Yes MF, that is something that I have found strange when I come across bases/ mowers like that (usually green and in similar condition with stickers in tact) they often have good wheels for some reason. I love finding these, my eyes light up when I see one
Yes that is very interesting Norm. With wheels that have been scrubbed on the outer edges, exposing some of the white plastic but otherwise in decent condition, do you ditch those or paint the white bits out as I have done?
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF, depends on how bad the scrubbing is I sometimes run the flap wheel over them and that removes all the feathery bits and then you can get a reasonable finish with the matt black paint
You could keep a box for wheels like that and when you accumulate enough, get a tube of matt black SikaFlex or similar and rub that on them and use slightly soapy water to smooth them off with your finger for a good finish.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I've had another revaluation after finding the axles on the motor-less base have no surface rust on them, so I want to use those for my repainted gold Victa high arch base instead of the Corvette's which have unsightly surface rust in parts. So, seeing as I have to remove the wheels off the spare base, I put them onto the Corvette for the time being as the old nylon bearing wheels make the mower harder to push. The difference is very noticeable with the ball bearing wheels installed. Much nicer looking too. The nylon bearings made one of the axle stubs mirror clean.
I used your flap wheel idea on the tyre edges NormK and repainted them again. It removed quite a lot of rubber bits sticking out and tidied them up well.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!