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; 28/07/1804:36 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.
I found the fact that someone wouldn't want to know what fuel mix their mower used very strange - then I put 2 and 2 together and it came straight up on gumtree.
Hopefully whomever buys it will look after it properly
Thanks for your support, I was a little bit apprehensive about posting the comment, but I now see I needn't have been worried
Hey don�t take it to heart! Before I joined/knew about this forum I had posted it on gumtree hoping someone with info could help me understand its identity. To be quite honest I never was un-grateful to the kind replies from members I�m just pointing out the fact of having certain discussions which are between seperate matters should be held in the appropriate topic forum. Sorry if you have taken offence to my honesty but I paid my member fee to have the right to voice my questions and to educate myself thanks to the help of far more qualified members than myself, not to be called out as any less of a member just because I had seeked more info from gumtree first....
It�s 2 stroke 125cc, it�s not that strange to not want to know the mix as most people with any knowledge on small engines or dirtbikes would know this very easily. Please don�t assume that people who allready know a stroke oil/fuel mix are strange and have a alternative motive
G'day Shannth15, Tyler, Norm Mowerfreak and Paul I just got back from the Midlands and read this topic.
I thank all members who show personal bothering, with the desire to help others.
Anyone who asks a question and gets replies should always show appreciation, even when additional advice and information is given, not directly linked to the initial poster's question.
For Mods and Administrators we are meant to keep topics on topic. This topic, in my view, did not go off topic, and the issue of fuel mix is relevant to keeping these old mowers going.
It's best that we respond with thanks to all replies, even when some information may not be needed. My TEST: always looks to intention.
Tyler, you had nothing to fear but fear itself. Your intention was to simply help someone else - in a genuine way. That you had trepidation in your reply is a sign of good intent. But you displayed the strength to post!
Did u see my question? How can you say it�s not off topic? If you post something asking for it�s identification and I start shooting off about how you should clean the air filter because it gets dirty and the best way to do so would be ............... Then every other reply is about how cleaning the air filter is wrong or u should do it this way ............ I think your idea of addressing a specific question must differ from mine.
I think your idea of addressing a specific question must differ from mine.
Shannath15, you did get all the answers you were after and I don't see why it bothers you what extra things we discuss in addition, especially when it pertains to the running of your machine. It is common for people not familiar with 2 strokes to destroy them by running straight fuel and we were not to know your intention to sell off the machine. Would it hurt to inform any buyers the same though, especially if they ask you, the seller what mix to use?! It may well clinch a sale if they see you have some knowledge. Discussion forums commonly move off in some pretty crazy tangents and I hardly think this was one of those. We do indeed have differing perspectives, but as they say, information is power.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Shannath15 � I was going to make another observation (similar to Mowerfreak's), however I found an apt emoji to describe how I feel � like I�m �
Yes Tyler, a new topic on the fuel can would be appropriate. Moved to HERE.
Mowerfreak, a good summary of intention there.
Shannoth15, I'm sorry you feel this way. This is an old, member-driven forum of good will. We have to accept the ebb-and-flow of the forum structure.
It is amazing what new information comes about by logos - the free speech available on any topic.
From my point of view, many topics are split up as the topic progresses. For example, this topic has now moved off-topic ... less about Imperials, and more about what constitutes a topic, and how members reply.
Another off-spin - now - is the fuel can issue.
ODK is not that odd a place - given how stories are told in everyday conversation. Most conversations I have with folk move on and off topic. We do an okay job in moderation here, or the best we can; given it's all voluntary and informal.
I was hoping you would take onboard my view - about intention. I hope you cherished Pop's Imperial goes to a good home.
Hope this helps. ----------------------------------- Jack
Last edited by CyberJack; 30/07/1809:18 PM. Reason: better clarity and explanation.
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