Hello ODK members,. I thought i'd post up couple of Mowers that have come into my possession. The one with the catcher came from the kerb last week during our annual hard waste collection. Fixed the starter, (replaced the 2 friction washers), filled it with fuel, tickled the carby and started on the first pull. The catcher has a rust hole as can be seen through the mesh but would be an easy repair for someone who wanted it bad enough. The engine number (1977)doesn't seem to match the era, so i guess it has been re-engined somewhere along the way. The one without the catcher i picked up for free from a deceased estate and just needed the throttle cable to be re-attached. I've had this one sitting in my backyard for about a year and decided to get it going today. Fixed the throttle cable, put fuel in, tickled the carby and it also started on the first pull. The engine code on this one appears to be correct(1969), but probably had an impulse starter originally but was changed somewhere along the way, as it has no decompression valve fitted. Can any of the old skool experts tell me what model these are. I want to sell the older one, with the torpedo muffler, with the catcher as a complete unit and keep the other one. Any info would be much appreciated
I remember in the 80s these were always getting thrown out onto the kerb and many homes had one, two or four under the house!! But to hear of one thrown out now, instead of having a reserve of $900 on EBay, is rather extraordinary, especially with that sidecar style catcher, which I never saw at all in the old days. That is a score x 100!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
If there is not a hole in the base for the muffler to expel gases under the base (meaning the Torpedo muffler is original) then this would be a 1968-1969 model Victa Special.
G'day bigted et al, These are both '160 Special' models, but neither of them is particularly original, by the look of them. These were produced from 1968 to around 1975 or so. Green paint scheme from 1968 to 1972; red thereafter. Most of the red ones had 8" rear wheels.
The engine on the older one might be original, but its muffler, cowl and starter aren't. That's a 'storebrand' decaled cowl, and these were always Victa badged; as 'Special 2' for the first model, '160cc Special' or '160 Special' for the later ones.
The muffler is from an earlier model; the 1968-9 and 1969-70 Specials had the 'squared off torpedo' version. BTW, those models also had the G2 carby. With any luck, yours has a retrofitted G3! As maxwestern says, if the base doesn't have the exhaust hole for the later VC-style 'boxy' through-deck muffler, this would be a 1968-9 or 1969-70 season model.
The later one does look fairly original, except for the late engine number, and I'd date it to the 1971-2 season. This was the first model with both the 'boxy' muffler and zip start system, and the last of the green paint scheme.
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..."
Hello all, Thanks for the info. Yes, the earlier one doesn't have a muffler port in the deck so it would be a 68-70 model. The 'later' one has the exhaust port in the deck. Both of them have the G3 carby's. I think I've got one of the orange ones here too so I'll have to dig it out now while i'm on a roll. Cheers, Ted
The Special 160 is a great mower, very robust and will still give a nice finish to the grass or lawn. Not quite as rough as the Utility and the bonus of being able to accommodate a catcher. This one is mine, the catcher needs a huge repair as the base is rusted out badly in two places. I wonder if they did an orange catcher for them?
G'day all I can only sit on the side lines and read and listen.
I have always liked the 160 Special. It is as though Victa finally gave up the old world ... in finally making a skirted side-discharge base for the iconic 'Special' brand.
This was Victa at its grass roots in the modern age.
Also of note is the legacy metal catcher. Victa never developed the side catcher design!
That's completely understandable ... but hilarious too!
Many thanks for the expert knowledge here and the adding to the record on these special lawnmowers.
Hi all, what year did they introduce the super duper 24? I'm guessing near the beginning of the seventies at the same time as the zip starter took over from the wind up starter. It would have been nice to see a 24 introduced a bit earlier with the wind up starter and the dark green hammered finish that was standard in Victa's late 60s line up.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi all, what year did they introduce the super duper 24? I'm guessing near the beginning of the seventies at the same time as the zip starter took over from the wind up starter.
As well as the 'Zip Start' system intro, this model year introduced the red paint scheme for the new 'professional/skilled user' range. Note also the red-painted 'Professional 160' model, in that cattledog.
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..."
Good day Gadge, That is one juicy link you provided there. I think the early seventies Victa range was their zenith. My absolute favorite was when they brought out the VC Sports and VC 125 mark III with the apparently rare 125 mk III engine. PS: I remember an early 80s commercial that used that substitution for the word catalogue.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Good day Gadge, That is one juicy link you provided there. I think the early seventies Victa range was their zenith. My absolute favorite was when they brought out the VC Sports and VC 125 mark III with the apparently rare 125 mk III engine. PS: I remember an early 80s commercial that used that substitution for the word catalogue.
G'day MF, Agreed; I'd say that the early to mid 1970s were really Victa's heyday, in terms of innovative models.
And that the Super 24 really is a standout model; though its advent may have depended on the development of suitable drive belt technology, which may explain why it didn't appear earlier.
BTW, the reason I mentioned the 'Professional 160', is that it was very similar to the 160 Special [rear wheels, handle and paint colour were the only differences], and it was replaced by the red 160 Special in the next year's catalogue.
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..."
The Super 24's are my favorite mower, easy to push, big rear wheels go over rough ground and they will chew through anything. Not sure if Briggs are still making them but the body has been used for over 40 years with only small changes. Much the same as the Powertorques, if you get the mix right, why change it
Why do sellers treat them like they are made out of gold? I'm getting Jack of exploitative mower sellers wanting an instant fortune for "classic" equipment they probably picked up for next to nothing at a deceased estate. I'm losing faith in the online trading.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF I'm not sure if they are still making them but I believe the later ones with a Honda fitted cost $1800 new. I usually sell mine for up to $250 but to get them to that standard ready to go, I usually spend a minimum of a week, re-bushing the front axle and wheels (they are always badly trashed and the body bush area badly worn.) Making up a plate to mount a 2 stoke full crank on also takes a while. I might put a Powertorque on the next one I do, but my aim with the slashers was to use up some of the full cranks I have here.
I'd buy one off you. I have learnt much about their benefits thanks to here. I would take mine recreational mowing and make a day of it with a picnic. Isn't the one sided pressure of a belt drive too much of a strain on a half crank?
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
G'day folks, Yes Norm, they are still made, with Briggs or Honda engine options; now called the 'Mastercut 600'. A funny thing about their website pics, is that the pic for the Briggs engined MSP607 actually has a Powertorque engine!
