Hi CyberJack
No harm in being wrong � we�re all trying to piece together snippets of information on machines that haven�t been made for 40 years.
I thought 80:1 was strange (but slightly familiar) as well, and did a google search on it, that same news cutting link came up. We all forget stuff - I sometimes can�t remember what I did a week ago, let alone 7 months ago. I only just managed to find my soldering iron after 3 months (in a box of air filters and line trimmer cord no less).
Regarding the Imperial, seeing as how this requirement seems to have changed mid-way through Imperial production, maybe the lean mix was a marketing idea. As Victa was marketing their reel mower to �the fine lawn enthusiast,� maybe they were hoping this would bring them more in line with the 4 stroke offerings of other manufacturers.
80:1 not being available from the pump would (presumably) be more of an annoyance to owners of these machines � who may have been used to (with 4 strokes) just putting fuel in, checking the oil level occasionally and taking it to a mower shop for an oil change each year. Possibly their local BP servo would put a mix of BP zoom outboard and straight petrol (to make overall 80:1) in the mower can for Imperial owners.
I hadn�t considered the centrifugal clutch aspect � or the surging that might result. The engineers must have had a lot of problems to overcome with this project.
I have read many good things about reel mowers. I�ve got one as a project (pretty slow going) � from what I can tell, it�s a late 50�s or early 60s Qualcast Commodore � found it on the curbside collection. No rust fortunately.
No doubt I will be posting some questions when I get around to adjustments, and other things
Regards
Tyler
