OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Tip & Curb Side Finds Victa Commando FC & PT + Masport B&S Hard Rubbish Finds

The Commando has no rust at all - still has most of its original paint except down the left side where curbs get hit (although they don't since I bought it). The MSAA has a slightly thicker deck (tapped on it today) than the 1985 PT Commando, but doesn't appear as thick as the 1981 FC commando. Sounds tinnier.

The MSAA is absolutely riddled with surface rust - no paint left on it as it appears to have lived under a tree (the house I picked it up from just had a verge and weeds) - but no where has the rust penetrated the surface deeply.

Hi Bigted, what I was saying was that these later style steel decks fitted with the full crank engines, have the same raised bump near the carby on the deck which is the mounting point for a powertorque engine. I was saying that I don't think you can choose to either fit a full crank or a powertorque on the same steel deck? It's a bit of a mystery why these decks have that raised bump for the powertorque engine mounting bolt.

I added photo's earlier in this thread of the differences on these steel decks that are both fitted with the same full crank engines.

Thanks for that Tyler, just asking to see if the earlier first full crank steel decks had better quality steel and were less prone to major rust outs as we have noticed with the later style powertorque steel decks.

Cheers!

I think it was probably so they could use the same pressings for both as they transitioned from the SPFC to the Powertorque. I can imagine all they had to do to fit the PT to the same stamped out base was to cut out the larger circle, effectively removing the smaller mounting pattern for the FC and then drill as required for the larger PT bolt pattern around this enlarged hole.

G'day everyone,

Just a question about one of these mowers here that Tyler has pictured earlier in this thread.

Can one of these alloy decks fitted with a Briggs 4 stroke like Tyler's be changed to a full crank? Does it bolt straight on or does the deck need to me modified for a full crank to be fitted?

I am only asking as I could be able to salvage one of these 4 stroke Victa's with what looks like not a bad alloy deck, the rest of the mower looks pretty trashed though. I think it's the same as the one that Tyler has but this is a green coloured deck with a white coloured Briggs 4 stroke on it.

Cheers!

Oh I think I know the one. It's the same style as the green VC Mustang. Unfortunately you can not bolt a FC onto it.Totally different bolt pattern.
On later models from the PT era, you can swap four stroke and PT engine no problems.

Hi Mowerfreak,

Thanks for that mate, yeah I was thinking maybe I could use that deck for one of those cracked alloy decks on those other finds I have here.

Cheers!

Hey Converse check this out. Is it too far away for you?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Victa-Silverstreak-2-Stroke-Lawn-Mower-with-cast-base/133092911046?hash=item1efcf4a7c6:g:NCAAAOSw5wVdDF9B

Hi Mowerfreak,

Just had a look at that link yes that's pretty far from here, almost out in the country far...lol

I remember as a kid me and my mate travelled on a train from Melbourne out to Pakenham. Anyway we thought that was the last station on that line and didn't know that the train would keep going along that line and it ended up going all the way out to Warragul.

That mower link you sent on ebay is located in Drouin which I think was a station on the way out to Warragul! lol

Anyway this happened on Christmas eve and I reckon it was probably around 1988 to 1990. Me and my mate got off at Warragul station and were thinking were in trouble now as we probably were meant to get off the train back at Pakenham station. So we let the people at the station know that we didn't know the train would keep going past Pakenham station. There was a great train driver who was driving the train all the way back into Melbourne later that day who let us sit in the front of the train next to where the driver sits for the train ride back into Melbourne.

I tell ya what, if trains still go out that way maybe I could bring it back by train? lol I don't think anyone would mind if I board a city bound train with a lawnmower...lol

Edit: Just checked and this mower is called a "Silver Streak". Wasn't that an old movie with a runaway train? lol Now that's weird...lol

Cheers!

Hi Mowerfreak,

You will probably freak out when reading this you'd better get ready for this one! It really is unbelievable!

What do you think the chances would be of me actually finding one of this exact same model Victa lawnmower as the one you showed me last night on ebay? Seriously? What would the chances be?

Well I am still pinching myself and it doesn't seem real but there was one of these exact same lawnmowers sitting next to a pile of hard rubbish down the road today!!! No bull!!! I thought geees that top cowl looks very similar to the one that you showed me that was available on ebay out in the country. Anyway as I got closer I couldn't believe my eyes when it was the exact same mower! I looked at the Silver Streak decal on the cowl and i'm thinking can this be for real!!! Seriously!!! Well yep it's damn serious alright!!!

It even had the original black catcher sitting on the ground next to it, I just put the catcher on the back and walked it home.

I had a really weird feeling walking it home and i'm saying to myself, I can't believe I found the exact same mower that we saw here on ebay last night!!! This can't be happening!!! It's not real!!!

I swear if there is an Outdoorking record book or an Outdoorking Uncanny forum this story would have to go straight there!!!

It still seems like a dream and I can't believe I actually have that mower now sitting in my shed tonight! It's also the best condition alloy deck Victa that I have ever found with the original thumb latch catcher that I can actually use when I get it going! The top cowl has a few cracks and the catcher has a small crack on one side of the front lip but it's nothing much to worry about. Also it looks like they have replaced the handle bolts and plastic nuts with newer later style ones. But hey at the price I got it for who can complain! lol

If only I was this lucky when it comes to lotto i'd be a millionaire now! lol Maybe I should buy a lotto ticket this week!

I took a couple of photo's of it just before outside, it was dark but they seem ok for viewing!

That's amazing Converse, what an amazing example of the uncanny, and a excellent FC silverstreak.

I found a 2010 Masport Lawn Marshall this morning - in quite immaculate condition. Haven't started it yet, but plenty of (dark black) oil, and only a buggered throttle control and primer looks to be preventing starting.

But I like your find better

Howdy Tyler and Converse,
That's just weird. I was in slight doubt about posting the link because of the price but it was in Victoria and I thought you wouldn't mind adding a SPFC with that particular top to your collection, only for you to trash pick the exact same mower the following day??!!

This has made my day and night! To be honest, it was the catcher that grabbed my attention initially. That particular moulding is hard to find without damage of some sort. Despite the lack of a second grip handle at the rear, it is probably my favourite thumb latch shape behind the powertorque one and the Twin/SPFC Mustang shape.

It is advisable to drill a 2 or 3mm hole at the very end of the crack to put the brakes on spreading before patching it if you deem it necessary. They all seem to get damage easily.

I'll second what Tyler said, that's amazing and AWESOME!!!!

G'day Mowerfreak and Tyler,

Cheers guys yes it's awesome and so weird at the same time! It's a great clean mower that Silver Streak. I don't think it will be an everyday use and abuse mower though, it's in too good condition for that. Also as we know if I hit a rock or something it will most likely punch a crack or hole in that alloy deck. I'll leave the use and abuse mowing to the good old steel deck full crank Commando's or the powertorque steel deck mowers...lol

Ok I found another mower today, this time it wasn't a hard rubbish find but a scrap yard find. I saw a Victa Commando full crank dumped there and as soon as I saw the old style wheels on the side like my original one has I grabbed it straight away. I paid $20 for it, it's probably a bit much but as you know this one is a true identical twin to my original one. It has the same early deck with no hole or bump like the later ones. It's also got a very clean deck with no major rust outs. I am now thinking that these early steel decks were a better quality steel than the later one's. The front wheels are pointing slightly outwards though and it really needs a front wheel alignment! LOL!

I think I now have 4 Victa full crank Commando's here including my original one! I have 2 early one's and 2 later one's! LOL!

I hope I don't see any more FC Commando's around here as I really am running out of space to store them now! haha!

Another great find Converse. The front right corner wheel (the one on pull start side) was the same on my one. Add one of the metal inserts and new plastic clip, and it will probably be much better

I payed $15 for mine without catcher, so your deal isn't too bad. Consider it an even out for finding the silverstreak

Regards
Tyler

G'day everyone,

Thanks for that Tyler, yes I think the front axle might be slightly bent outwards on the front wheels, when I get around to working on it i'll see if it can be straightened a bit to get the front wheels straight again. I have plenty of other perfect straight axles here to compare with now. The only thing really missing from the whole mower is that front left plastic wheel cap.

Oh well i'm sure I now have enough spares to keep the FC Commando going for over 100 years...lol!

I have successfully straightened a bent stub with trusty vice grips and a rag over the stub to prevent scoring the metal with the jaws. It's just a matter of gingerly bending it back and visually judging whether it's straight by looking from above. It's likely to be far better off than before even if you don't quite nail it precisely.

Hi Mowerfreak thanks for that mate, I have a couple of vice grips in the toolbox when I get around to it i'll see how straight I can get them. Yes your right they will be far better than what they are now. I had to actually push it around with the front wheels off the ground as to not scrub them out badly, and also it was hard to push as they are pointing outwards a fair bit.

One thing I have noticed though with these older thick rubber wheels on this mower when compared to the other powertorque style wheels is how smooth and quiet these older thick rubber wheels are when pushing the mower around on the road/footpath when compared to the other harsher hard plastic tread powertorque wheels, which sounds and feels like you are pushing the mower around on steel bearings when compared to the earlier thick rubber wheels! lol

Cheers!

G'day everyone,

Found another mower today sitting on the kerb down the road. I really wasn't going to get it but I thought it's a Victa Lawnkeeper with a steel deck base and has all the same parts and catcher as the 2 stroke models. It's pretty much complete with the black catcher as I found it except for the broken missing throttle control lever.

The deck is nice, clean and solid with no bad rust anywhere. I removed the fuel cap and it looks and smells like they have put 2 stroke mix in the tank. The pull start cord also looks like it's not grabbing properly and it doesn't wind back in. Oh well it's another kerbside freebie so can't complain.

Cheers!

Having a lucky week Converse

Most likely the choke won't be closing and the carby will be clogged. After throttle handle (oil cable first), filter (same as 2 stroke long filters), oil change, recoil fix and probably blades, it should be a good runner.

But a seeing a Chonda means you are on a slippery slope - I would highly suggest not picking up any of the cheaper mowers and keeping them - move them along quickly. Just friendly advice from someone with too many mowers haha

At risk of causing a further shed overload, thought you might want to know about this 2 stroke which I believe is somewhere near you.

G'day Tyler,

Haha mate I am not even trying to find these one's. They were on the roads I usually drive along and well I have also left them there for hours before I have gone back and grabbed them and they were still there. It's probably better to save them for parts if anything than to let them get sent to scrap or the tip to get shredded up and never seen again.

I like the 4 stroke's with the Victa bases as most parts on the deck/handles are the same as the 2 stroke models. I have a couple of rusty steel deck Powertorque's here and possibly if the 4 stroke's are beyond repair I can maybe convert them to 2 stroke mowers.

Thanks for that link I saw that ad it's not that far up the road from here. But that's one I won't be grabbing in a hurry...lol Now if it was a early FC Commando it might be a different story!

Cheers!