I have come in possession of my pops Victa Imperial, I would love to know some more info about what model and year it is, all I know is it�s a Victa And it�s 2 stroke and it started first go. Any help would be great and much appreciated. I have attached some pics
Max offers the best advice about year of manufacture. This machine will date between 1972 and 1978, when Imperial production ended. It would be great to get a bit more year specific, I guess.
The crankcase houses the crankshaft. The production code is stamped into the alloy crankcase. [See image below].
Hi Shannath15, welcome to the men's shed . I have copied one of your photos and surrounded the crankcase of the engine in purple and I think I can just make out the number -green arrow. That 125cc motor is a pearler of a powerplant that will last a long time with the 25:1 fuel mix. You must mix 200ml of 2 stroke oil to five litres of petrol to make up the fuel for these. Never ever put in pure petrol without this oil mixed thoroughly in first. It's fatal.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi Jack thanks for guiding me, got the number and it�s 94720939 now what does that tell me hah! My nan said he used it twice and absolutely loved it! He injured his knee at work then unfortunately once he tried to use it again it was too Painfull to control and he had it in his storage shed ever since!
Hi Shannath15 Max and Gadge are the experts on Victa codes here. My best guess - reading the code - is that this is a 1972 machine, the first year that the Imperial 2-stroke was introduced.
This machine has been repainted, and I guess your Pop acquired it as a second-hand machine.
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That 125cc motor is a pearler of a powerplant that will last a long time with the 25:1 fuel mix.
G'day Mowerfreak! The Imperial 2-stroke must run a 50:1 ratio ... because of the cylinder head spacer.
Hope this helps. ------------------------------------ Jack
One thing though (and Mowerfreak or others correct me if I'm wrong), I remember the mixture for the Imperials was 50:1 (100 mL 2 stroke oil per 5L) due to a low compression head (99.999% sure of this). Running 25:1 won't kill it though - but straight fuel will. If in doubt, Bunnings have a Ozito mixing bottle ($8), very good and easy to use. Never mix fuel & oil straight into the tank - too easy to forget.
And don't use E10.
Have you checked the air filter to ensure it hasnt decayed and is being slowly ingested by the engine?
These are really good machines, very simple.
Even though you say you don't know much about it, knowing it is a 2 stroke is surprisingly overlooked in this day and age, well done for not learning the hard way like many people do.
On the of E10 fuel I have been around this stuff for nearly 20+ yrs. It does get a a lot bad reviews. For me the main problem with E10 and now the E15 is that the ethanol attracts moisture from the air easily. As long as it is keep in a seal container this resolves this problem. I had E10 in open top quart glass jar turn completely milky on high humidity day then the water settles out causing problems. It is also rough on rubbers that are not ethanol resistance. Some rubbers hardens and others soften.
I have been using it for years in all my equipment without a lot of the claimed problems as long as I use it up within a month or use fuel stabilizers. On my 2 cycle fuel mixes I use an synthetic oil that already has the stabilizers in it and of course keep the mix in a seal container. As pointed out you don't mix the fuel in the equipment fuel tank but in a separate container so it gets mix properly.
Just be aware that 4 cycle uses fuel only and 2 cycle uses fuel mix. There is one exception to the 4 cycle using straight fuel and that is the 4 cycle hybrid equipment that uses 2 cycle fuel mix. The two most common ones here is the Stihl 4 mix and Shindaiwa/Echo C4 equipment.
So I have to ask the question AVB why would any manufacturer go to the trouble of adding all the extra components required in a 4 stroke motor and then have to use 2 stroke mix fuel. I understand why but I can't see the economic sense in it
Unwanted and imposed E10 put me off when it melted the polycarbonate prism attached to the fuel cap on my Victa and would fall right onto the fuel outlet of the tank, blocking flow and making a gooey mess at the bottom. I have heard that it will gradually separate in the tank if it sits for a long period unused. The NSW "govmint" have forced petrol stations to take a minimum amount of E10 from their friends with the only ethanol plant in the state.
Last edited by Mowerfreak; 28/07/1805:36 PM. Reason: Removed political rant.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi All, Yes Jack is correct this mower is a 1972 Victa Imperial , measuring the width of the cutting blades will give you the size identification on this mower.
I (along with everyone else) were just trying to be as comprehensive as possible, providing information to you, along with countless other members/guests, about the Victa Imperial. As the threads form a good resource for people with questions about these mowers, it is good to be as thorough as possible.
However, I now have seen the gumtree ad for this Imperial, and it is obvious that you have no interest in the mower above its year, make and model.
Most of us on ODK take pride in maintaining our mowers, air filter maintenance and proper fuel/oil mix is imperative to we who wish to ensure a long and reliable engine life.
Most people who are on ODK like to know some useful information around their immediate question, as Benjamin Franklin (1706 to 1790 for year reference) put it, �An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.�
I now see that this isn�t applicable in this case. In fact, it is a waste of my time even responding again.
I have tried to be as diplomatic as possible. Again, I apologize for wasting your time, by opening a 'can of worms,� regarding proper maintenance.
Great looking and little used machine, you should get many years of lawn cutting out of this one. Glad everyone was able to help you out and I found the information on fuel very interesting and helpful, especially if you are going to keep and run your Pops Victa.
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