OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines Changes to Emission Regulations in Australia

Hi All,

Here is some information that I have just received from Briggs and Stratton regarding the two stroke engines.


Environment and Energy regarding the Product Emissions Standards Rules 2017.

The notice below outlines the change and simply describes that retailers will be allowed to continue to sell non-compliant models for a further 12 months until 30th June 2020.

The Department of the Environment and Energy have advised that the Product Emissions Standards Rules 2017 have been amended to extend the commencement date of the offences relating to the supply of emissions-controlled products. This change will allow retailers an additional 12 months to sell remaining uncertified products, and the offences will now commence on 1 July 2020.

This one-off extension has been granted in response to concerns raised by industry regarding the impacts the drought is having on product demand. This extension will allow those experiencing difficulties more time to sell their remaining uncertified stock prior to the new commencement date.

The offences relating to the import of these products commenced on 1 July 2018 and are not affected by this change.

If you would like further information please email productemissions@environment.gov.au

Thanks Bruce, now that smashes everybodys plans to get a good deal at least for this year

Hi Bruce and Norm,


The big question is has Victa actually stopped production of the two stroke machines or have they already ceased production and that this just gives retailers the opportunity to string us all out at top dollar for remaining stock on hand ?

Cheers,
BB.

BB, I sent Victa an email the other week about this, and (sorry to annoy you Converse) I actually got a response.
They say
'Please be advised that we are no longer manufacturing any 2 stroke mowers. We still have stock of model CMS462 but all other models are sold out.
Please order through your local mower store using this model number if you wish to purchase one of these.'

Yes, 100% correct, production of the 2 stroke ceased December 2017.

G'day everyone,

Thanks Bruce for the information update on the emissions regulations. Great so we now have until the 1st of July 2020 to grab a last Victa 2 stroke lawnmower from a retailer.

Hey Tyler, it's cool mate I am glad that you actually get replies from them, that's some good information you have got from Victa. I think I have to ask you to email Victa for me in the future...lol.

Cheers!

The trick is to only ask one thing per email, presumably otherwise it gets onforwarded and lost.

I sent another email about the crappy looking victa 'lawnkeeper' air filters at Bunnings, and was assured these are genuine items and meet Victa's stringent quality standards haha.

I think they are drawing a very long bow using the drought as a reason for extending the cut off date, I wonder if it is because they have been left holding a lot more 2 stroke stock than they are making out and the number of people rushing out to buy the last of this Aussie icon has not been what they expected. They may have built a large number just in the lead up to the 2017 cut off date

I'm definitely with you on this point Norm.

Money seems to speak many different languages, especially backroom deals.

Cheers,
BB.

I see the Iron Horse 2 strokes have gone back up to $125, I guess they figure they have another 12 months to sell their stock. I would assume they can't still import them.

Hi Norm,

What had they dropped to prior to this new scandal happening ?

Cheers,
BB.

BB they have been sitting on $100 for the last month, they see to fluctuate with the price on these for some reason

I don't think the extension to sell non compliant equipment has come about primarily from victa. It's all the handheld 2 stroke equipment that that's sitting in storage from all the other manufacturers that's not selling and has probably been the underlying reason for the extension.

How much harder is it going to be to get hold of decent 2 stroke oil in to the future because of this?

^ in the worst case scenario of 2 stroke disappearing from the shelves, you can do what NormK does and just use ordinary engine oil.

Or if we ever get wind of it, buy a bulk lot of 2 stroke before hand

Remember, 2 stroke machines will still be available, just not those that don't meet the new emission standards. If you couldn't get it anymore, everyone would have to stop selling all 2 strokes, so no more whipper snippers, chainsaws, marine engines, some motorbikes... Don't worry, there will be 2 stroke oil available for a long time :-)

G'day yes I think the oil will be around for a while yet, but as I mentioned in another thread I think it will all be synthetic based cleaner burning 2 stroke oils in the future. I think the older style high smoke emitting mineral based 2 stroke oils will be obsolete soon.

I have noticed myself many years ago I could find mineral based 2 stroke oils at most retailers. These days I have to search for it and only a couple of retailers still stock it. I have noticed the trend to slowly phasing out the older mineral based 2 stroke oils. But if you want synthetic 2 stroke oil, you can pretty much buy it at any retailer now.

Cheers!