OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Collectors General Discussion My Beaten Up Yellow Vortex Bomb.

Here are some shots of a Vortex that was saved for me by a friend when someone was clearing out their garage of junk some time ago.
It just needed some minor bits fixed like the starter cord and starter assembly o ring replaced. It runs pretty well and I used it to do the lawn around my mum's unit block a few times earning regular praise from a young mother in one of the other units!

It's a bit rough around the edges, but I can't complain when it was free and I love the look of it despite some (solidly done) mending.

That would have been a sexy unit in its day. As it is now, it kind of reminds me of the Max Mobile out of Mad Max 2, all beaten up and repaired. Just needs a huge fuel tank out the back and a supercharger. You don't see people bothering to put the work in repairing their mowers and catchers like that these days.

Can you believe there's people out there who actually got to unbox them!!

When this and Mustang GTS were both on display in Eastwood Bing Lee in 1988 (like being at a Ferrari dealership) I couldn't decide which I preferred to have.
As the years have passed it's no contest now. It's the blonde one with the dark tips!!
The red head is my least fave. It's only what's under the skirt that makes them desirable.

I think the V40 Mustang with the bob cut hair do carries the white hair look the best!

You might want to see this YouTube clip of a Vortex being resurrected.

Great video MF.

It never ceases to amaze me how long chrome can last, and how easy it is clean the rust off too. That is another thing that seems to have gone by the wayside; decent chrome plating.

Glad you enjoyed it.

I watched it again today. This guy's YouTube channel is worth checking out.

I've seen what Bonnar_Bloke has achieved with far gone looking handlebars on his beloved 45s!!
I wish I knew the step by step method of revitalizing chrome.

After cleaing it I rub the rust on chrome with aluminium foil and water, rinse off with water again and towel dry.

coke & alfoil for me - otherwise as Sapper said

Thanks fellas.
I'll give it a go. A friend of mine shined up a tarnished metal hubcap simply using steel wool. It came up like new! Chrome must be a very hard substance.
If course steel wool alone went be enough for rusty handlebars.

The absolute best result I have had is a very fine wire brush (brass), alfoil and Penetrene

It got the the point where I was comfortable to remove the rust from the chrome petrol tank surround on my 1972 Sunbeam lawnkeeper (thats how confident I was it wouldn't stuff up)

Penetrene is expensive (cost $20 for a tin) but I have been using it at least 6 months and have only gone through 1/4 can - need stuff all and it just helps undo stubborn bolts so much.

For bulk work, I bought 2 (for $7 each on extra special) of these and expect to get at least 5 years out of them, then use the good metal cans. Still a steal at $10

With chrome mower handles, coke is fine (well, coles homebrand 'cola' I bought out of date for 25c a bottle). I think my habit of finding specials (and never throwing things away) stems from having close relatives who grew up in the great depression.

Thanks a lot Tyler.
Please anymore suggestions throw them my way. I'm all ears!!

I am solution-ed out tonight MF - have just been trying to track a cold water leak. Ripped up 15 pavers and still can't find the bloody thing

Hey Vortices,
I used the Vortex to finish my yard yesterday after at least 1.5 years since I last used it and one thing I was surprised at was the low tickover it can achieve, although it almost stalled when I left it too long and just managed to move the throttle up in time.

A few more pics.