OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Victa Commando won't start

Hi, I have a Victa commando that won't start. I have replaced plug, checked spark, cleaned the carby and checked compression which comes out at 50 kpa. I'm not sure if that is ok but is is just a little under my neighbours new commando. Any tips for 'where to next?'. Cheers!

Raffky,

1. Check for spark (should be blue).

2. How old is fuel?

3. Check carby 'O' rings don't have any damage.

4. Try removing exhaust (muffler) and see if it starts.

5. Check fuel for water.

Try this stuff and let us know but we do require more information as to what happened when the mower stopped.

Also do you have the blade plate on the engine?

Raffky,

When you remove the muffler check the piston for scoring,
it might be low on compression.

cheers gmax

Thanks for your ideas fellas. It has been inreasingly harder to start over 12 months (especially when hot) but became impossible to start 3 months ago. Would not fire at all. I started work on it yesterday (wife threatened to buy new mower) and found I had a spark, just checked again today but now no spark! I have cleaned the tank, put in new fuel, checked carby O rings. I will pull off the muffler later today. Yes Bruce, the blade plate is still on.

It's worse than I thought. I disassembled the motor to find pretty bad scoring on the piston and bore. There were also plenty of steel fines in the crankcase and top of head.

My next question: how economical is it to rebore and fit a new piston? Roughly what would a rebuild cost?