I took on board MM's advice and used a pick tool to scrape out debris from the heads, then blowing out with an air gun.
Lightly tapped the Allen bit in before removing each blade and bolt set and cleaning the washers and bolt threads on a wire wheel on the bench grinder and cleaning the mating surfaces on the blade disc and blades themselves.
I then assembled adding a fibre washer under the bolt. This has been effective in firming them up.
Also gave the blades a sharpen. Quite pleased with the result but very time consuming and a bit messy as the blades and disc have an oily coating mixed with a dose of rust powder! Needed cloths on hand so I didn't mess up my tools! Renewed the nuts as the existing ones might rot through by the time the blades need replacing. I've seen it.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!