilliant design (except for a few sill faults, but these problems can be fixed) and these parts are readily available where the earlier carb bits are too hard to come by. Any mower I sell I always ask how long is the grass you want to cut and often this results in them getting a Victa. I had some 4 stroke mower a while back on Gumtree that looked good and I ended up selling 5 Victas as a result of that ad, was a bit sad when that mower actually sold. The advantage I find with the LM carb is that you can usually start these with one pull and once modified there is nothing much that can go wrong with them. As Paul said the Rovers were for more refined people, tough Aussies used a Victa. And I have removed my ads from Gumtree because I am unable to keep up with demand at the moment, it has just gone crazy over the last few weeks, it is getting too hard to be a hobby at the moment, almost like having to go to work every day

Here are a few i was watching: Anything worth pursuing?

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/hadfield/lawn-mowers/green-victa-lawn-mower/1166635173

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sun...ss-mower-catcher-accessories-/1166458315

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/craigieburn/lawn-mowers/victa-2-stroke-mower-/1166372068

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/coburg/lawn-mowers/lawn-mover/1166259433

What I have noticed is a lot of people no longer cut their tiny lawns if they don't have imitation grass - they just get in Jims Mowing to do it and the people with larger areas all use ride-on mowers and use them to tow a small trailer.

In Warrnambool you hardly see anyone with a mower let alone a Victa or Rover. So far I've only seen 3 Victa 2 strokes being used in the last 2 years.

The other difficulty I've been finding is they just don't come up for sale and when they do get dumped at the scrap metal depot they usually get collected in under 30 minutes!

Hi Millzy, LRT, MF, Norm and Paul_c, SG and Mod CJ,

I don't know why anyone would consider those cheap steel style pressed bases with the top mounted handle bar that I consider to be the worst engineering design in lawn mower history. This is all planned obsolescence IMHO as when the mount area is flexed enough by the handle bar over time and fatigue affects the steel then corrosion is the next step, all of a sudden one day your handle bar is no longer connected to the base but only in your hand.

This situation can be negated by consistent washing after each use but in the end the inevitable is inevitable.

And what really grinds my gears is that Victa will not change this issue and are still to this day making those shitbox chassis'.


Cheers,
BB.

They are those insipid steel decks Bonnar Bloke was mentioning. One day, even those will be a rare find. The only good thing are the Powerspeak sorry Powertorque two cycle engines.
The mowers discussed in the 2011 -2014 golden era were the alloy decked hi arch Victas, mainly with full crank two stroke or half crank Powertorque series two stroke engines you also see on these comparatively rubbish steel deck machines.

You got that one spot on MF


Cheers,
BB.

Millsy not sure what you are chasing and what you want these mowers for . For me they are way to expensive but for the average punter they may be alright to use as a mower. My problem is when I get a Powertorque it can take me up to 2 days to strip, repair the base,paint and rebuild them and get them to the working condition so I can sell them. My biggest issue is finding a good set of wheels with tread on them and getting the time to repair/weld up the bases, I think I have 10 sitting there beside the welder at the moment waiting for me to get a few moments to fix them. BB while I am not a fan of the handelbar mounting/ bolting set up it is what it is and once repaired properly it can be a reasonably good unit, not the best but if the owner just puts a spanner on the nuts occasionally they won't flop around and that is what causes most of the damage. I am thinking of actually welding the inner half round strengthener to the chassis to see if that helps solve the problem, then fish oil the area to stop any further rust. I already fish oil the inner left hand side which is where they always rust.

Just after a well thought out mower with no major issues. 2 stroke, powertorque and somewhat not a common chinese junk mower lol. If you have anything in mind pm me or have recommendation of which models to chase. In no rush and will be used for residential lawns or when the 20 inch supercut tires me out!

Hi Norm
I often ask that, myself.

The World is an amazing place.
People will collect what people will collect.

From 1920's lolly wrappers to Neil Diamond albums to ... whatever.
I'm just glad folks collect!

Down the track, no one can foresee what future folks will value, and for what period
of time. The market is a fickle place led by emotion - the 'animal spirits' as Keynes
famously said.

The extra layer, in recent times, is serious manipulation of the collecting market.
We are told what is collectible at a level and frequency that favours the wealthy.

What I do not like are the 'sure bets' that favour the wealthy - like art and vintage cars,
and expensive watches, and whatever...

It's a sure bet, with research, that there will be a healthy return on investment in many
cases. This is due to the modern concept of 'commodification' - where some 'old stuff'
becomes a commodity - to be bought and sold for profit, rather than the simple
enjoyment of it.

This is the scourge of the true collector, who loves things for every reason above
the profit motive - the filthy lucre gained by opportunity.

Many thanks for asking the question, Norm.

Cheers
-------------------------
Jack

Yes Jack you are spot on.

Some of you may know I'm 'into' Land Rovers & since the Defender ended production last year they have become a 'trendy' car for the upperclass that should really stick to Range Rovers etc. This has already pushed the price up beyond the reach of the average person who actually uses a tough 4x4 rather than looking tough in the city. The final production models were sold at the normal price of around $40,000-$50,000 for a 110 and people have been buying then and turning around and selling them for more than $100,000! Its the same as the VW Kombi used to be a dirt cheap hippie van & now they are getting crazy money - $10,000 for a Split window model that the floor has rusted out! I rewired a Bay window Kombi recently that was having a $70,000 restoration & fit out!

[url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LzkkILbqGPc][/url]

Hi Millzy, if it is a mower you want to use and keep, not for a collection, you can't go past a sorted Powertorque, once the problem bits from the carby are sorted and it has a good float needle these mowers with a bit of maintenance can be used way past my use by date. Biggest problem with them is the carby ( most usually the float needle) that sent millions to an early grave and the next thing is wheels/bearings wear out,or the base starts to rust out, people sort of put up with it for a while and once a wheel falls of they chuck it, but in 90% of cases the motor will still have years of life left in it, and worst case scenario give it a hone and put a set of $10 rings in it and it is good for another 20 years or more, and give it another freshen up then.

Cheers will have hunt around usual websites