Some more latest hard rubbish finds over the last few days here.
I found the Victa Commando V35 powertorque earlier in the week down the road. It was sheer luck that I saw it and even grabbed it. I think it was just placed outside not soon before I grabbed it. It was sitting on the nature strip complete with the original catcher attached and handles were up ready to be walked home.
I found the Victa Commando full crank last night again I almost missed it all I could see from far away was the handles sticking out near a dumped mattress which was sitting on top of it. I thought it was one of those el-cheapo mowers until I got closer and I could just see the 25-1 mixture decal from the back then I was wrapped it was some sort of Victa 2 stroke. Then even more happy when I removed the mattress covering it and it was an original full crank Commando. It's not perfect but it won't take much to get it working again.
The Masport President 3000 I got because it was near here and also it's all complete and a solid mower with the original catcher. From far away I thought it was one of those cheap 4 stroke mowers but as I got near it I thought ok it's a Masport these aren't that bad and it's clean and solid.
Cheers!
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay, another trash picked Victa, hip hip Hooray!
Great finds Converse. I agree with Norm, it can get out of hand.
I drew the line when I filled up one shed.
Then I built another haha.
My advice (although I probably not the best person to give it) is not to start getting any of the elcheapo 4 strokes and stick with good brands like Victa, Masport, Rover.
I am now (trying) to stick to Victa 2 strokes. It has now been 3 weeks since I bought a mower (2 stroke Pace), and I am beginning to get a nervous twitch haha.
Oh lord Converse, you ended up with three haha. That Massey will clean up real good and hopefully it's only minor stuff with the engine -looks like one of B&S higher tier units. You should be able to flog it off quite easily. Looks like you got a parts donor for your 82 Commando -shame a label isn't included.
The Powertorque in the middle looks very fresh indeed. Maybe it can be an update for your FC haha, just kidding.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Here's one i picked up at the tip shop today for $5. Brought it home, changed the jet, replaced the blade bolts, put fuel in it and away it went after about 5 pulls. Note, this is how i got it and the pic was taken after i mowed the lawn. How do you like the home made jet that was in it.
Hello bigted, I'm guessing it didn't come with a thumb latch catcher. Still, at $5.00, how can you go wrong? The Vortex style catcher will fit. I wish I could find that particular gold hammered finish paint.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Good score there BT, you must have a better tip shop than we do, I have only been to ours once, had one look at the piles of junk and the silly prices they had on them and I walked out. I would only go back if I needed to have a laugh. Love the jet somebody put a bit of effort into that.
Yes the other night was like there is mowers everywhere I can't get them all in time! LOL!
Yes the 2 Commando's both have rust holes in the similar area. It's weird how the rest of the deck looks clean and solid apart from that corner. That PT is a very clean tidy machine indeed, the wheel rubber also is like new. I even got the catcher with it and it also looks almost like new. The only thing they have done was to replace 2 of the handle bolts with some hardware store bolts.
Check out the electrical wire holding the handle together on the FC, that's exactly how I found it and pushed it home like that! LOL! That's also a bit of a bitsa it looks like the right rear wheel has been changed and has the later style tread on it. Anyway it's a great machine even if it's not going, it's gold as a parts machine for my original FC Commando.
That Masport at night from far away I thought was one of those el-cheapo jobs. When I got close to it I thought gees what a nice neat complete mower and it's a Masport! It even has the original catcher with it.
Hi Bigted, I can't believe they went to all that trouble to make a jet from that nylon screw..lol It's like they thought well you can't get parts for this anymore you just have to make your own...lol
Yes I am now starting to run out of space to store the machines..lol. I have plenty of outdoor space out the back of the sheds though...lol But I can see that also filling up in no time the way I am going...lol
Check out this council's photo on their website about hard rubbish collection. I must say that's a great image for some reason!
Yes, they did go to a bit of trouble to make the jet. lol MF, i've got a few of the thumb latch catchers here, but i would've paid another $5 for a catcher if they had it
Speaking of catchers, I did find about 4 Victa catchers on my latest hard rubbish travels, 2 are of the older square shape type and 2 are of the newer rounded plastic type. It's great I think I have enough catchers for the Victa's now..lol
Just want to mention something I picked up on my latest Commando full crank find and also on the one I purchased from Gumtree. I have noticed that the deck on both of these recent finds have a little difference when compared to my original Commando full crank deck.
I have taken photo's of the difference. I am now thinking that maybe the early first pressed steel decks from Victa were purely designed for the full crank as in what my original lawnmower has, and possibly the later pressed steel decks even though they were fitted with full crank engines, seem to have the same design features as the powertorque engine decks.
I have taken photo's of the differences, I am also thinking that maybe the really early pressed steel decks as my original Commando seems to have might have been better for not rusting out as badly as the later powertorque ready based steel decks?
1. There is no hole or raised lip section near the exhaust in the steel deck on my original Commando. On the other machines, they both have this hole and also a little raised lip pressed into the deck. (same as the powertorque decks of the era). 2. On my original Commando there is no raised bump in the deck near the carby. On the other 2 Commando's which I have, they both have this raised bump pressed into the deck which looks like it's the mounting bolt position for the powertorque engines.
So I now think that there was early and late full crank steel decks. Early must be like my original deck and later decks that were sort of powertorque ready steel decks?
I think Tyler and Mowerfreak you guys both have one of these Commando full crank mowers. It would be great when you have some time to just check out what your mowers look like to compare with the one's I have here.
I am also assuming that the early one's like mine might have had the earlier style wheels and the later had the powertorque style wheels. I think Tyler you said your Commando has older style wheels, and Mowerfreak yours had the newer style wheels? Both my recent finds with the powertorque ready bases have the newer style wheels. It would be great if you guys could reply back and let us know what you find with your mowers.
Cheers!
Last edited by Converse; 12/06/1910:08 PM.
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay, another trash picked Victa, hip hip Hooray!
1. There is no hole or raised lip section near the exhaust in the steel deck on my original Commando. On the other machines, they both have this hole and also a little raised lip pressed into the deck. (same as the powertorque decks of the era).
Hi Converse, just went down to take a look at the recent find with the older wheels and upon lifting the tarp, I could see there is no hole near the exhaust, nor any raise. I didn't want to lift any more off to check the side as it's abit of work recovering it securely so the wind won't blow it off. I would presume it would be the same story as your original Commando and have no raise under the carby. I haven't for access to my later one with the newer wheels and sloping engine cover at the moment so I checked a few pictures on my phone and could see that the hole is indeed present near the exhaust, but can't detect a raise in the picture. Upon checking shots showing the left side, I can just make out that raise under the carburettor but it's very dirty under there, so can't confirm for sure, but it does seem to almost certainly point out to at least two versions of the SPFC steel deck, indicated by the wheels it had. The later one must have been during the brief time when the PT was first introduced and they were offering the FC in the same lineup.
Last edited by Mowerfreak; 12/06/1910:45 PM.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Converse, my Commando with the old style wheels has no bump and no hole.
The old 1983-84 store brand parts machine that was originally called a 'MSAA Craftsman Standard' has the new style wheels, bump, front hole and points ignition
Thanks again for all the help. Well at least we have worked out that there was early and late steel decks that were fitted with the full crank engines.
How is the rust on those earlier style steel decks you guys have?
The weird thing is, they have that raised bump on the deck near the carby which is where the mounting bolt goes for the powertorque engine, but isn't the opening at the bottom for a powertorque engine alot larger than it is for a full crank? It's not like it was a universal deck where they could fit either engine on. I would think that the powertorque steel decks would have been pressed on a different machine with the larger opening and different bolt pattern?
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay, another trash picked Victa, hip hip Hooray!
