OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Victa Blade Assembly differences?

Hi

Anyone know the history/differences of the Victa blade assemblies and their bare blade holders, such as CA09294G, CA09315G and CA09338G etc? Were these changes just different outsourced suppliers, changes to steel gauge, metric hole size, diameter, or design improvements etc?

Victa model part details show that between 1972/3 and 1973/4 the blade holder assembly for a number of models changed from CA09252 (model 9J) to CA09303A based on the bare holder CA09294G. They are both shown on Page Q15 in the 1955-74 Workshop Manual. The CA9303A diagram is attached.

The VictaCode Spare Parts "quick Reference" 1970-1991 does not mention the CA09303A but refers to CA09320K based on the bare holder CA09315G and later parts manuals show the bare holder as CA09338G. Photo couple of CA09338G's attached

Another change is the parts details for 1973/4 Cortina and Mayfair show the CA09303A change from the previous season and the 1975+ Storebrands etc show the assembly as CA09320A (not CA09320K).

Parts details for the Victa Sunbeam models 1972-1976 also refer to the Assembly CA09303A (Sunbeam part # VM27726A. Photo of both circular and oval designs? attached

In the "Victa VC Series Blade Plate Colour" thread dated 05/06/18, Gadge comments, "the blade holder pictured in that brochure was recalled, and is fairly rare now. ...That 'wave' design had a tendency to bend the crankshaft end, if it copped an object/obstacle strike. ...Consequently, that holder design was superseded by the 'swirl' design. A (circular design?) photo is attached

Any thoughts appreciated.

Mark

Hello MarkN

It is a worthwhile set of questions you ask.
You have asked for thoughts....

I hope members will take up some or all of the challenge.
I think this will take some time....

The Victa Code system is limited in scope and deceptive in operation.
It summarizes a few components with then current part numbers.

Another significant problem is part number change. For what reason?
Is it a design change; a colour change; a supplier change; a material change;
a packaging change ...? It's all about joining the dots.

It will be interesting what folks may uncover here.

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

I stripped one down a few days ago (cleaning up the pile of blade carriers) and one I pulled off a high arch a couple of years ago had a round blade carrier with a big rubber disc bolted to it. It is the only one I have come across like that

And believe it or not I found another one today with the big rubber disc, seems they might have been fitted to the high arch mowers maybe to create a bit more lift for the clippings?

Ahhh yes, that is the one Victa put on their later build Vortex models as a replacement for the large blade disc with stubby blades developed by the CSIRO. Victa had to pay a royalty to the CSIRO for the use of that blade carrier design, so must have developed that add on to their existing carrier design to get around it. Whether it was as effective is up for debate.
I was given a spare one when I got a Mustang GTS on EBay a few years ago.

I think the whole thing was probably a case of smoke and mirrors, but was probably a selling point that was probably exploited.

If they're on I just leave it on and cut the grass. Victa was essentially sales driven, not engineering driven.

G'day Mark et al,

Here are a couple of pics that fill in the bladeholder supersession gap - the CA09320A assembly.

The first pic is from the Victa 1976 season Range Brochure; https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/86755
The second is from the 1955-77 Workshop Manual [Scientific Publications Manual No. 103], Section S - 'Supplement 1976-77 Mowers'.

As can be seen, this one was circular, unlike the later types. These were successive design changes, with the intention of improving grass-catching performance, for all rear catcher models.

As the earlier bladeholder types were superseded, they were deleted from Victa's spare parts inventory.

The CA09252A to CA09303A transition also incorporated changes in the blade design, and its fastening setup.
The CA09306x blade set was fitted to all of the later bladeholders, from CA09303A onwards.

This blade incompatibility is the reason that the 'transition mower models' in that 'Victacode Quick Reference' mention two bladeholder assembly types - the early CA09252A, and the current replacement assembly as of 1991. No point in listing the NLA intermediate types...