Tyler, that first plug is a disgrace to the nation. Looks like a soak in some kero or diesel would be a good start. Can you re-use the exhaust gasket after checking a full crank piston? I hate removing the exhaust on a power torque. I haven't done it on a full crank for many years, but I recall it was no walk in the park either.
Looks like you need to check the piston next Converse, to eliminate a scored piston as the cause.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
It was a bloody disgrace MF, but a soak in petrol, then a little screw driver, a toothpick and some sand paper actually has it brand new.
I sometimes reuse the gasket, but other times it is so far gone through years of heat that I can't.
To remove the FC muffler, you are looking at one bolt, and the two clips. I normally carefully bend the tab out from under the cowl to get the exhaust off. Bear in mind I do this in 30 seconds at the tip. i check the plug first to see for metal transfer, then rip the muffler off.
The PT muffler, I carry 2 tools into the tip - a vice grip and a cj8/cj6y plug spanner (like shown). I put the flat blade head on the edge of the lower clip and smack the T bar handle of the screwdriver. The clip pops off towards the head side of the engine. Then stick the screwdriver under the top and pop the top off.
If I buy it (95% likely), I leave the exhaust off, secure the clips and wheel it out.
To put it back on (at home), push the lower clip sideways so it points towards the front left wheel, put the muffler in place, with the pipe in the exhaust port. With the screwdriver, tap the lower clip and it will go up the beveled muffler edge and into place. Then put the top clip on the muffler, and push it down until the flat end secures on the block.
Thats the best way I can describe it without photos .
Good find with that Victa Pace at the tip Tyler, I also found a Victa Pace at the scrap metal yard which I got for $20. Luckily for me it turned out to be a great mower now it's up and running! LOL! at that picture of the first spark plug! I don't think I have ever seen a plug that clogged up before! haha.
Hi Mowerfreak, I think it's best to get a new exhaust gasket when you remove and replace the muffler on a full crank, unless you have recently installed a new gasket then it's probably still usable. The muffler is easy to remove I just get a flat blade screwdriver under the top clip and just lever it up a bit to unclip it from the muffler, then the bottom clip just falls off or just use the screwdriver to move it away from the muffler. The hard part is putting the buggers back on again from what I remember on my full crank! LOL!
Ok yes it seems the piston is scored pretty bad, the ridges run from top to bottom of the piston and through the rings. I tried to take some photo's of the piston from the exhaust port. At least now I know why I couldn't get this thing started..lol
Cheers!
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay, another trash picked Victa, hip hip Hooray!
Bugger! My parts FC looks exactly the same in the exhaust port (same level of scoring), but has been invaluable in clips, brackets, carby bits, etc.
I suppose a new piston and rings could be done, but given the deck cracks, probably best for parts
On a side note, next to the Pace at the tip was a old PT commando. Completely used up to the last bit - deck rusted through, axle wired on, zip ties ... and Norms carby mod (stop switch, bolt idle screw, bolt in kill wire hole). Seemed it gave the engine that last bit before the rest of it was finished. Didn't have my camera with me though so didn't get a photo. Hopefully the engine will live on. 2 PT's among 4 chondas and 5 briggs.
And yes, the bottom clip can be a PITA to put back on
If it can be rebuilt I will rebuild the engine mate, I think now what I will also do is take the muffler off on the other Mustang that I have found to see what it's like before I start working on that one.
I like the old full cranks, I want to get them up and running again.
Well at least now I can start to strip this one down to just a bare engine and remove it from the deck. When I have the engine rebuilt i'll put it all back together and get this beast up and running again!
Cheers!
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay, another trash picked Victa, hip hip Hooray!
Geez Converse you should check it first next time, like Tyler wisely does. Man that's bad! Rebuild time! I don't relish the thought of having to clean ll that gunk before tearing it down. Thanks for the pix btw. Let us know how you go, should you take that path. Appreciate the tips on exhaust removal guys.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I just put a bead of silicone around the old gasket on the F/C's and that works fine, maybe even some times I don't even bother with the gasket if it isn't there. I made up a tool to put the top clip back on on the F/C's not sure how anybody else does it but with the tool it pops straight on. PT's just use a screwdriver Tyler, I'm a bit surprised that somebody had gone to all the trouble of modifying the carby and then dumping it even if the rest was falling to bits. It must have been in that sort of condition before he modified the carb. Converse the offer is there that if you want to bring it over we can give it a hone and put a set of rings in it. At least we can check it out
I never check for scoring if I get one off the road side collection, as its free and will do for parts. Its if I am going to be paying for one that I check.
I will be honing and putting a new piston in my 1972 Sunbeam, but only because its in great condition. I have the same dilemma as you converse with this Monaro I got from the curbside collection last year. It has a fair bit of piston slop, and a clean whack out of the deck. This one will admittedly also get a rebuild one day as I have the side thrower, and a good catcher for $5 at the tip
Norm, I was shocked as well. I first saw the off button, but then I looked and saw the bolt and nut (bolt screwed in a fair way), and the bolt in the kill wire plug. Maybe he needed it to last him 1-2 years until he had the money for a new one. Probably has a bloody briggs now.
I put Red RTV sealant on the muffler gasket as well
Yes Mowerfreak I never thought of checking inside the exhaust as it had a buggered carby and decompressor on it I was thinking that these were probably the reasons this thing wasn't running. Also when I last tried to start it I thought it gave a little flutter that maybe it was ok. Nope gees this mower looks like it was really buggered that's why they dumped it. At least it was used up and patched up right to the end anyway...lol
With the muffler exhaust clips, I think on my full crank I first installed the bottom clip on the muffler when the engine is on the deck. Then you have to be careful and try to clip the top one onto the muffler. I first fit the clip to the engine side then I think I ended up using vice grips to hold the muffler side of the clip end and I sort of stretched/pulled the clip to secure it to the top of the muffler. It took quite a few attempts until I got it on there evenly. You want to be careful as these things are clipped on pretty tight and maybe wear some eye protection just in case the clip goes flying while trying to install it. Once the clip is on the muffler end securely you can then lightly tap the clip with a flat blade screwdriver and hammer carefully to slide it across a bit so the clip sits inline with the exhaust port on the engine. But making sure to keep tapping the clip down on the muffler while doing this so it doesn't unclip and possibly go flying somewhere then you have to get the bugger clipped back on again..lol
I haven't removed and fitted a muffler on a powertorque engine yet, but from what I have seen the setup is similar to a full crank with a top and bottom clip, just a different sized muffler.
Cheers and thanks for that NormK, at the moment I think i'll leave this mower aside for now and see what the other Mustang full crank is like when I get the chance.
Nice find there Tyler, I don't have one of these older styles of Victa lawnmowers. What is the cutting width on that one? In the photo it seems to look wider than the standard 18inch steel deck Victa's.
Cheers!
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay, another trash picked Victa, hip hip Hooray!
. 
