OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Show and Tell I Bit the Bullet - New Rotary for Suburban use

Hello all,

I promised myself a new rotary come spring, and she arrived today! A Victa Pace 18" with a Briggs 125cc 450E engine. What a ripper! I've finally joined the ranks of 4 stroke push-mower owners.
Here's a picture of the box.

It was late when I got home, so I guess you'll have to wait until the morning before I unpack it.

Enjoy!

Edit: Hmmmm, you'll have to wait a bit longer just for the picture of the box? It's not allowing me to add an attachment larger than 0 (zero!) bytes!!! Can any of the mods help out?

You lost me after............Victa Pace ????

But BB, that's what the box says!!

Dang it, for some unknown reason I can't attach photos in this subforum? Elsewhere on the site I can? Thoughts?

Hi Mystyler,
I had the same problem loading photos with that massage coming up quite a while back. I thought the mods had sorted it for good
Looks like it's reared it's head again.
This forum is afflicted with various glitches efit some reason. Maybe the host is problematic.
Other issues have been not staying logged on when I click to another section, the quote function not working properly and links I post not working.
In the mean time, I'd like to see this new mower of yours lol!

It's a strange one Mowerfreak. Never mind, I've sent a pic through to BB so he can attach it. It's the box photo...more to come, I promise!! :woot:

That's fine I can wait -ok I can't!!

All done for the first pic, Not sure if you want me to release the second one though ???

Cheers,
BB.

Hahaha, not yet BB!

I'm getting into some better ones now. It's daylight too, so that's a bonus!

Why does Victa persist with the use of that brand when they effectively killed it decades ago upon takeover?
Pace products were generally considered a cut above Victa when they were still competing as independent brands.
Honestly, it should be banned for a company in the same field to take over another, unless it's going into receivership and it's demonstrated that it can't be saved. Also ban them from adopting the trademark if they do take over a factory after approvals have been met. But this is Australia with weak politicians beholden to the whims of companies yes?
I consider it anti competitive conduct.

Pace products are now entry level Mowerfreak. But I had to join 4 stroke land sometime, I guess.

That said, I think someone stuffed up my order, or I've deceived you all. You might like this one. I'm VERY happy. :yay:

BB, feel free to add the latest pics I emailed you to this post!

And the winner is ???????????............. It's a Greenfield !!!!

And below are the other 2 photos.

Much better than any Pace I'd say and "MyStyler" is very lucky to get what was probably the very last machine left in captivity that was for general sale by any Greenfield dealer around Australia.

Cheers,
BB.

Note: Cox Mowers are still in two minds whether they will resurrect and build another limited run of these in 12 months or so. My guess will be...... no, as they are just made way too good and are not cost competitive with all the cheap push mowers that are out there in the common marketplace.

PS. note the spark plug lead in the photos, that looks typical Asian Production standards LOL !!!!

Thanks to BB for tracking this one down when I came up empty handed. Thanks also to Bolton Motorcycles and Machinery in Kyneton, VIC for agreeing to ship it interstate for me.

It's a Suburban 725, the "entry level" offering from Greenfield.

It's an ex floor model, so has a mark or two on it, but it's sound. Bolted it back together, put some oil and fuel in it and away it went in a puff of smoke. Spat a bit of oil out of the exhaust but settled down nicely after a few minutes of running.

When it comes to rotary mowers, I've used Victa, Honda and Rover. Push and self propelled, but this thing is something else. The best thing I can liken it to is perhaps an old Honda HRU194 "Commercial." It's bigger than my current Victa Commandos, but out handles them easily and it's a real pleasure to use. The last few years I've been using nothing but the Power Torque Victas, and didn't realise how truck like they handled. I've given the lawn a quick once over, even though it didn't really need it, and the amount of debris it picks up is staggering.

Like BB mentioned, Cox has stopped production of the push mowers. I actually contacted Greenfield and this is one of the messages they wrote back:

Hi (Mystyler), thank you for your interest in our products. Unfortunately at the moment our production is focusing on our Ride On range. Our Push Mower range is currently in review for when we will visit them for a manufacturing date. When a date or decision has been reached we will be sure to update our website/social media pages and advise all of our dealers. Sorry for the inconvenience and thanks again for supporting an Australian Made product."

I do hope they reconsider, and get their name out there properly. The thing is a weapon. I'd loved the optional poly catcher, but none were to be found. Nevermind, beggars can't be choosers.

If you're reading this and are in the market for a new pushie, snap one of these up if you come across one. Absolutely worth it.

Firstly regarding the above comment........ the pleasure is all mine.

I'm so glad you can see exactly what Jack, David and I see in these marvellously made machines. They actually are in a cut above Honda in my opinion.

David's first comment was on how well these mowers suck up all debris and as such MS has noticed this instantly as well

i'f you're looking for a new pushie and you really want one of these, either ring Cox Mowers up and voice your displeasure that they haven't built a single unit since they took over Greenfield, or secondly maybe settle on a second hand unit, and that's if you can even find one as anyone that owns one won't be selling it any time soon for exactly the reason that MS has mentioned above.

Anyway.........another happy ODK Member.

Glad to be of service MS.

Cheers,
BB.

Hi Mystyler,
Why would you have the plug lead off, having trouble starting it?

Yep, get in contact with Greenfield any which way you can if you want one. They're very responsive on social media too, if you're that way inclined. Then, importantly, OPEN YOUR WALLET. No good wanting and then not buying.

Hi Norm, I was wondering which one of you would notice that first!! If you're a really keen spotter, I hadn't pulled the starter cord up to its little holder on the handle bar either. I had been reassembling it and my arms/fingers were in the blade arc. Hence popping the boot off.

I guess that makes two of us that noticed, but due to your excitement MS you didn't notice my mentioning this much earlier in the thread.

Cheers,
BB.

If Patrick Bateman from that amazing movie American Psycho was a mower nut he'd be saying something in his head like:

"Look at that hardened steel strip that prevents the left hand edge of the base from wearing out from scrapes against rockery et al! And check out it's tasteful and hard wearing grey hammered finish that could withstand a meteorite impact!! OMG those sturdy looking large diameter ball bearing wheels!!"
*Breaks out in a cold sweat*

Better watch your backs any Greenfield pushie owners!!

BB I did not notice, and had to scroll back up to see for myself. Sorry Norm, I guess you're the runner up!

I did have a quick look at the spark plug. Looked a little cheap and not something I recognised right away. I'm guessing it's a Chinese Champion. It works for now, though. Aside from it having lots of plastic, the motor did run nice and smoothly which is all you can hope for. It's fairly quiet too. Briggs reckons it's a "Just Check and Add" motor and that the oil will last the life of the motor. I'm going to give it a change in about 5 hours time, don't you worry about that. No iron liner but with some care it should do the job for a few years.

MF, great movie and book. Business card scene is just absurdly funny.

Hi MS,

Hey you're jumping way ahead of yourself with your new found excitement and I totally understand that, as I'd be the same.

It's not a competition in any way of who spots what first, it was merely my sarcastic way of understanding your enthusiasm for a great product.

BTW the reference to "Asian Production Standards" had nothing to do with the way the engine was built, rather it was a backhanded comment about the spark plug lead not being mounted on the plug and that's generally what we've come to accept when we buy something from Asia and bits of the whole process are not done properly, thus a plug lead not properly installed. There is nothing more that I was insinuating in that throwaway line.

BTW I always knew that the lead would've been removed by either yourself or Chris over in Victoria as a safety precaution of some sort as that's good work safe practice and there's no way an engine can accidentally start and remove body parts on it's own account.

Cheers,
BB.