G'day Jeff
I'll throw in my 2-cents' worth.
I found that article revealing too
You have raised an interesting set of questions there.
The article points out that chrome rings had three times the life of black rings.
The issue of engine life for 1950's Victas must be more complex though...
[1] Clearly, the early, primitive gauze filters must have been a serious
hindrance to engine life.
[2] Also, consider quality control from external suppliers:-
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/62116/KIRBY_-_Victa_Crankshafts_-_c1.html[3] This following point must be considered too ...
I laugh at how 1950s lawnmowing advertising panned out.
Victa advertising made crazy claims - that these rotaries were
land clearers - through bush, blackberry and bracken, these machines
were suburban-spread bulldozers.
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...victa-toecutter-to-victa-treecutter.htmlAlso, consider the 'lifetime' warranties offered, and the public
ignorance about 2-cycle engines in general. Victa honoured
warranties out of goodwill when engines were run with incorrect
fuel or fuel mixes.
[4] By the 1960s - the decade of the first big players - the
focus changed to safety, and there were much more considered and
professional operator manuals, fantastic dealer service education,
better designs and materials, and better manufacturing quality control.
[5] Non-genuine parts suppliers were around from the earliest of days.
Many used black rings.
Sorry for the long rant, but so much progress was made between
the first AUS petrol rotaries of the 1950s and the rapid change
to professional management of the market in the 1960s.
Cheers----------------------
Jackp.s can't answer the PowerTorque question.
