OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Victa Self-Propelled - Difficult Manual Movement

Hi all,

I've got a Victa MSV562 Self-Propelled mower, and I've noticed that when the drive belt isn't engaged, moving the mower forward is often much more difficult, but also when trying to move backwards, the rear wheels sometimes lock up and if they don't, it's still just as difficult to move backwards.

Is this normal? Is there possibly a problem with the gearbox?

Also, I've found that when the drive belt engages, even at the lowest clutch setting, the mower moves faster than I would imagine for the "Slow" setting. Sometimes it will grab a little and move slow briefly, but then it will stop moving as if the belt is slipping. My thoughts are though that if I tighten anything, it will simply grab more and drive at the slowest speed that I'm already getting, but what I'm after is an even slower pace.

What sort of speeds are normal?

Cheers in advance,

pau13z

How long have you had this for Paul is it a recent purchase?

Yeah, I've had it a few weeks, I haven't tinkered with this one at all. It came to me in very good condition. 2nd hand, but it looks like it's been garaged all of its' life.

Paul, the symptons you describe are similar to the early one I have here which is fitted with a full crank, I just thought there was something wrong with it. I also had one here to repair a while ago that was non self propelled model and it was heavy to push around, I don't really know why, to me it was a bit of a pig to use

The unit is heavy, no doubt, so moving around isn't that easy all of the time. But I also have an MSP562 which moves without fault, nice and solid and smooth. In the case of the self-propelled version, it's like the gearbox locks up sometimes, and if it's not, I'm constantly fighting it to move when the gearbox isn't engaged. I just don't know if this is normal behaviour or not.

So Norm, you've had the same issue with a self-propelled? Difficult to move back and forth compared to a push version when the gearbox isn't engaged?

Yes Paul same problem with the one I have here I will hopefully get time soon to get it up on the bench and see what I can find with it, it has been sitting here for a couple of years now so it is getting further up the must look at it pile and decide what to do with it. I got the motor running last year but the gearbox cable had been disconnected and I think it requires the gearbox to be removed to re-connect the cable

What model? When I worked on another 560 series previously I re-connected the gearbox cable without removing it.

Paul I don't know what model it is only that it has a full crank motor, I looked at the cable and I coul;dn't see how I could connect it quickly so I put it back in the shed

I have attached a PDF file showing the parts list. Have a look at item 33 on drawing as it might not be moving freely causing your issue.

Hi Bruce,

So you think it may be an issue with the drive belt tensioner moving back or forth after being pulled on or released? I can imagine that being an issue with the variable speed not engaging at lower speeds, but would that explain the rear wheels locking up when trying to pull the mower backwards? Or the mower being more difficult to move back and forth when the drive belt isn't engaged?

Cheers,

pau13z

Hi Paul, just looking at the diagram Bruce put up, bit hard to see but I don't think they have sprag clutches in the wheels, so that every time you push/pull it you have to rotate the axles through the gearbox. If I get a chance tomorrow I will pull the one I have here out of the shed and pull the rear wheels off and see how it works

Hi Paul, I put this one up on the bench to have a closer look, the reason they are heavy to push when not using the drive is because the rear wheels are having to rotate the gearbox which creates the resistance. Inside the drive gears somehow there is a sprag clutch that allows the rear wheels to rotate backwards when moving the mower backwards. If yours is locking up then there is something wrong inside the gear on one or both of them, I would assume it would only be one wheel and that is an easy test, sit the rear of it on a brick or block of wood and rotate the wheels backwards, you will then know which wheel it is. I haven't tried to remove the gear so not sure how it comes off.

No wonder they often remove the system. They are nice to use but add considerable mass.
That's why a side throw mower is such a refreshing contrast.

Agreed MF not a particularly good design, even though it is a 22 inch cut the 24 is such a better machine

Yes Norm is on the right track about why they are difficult to push,both gear drives have a one way
ratchet so if the ratchet is not working the mower will not push either way.

When the ratchet works the mower will only move freely in one direction only.



Cheers
Max.

Hi Max, the Honda is a better design as it has the clutches external of the wheels the Victa has the clutch somehow mounted in the drive gears. These are a very robust mower but not one of Victas better designs

Ok I think I will give up on the one I have here, I have removed the gearbox/axle assembly and it is slipping inside the gearbox and I have no idea what is inside there so I may just remove all the drive assembly and use it as just a push mower. Without the gearbox it will be able to pushed around much easier unless anybody has any idea as to what is inside the gearbox. At least it has a good SPFC motor on it, I might just put that on a 24.
Another issue I have noticed with this machine that makes them feel heavy and not balanced is the fact the handelbar mounting point is too far forward of the center of the rear axle making them heavy to lift the front wheels up off the ground to use them as a slasher which is what they were designed as

Now this gearbox is starting to bug me, I can't get my head around what it is doing. If I lock it in gear and rotate the pulley on the top of the box in the correct direction I can hold the wheels and they stop, but if I rotate the pulley in the anti clockwise direction the wheels are locked in by the wheel clutches but the wheels are being driven in reverse, it is like the clutches in the drive gears are operating in the wrong direction. I have not worked out the gears are to be removed as yet.

Ok I now really need help with this as I am unable to sleep until I can solve this problem. It is purely a mechanical issue that does not make any sense, simply why do these sprag clutches in the drive gears operate in reverse. I have been thinking if I can lock the gears to the shaft then it will mean when pushing the mower back and forth without the motor running it is going to be turning the gearbox. At this stage I'm not sure how in can lock the gears to the gearbox shaft

Hi Norm,
The first VC self drive mowers have a similar drive as the Honda then the later Victa self drive mowers
are how you describe them having the over run clutch and gear assembly.

The first thing I do is remove the rear wheels and check the drive gears free wheel in one direction
but will drive in the reverse direction when the axles are being driven by the gearbox.

If the gears are driving the wheels in reverse,I would think that the over run clutch needs repairing or replacing.

The only other way the drive gears can work in the opposite direction is if someone puts the left over run clutch
and drive assembly on the right hand side, so if they are installed on the wrong side they drive in reverse because
one is for the left side only the other is right side only..

This self drive setup is nowhere near as durable as the first self drive Victa mowers that used a friction
drive on the treads of the tyres.

Cheers
Max.