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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 32
Junior Technician
I didn't want to muck his engine up, so I'll get a spare.
And yes Chads teeth are real.....
He had a show up this way around christmas, must be 50 years performing.......
speedy


........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 32
Junior Technician
I did take the carb off my mates good engine and test it on the bad one. Worked well, revved....mowed a bit of lawn.
Then cleaned it and put it back together.....
I put a new O ring in the white jet module..... didn't help.

This might be the solution...... I found a carb in my B&S box.....
Cleaned it up , budgied it on, it started , ran well, idled well and revved.......
I'll have to drill a couple of holes on the carb to mount it, and put an air filter and throttle cable.....
But I'm not sure about the air pipe breather and the govener spring......
The carb has a small logo, looks like B&S...
Just want to get it going at small cost.....
cheers
speedy

Attachments
Carb 006.JPG (104.14 KB, 95 downloads)
Carb 007.JPG (129.57 KB, 93 downloads)
Carb 008.JPG (73.5 KB, 93 downloads)

........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 232
SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Speedie it looks like a Qantam carb, one that has a primer in the filter housing and the crank breather also feeds into the filter housing. Problem with the governor with the carb in that position is that it is working backwards and can't operate. If you remember on the Quantams the carb was on the opposite side so worked tin the other direction. I have said it before if this was easy, everybody would do it.

Last edited by NormK; 22/01/19 05:29 PM.
Joined: Jan 2016
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Hi Speedy, I just saw Chad Morgan on TV performing up at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, I think they said he is 85, his teeth are still going strong but he has lost a bit of zip since the last time I saw him live but that is probably 25 years ago

Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,233
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Junior Technician
The guy came to pickup the Victa, it didn't start..................
He said he would leave it with me. He said it was his second one. He took the first Blue Victa back to Bunnings, and they said just pick another.......
He said if I can't get it going, he would give it to me and buy a new mower.....
Another friend needs a mower.
I would NEVER recommend a blue Victa Super Catcher with the Briggs & Stratton 550ex engine. untill B&S do a recall and fix he carby....
Another friend has one, he had it back to the dealer for a service as it wasn't running properly.......

speedy


........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,675
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Sounds like a near new deck ready to accept a PT. Dump there BS into the nearest river and don't look back.


Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Joined: Jan 2015
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AVB Offline
SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Originally Posted by speedy
I would NEVER recommend a blue Victa Super Catcher with the Briggs & Stratton 550ex engine. untill B&S do a recall and fix he carby....
Another friend has one, he had it back to the dealer for a service as it wasn't running properly.......

speedy
Strange as many of these carbs Briggs have out there without problems other than idle jet clogging problem which they issued an upgraded module for. I think your in for a very long wait for a recall. The only other problem that I have seen a fuel related problem where it small jelly like balls similar to jelly beans that was clogging the metering ports but was definitely a fuel additive problem. I definitely have seen any service bulletins other the module change on this engine.

Maybe a member that live close enough can help you out by looking at it. I know I might be a little too far to do it. laugh and I am not a swimmer either.

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,184
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Very frustrating speedy, I hate being beaten by a problem like this. I'm picking up another 10 PT motors today, pity you aren't a bit closer.
AVB, I haven't checked but Bundaberg to Melbourne might be nearly as far as Bundaberg to Tennessee but this is over land. Not sure if Bundaberg is copping it at the moment but QLD is getting major flooding at the moment, I think I heard 6 inches in an hour somewhere

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 154
Likes: 6
Apprentice level 2
Hi Speedy, Try running the mower without the air filter and observe any difference. Sounds doesn't make sense but happens to me that air filter slows down the rev. I rebuild the carby with no luck. I removed or replaced with a new air filter and it works fine.

Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 81
SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Walked into the mower shop today, and guess what was being picked up by a customer - a victa super catcher with 550ex.
Asked the mower's owner - same symptoms - black smoke out of exhaust (rich mix), revs and stops, etc.

All that was billed for was air filter, pre filter, plug, new oil (she said her son over filled it). Labour was only the regular service labour, so doesn't seem as though tear down was required.

Wonder if its fixed.

Are you sure its fuel and not oil spitting back through the carby, just in case something is up with the crankcase vent system. If the oil clogs the paper filter, no air flow and no revs/running as thecarbymaster said.

Speedy, could you post a couple more images of different angles of the carby?

Joined: Jan 2015
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Junior Technician
I fixed one a while back which was oil overfilled and it worked with a clean.
One of these two new ones had overfilled oil so I fixed that.
And I'm sure spits out of the carb is fuel.
I'll clean filters, but they wouldn't run without any filters......
I have had a break from the blue beasts to give my head a rest..............
I'll get some closeups....
speedy


........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,184
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Speedy, I know the feeling, I have a number of mowers here (mostly Briggs) that I have spent time trying to sort out, then push them into the corner so I can look at them again later, in reality I should just dump them. I hate Briggs, awful motors but people think they are great. The bloke I have picked up a heap of PT motors from pulls the PT's off and fits Briggs on the bases because he says nobody out his side of Melb will buy 2 strokes. I think it must be he doesn't know how to get them running right. I know with those blue ones you have the motors are good, just a junk carby fitted on them and I haven't come across any of them on ebay. Have you tried a carby off a Chonda on it, bit of trouble making some way of fitting it to the manifold, but at least they are on the correct side so the governor is working in the right direction. Very easy way you can waste half a day LOL

Last edited by NormK; 03/02/19 08:36 AM.
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,233
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Junior Technician
one more option.
Just got to pick out 4 llamas out of the herd, 2 each for my friends.........
This is VERY LAST option.
We all have other things that we have to do in real life till we get back to the garage.........
cheers
speedy

Attachments
Llama herd.jpg (203.2 KB, 96 downloads)

........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Jan 2016
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Speedy, you have been watching too many Wallet Wizard ads on TV

Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,101
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
The Pope 'better way to water ad' where the guy breaks the pull rope on a Victa lawn keeper with a briggs on it (and the wife goes 'that was clever Frank'), look closely at the plug lead.

The bloody thing is disconnected - no wonder it won't start.

Although, at least it sort of discourages people from doing the same stunt - pull the cord so hard it snaps.

And the Wallet Wizard ad mower is some sort of Chonda - so no great loss in either case.

Joined: Jan 2015
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Junior Technician
The one that was going well,... because it runs rich, the plug was fouled, so cleaned and now it's good and going..................
So with the other one I put the original carb back on, checked plug drained some excess oil...cleaned filter, jammed choke off.
It started but would not rev..... it just ticks over .
progress
speedy


........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 32
Junior Technician
I checked out this video on the govener spring. This is the problem. I got it running better . Adjusted it again and lost it..

speedy


........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,184
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Speedy, so what was it you lost?

Joined: Jan 2015
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AVB Offline
SENIOR TECHNICIAN
That just adjusts the top no load speed on these fixed speed units.

Speedy now you got one running correctly use subbing to pinpoint the problems with the other engines. Got to be a reason why the governor spring isn't opening the throttle. May this is a binding problem with the throttle shaft. I have seen plastic shafts to swell and bind. A little sanding on the shaft pivot points usually free them up.

Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,233
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Junior Technician
Norm, I had it running after adjusting the govener plate, but changed it slightly and lost the revs.......
So I put a remote fuel tank so I could get at govener spring and lever clearly, but couldn't get it running properly.
And AVB the throttle runs free, and the govener positions seem similar in both machines.
I juggled the govener lever and it didn't change revs..
I'd like to know how the govener works. You put up early the different springs available, maybe I stretched my spring....
I don't think the carb is the problem as how many times can you clean it.....
I'll start it today and have a play.
thanks
speedy

Attachments
mower 008.JPG (99.73 KB, 60 downloads)
mower 010.JPG (93.94 KB, 61 downloads)
mower 007.JPG (86.64 KB, 59 downloads)
mower 006.JPG (75.86 KB, 58 downloads)

........................Keep your blades sharp......................
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AVB Offline
SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Spring pull to the linkage to fully open the throttle. Governor arm pulls against the spring to pull throttle to idle. Its a balancing act from there. If the spring wasn't present and the governor is working correctly it would only idle.

Okay picture 2 (mower_10.jpeg) shown the engine running at fully throttle and you saying lost control of the revs it sounds like you have the static governor adjustment off or the governor/oil slinger has failed.

First try doing a static governor adjustment. Base the deck image the head is located forward. If so the adjustment is located on the right side close to tank in the image. Loosen the retainer screw and while the throttle is held at full turn the shaft CW to stop and tighten the screw back. Then test run if things are okay it should now govern the engine; otherwise, it would indicate a fail governor. The only wayto know for sure then is to go in and check the governor/oil slinger assembly.

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,184
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Speedy, just to get things clear, does it rev up when you move the governor arm and when you move that does it open the butterfly? This will tell us clearly if it is a carby or governor problem

Last edited by NormK; 11/02/19 09:23 AM.
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 232
SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Hi Speedy first time I have stumbled across these carbys
://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Q2FyYnVyZXRvciBDYXJiIExhd25tb3dlciBMYXduIE1vd2VyIFJlcGxhY2VtZW50IEZvciBCcmlnZ3MgJiBTdHJhdHRvbiA3OTk1ODM=/183672388535

Joined: Jan 2015
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Junior Technician
Hi AVB & Norm,
I checked the statis govener adjustment already. It was good in the full position.
And I ordered one of those carbs....
Got it today , it is minus auto choke, I just put it on and the engine runs smooth up to , I reckon 2,200 RPM .
Mowed some lawn, it will be OK.....
I'll see how it goes, maybe put the autochoke on from his old carb......
I just want to see it going for a while........
The learning experience bogged me down........but I'm happy with it now........
thanks for your help...

breeze is increasing up here with cyclone Oma 600km away.....
Queensland drought, fire , floods, cyclone.....
I'm just happy we don't get snow...........
cheers
speedy

Attachments
Blue Victa 001.JPG (69.83 KB, 34 downloads)
Blue Victa 002.JPG (97.02 KB, 33 downloads)

........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,184
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Hi Speedy, glad to hear it is sort of sorted, much trouble involved in fitting the auto choke and how does it work, does it operate somehow thermally?
Keep your heads down up there, remember we used to be bombarded with QLD , beautiful one day, perfect the next. Take care and down south we are thinking of you.

Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 32
Junior Technician
The autochoke is thermal, the hole is plugged in the new unit. Just see how it goes. You don't need to choke is as it is warm up here.... see what happens
speedy


........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,233
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Junior Technician
This little monster is back. A gift, he doesn't want to see it again.
Same problem....................
He bought a Honda.......
speedy

Attachments
little monster 001.JPG (144.66 KB, 20 downloads)

........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,675
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SENIOR TECHNICIAN
Is BS (as opposed to B & S) determined to trash it's reputation or are the masses that indoctrinated into believing they are the ultimate mowing machine?
Time to put a powerspeak on him!


Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
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