Talons aren't awful mowers - at least they have swing back blades, quite easy starting, and the throttle control that many chondas lack.
And their blades are same as a Rover, that can be bought dirt cheap, unlike the odd blades some of these cheap mowers use
That being said, if I had a choice of a Victa 2 stroke or Talon from a curbisde collection and only had room in the car for 1 mower, the talon wouldn't get a second glance (provided the Victa wasn't straight fueled)
I'm with you all the way there Tyler, my missus has brought home 2 PT's complete with catchers off the kerbside in the last week. Then today she asked me if I went and looked at the mower just around the corner she told me about . I said I did see it but saw it was a Chonda so I didn't stop. gml your $500 Chonda will be fine, the ones I have fitted to a couple of rideons haven't missed a beat
Norm, I noticed the Talon sold on gumtree - what I can't get my head around is why the buyer would, given the choice of a nice Vortex or Standard PT or the Talon for $90, why would someone pick the Talon?
Is it just because they don't want to mix fuel, or don't they like the noise, or something else? The Victa will cut longer grass, start easier, and last much longer (provided the deck doesn't rust out)
Not saying the Talon isn't worth $90 - in fact for a working mower with back up service $90 in my opinion is a bargain.
I just don't understand some peoples hate of 2 strokes.
As much as I admire and am an enthusiast of the Victa two cycle, I can definitely understand why people prefer four strokes. They are quieter, don't make your clothes reak of petrol and just take straight petrol. All very appealing to those who keep their lawns cut regularly and who don't want to annoy their neighbours. They also don't realise how durable the two strokes are and their capability in rougher conditions. The amount buying four stokes has the snowball effect of making everyone think they are the way to go. The demise of the Victa two stroke won't help the situation. Powertorques are going to go up in value once rarity increases and word spreads how uniquely capable they are.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I suppose I can see Mr Average looking across the road and seeing one neighbour with a 2 stroke, wearing ear muffs, mowing in a plume of smoke since the fuel is mixed at about 15:1 after fuel evaporation and taking 20 pulls to start because its never been serviced. Then running out of fuel and stuffing around (as many seem to do) trying to mix up the fuel.
Then seeing the other neighbour with their 4 stroke, mowing without ear muffs, without many fumes, first pull starts, and just filling up with fuel when it runs out.
Tyler I was discussing the Vortex with another bloke here who fixes up a few mowers and I said to him it looks like I will pull the motor off it, put it in a steel base and then see if I can get $50 for the rest of it with all the undamaged ally base and plastics and a very rare undamaged thumblatch catcher . That has to be worth $50 to somebody. I will probably keep the wheels because they are in excellent condition as well. The thing has done very little work. I do get people who want a 2 stroke because they have been caught with the other cheap rubbish and won't get caught again
If you do decide to dismantle the Vortex Norm ,another option is I give you 2 clean, good running Victa 2 stroke steel base mowers with catchers for the Vortex,no pressure up to you.
I'm surprised the Vortex hasn't sold Norm ,If you buy a new Aldi mower for $140 it goes down in value with age and the Vortex should at least hold its value and last longer.
Max I have one of those $140 Aldi mowers here, it has been used once, a bloke dropped it off here 12 months ago to see if I could get it going. The coil had failed but he hasn't come back. I have had a couple of people ring in the last couple of days wanting a 2 stroke mower but I have avoided offering them the Vortex because I would prefer it went to somebody who appreciated what it is instead of just a mower they can use and abuse. I can build them plenty of standard PT's to fill that need. I haven't built any for the last couple of weeks because I have had a run on 4 stroke stuff for some reason
