OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Other Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Atco Rotary With Vinco 2 Stroke Engine

Hello ODK Members,

This mower has appeared on ODK before, it made its way from Dalby to Brisbane where I purchased it from another collector.



The engine was locked solid and a write off, I will clean it up as an ornament though 🙂



When I purchased the chassis I was also extremely lucky to also pick up another Vinco engine which had been used as a stationary engine in a frame



The donor engine was complete but locked solid, the piston could be seen from the exhaust port and it looked very clean. I removed the head and the bore was good and rust free. A .040” oversized piston is fitted so it had been serviced at some stage of its life, exhaust port was very clean also.



I did get it free but it was very hard to turn over, I was hoping the bottom end had not filled with water over time. I decided to remove the flywheel and have a look, the magneto was fully packed with mud wasp rubbish which had locked up the engine



The Wico magneto was removed as the backing plate was broken and unserviceable, I had a spare so swapped over the electrics.



The engine turns freely and I now have spark. Looking into the bottom end I can see a very heavy crankshaft which is obviously Vinco marine inspired





I will get the engine running befor cleaning it up and transferring it to the restored chassis



🙂

Love your work paul_c... nice pics.

speedy

Good evening ODK Members,

Thanks Speedy 🙂, some more progress to show. Magneto all together and I found a spare points access cover to foil future mud wasp attacks



Carburettor looks to be an Amal but I will check it further to see if it may have been made in house



I have stripped the base down and it’s ready for cleaning before some paint



Not sure about the Australia emblem whether it was a stencil Outline type or full coloured decal



🙂

Hi Paul
These are the first images of the internals and detail
shots of a Vinco 2-stroke engine.

Brilliant!

There is bugger-all out there on them.

Cheers
-----------------------
Jack

Good afternoon ODK Members,

This Atco was posted on a mower FB page yesterday, interesting thing is that the bars are two piece similar to the English model



English Atco






So perhaps there were a couple of models

Hi Paul
Well, yes, the suggestion is that the Vinco followed the original
Villiers-powered model.

The separated handle must be later.
Best guess - 1959.

What is clear is that your Atco was Australian made.

My thoughts have always been that the first Atco rotaries
were Australian built and inspired UK machines. Any thoughts?

Cheers
----------------------
Jack

Good Evening ODK Members, Speedy and CyberJack,

First up I agree with Jack that our all Australian Atco rotary was manufactured first and then the English model followed.

Finished off servicing the replacement Vinco engine this afternoon and I was very happy when it fired up on the first pull



🙂

Hi Paul
Brilliant ! you seem to be able to make the difficult a stroll in the park.

Cheers
wce

Morning ODK Members,
After a successful test run the engine has been removed from the frame and will be cleaned up ready to fit to the mower base



Now all the paint prep can begin 🙂

Good morning ODK Members,

An update on the Vinco/Atco mower, cleaned up the base and bars this morning and gave them a coat of Brunswick Green paint. Take note of the massive strengthening plate fitted underneath to carry the weight of the Vinco engine.










Coming along nicely 👍

Good morning ODK Members,

Just a few pics of the bars, cowl and fuel tank drying, it was nice to find the Pegasus underneath the rust on the fuel cap when I cleaned it up.









🙂

Good morning ODK Members,

The Vinco Two Stroke engine is quite a rare one, 125cc but made more for marine application than garden implements. Massive crankshaft journals would allow this engine to idle very low but still maintain a good strong output. I have put up a lot of pics to show just how well made and designed this engine is. Not sure of a date but I believe early to mid 50’s.

The rings were quite worn but the engine still started and ran well, I have found that Victa 125 rings will fit nicely with a little work, my cylinder is .040” oversized and by removing a little off a set of standard Victa rings I had a perfect fit. The Victa rings are same thickness and width.

My donor engine has had the thread removed from the output shaft or may have been originally a marine unit, I may make up a boss to take a blade but it will probably not be cutting grass again anyway.





















Just have to make some new gaskets up and put it back together.

All back together now, just had to file the ends of the rings so they fit nicely over the peg in the piston ring groove.



Will do a bit more when it cools down in the shed.

Hi Paul and all ODK members
I would be a fool not to comment on this one.

Paul has given us a detailed and splendid insight to the Vinco-powered Atco.
These are super rare mowers that tell the story of Atco Australia;
and how AUS rotary designs influenced the UK markets.

I suspect the Callaghan Collection is well thought-out.
These images of the small Vinco engine are extraordinarily important.

Many thanks Paul for adding to the record.
----------------------------------------------------------
Jack

Good morning ODK Members,

A bit more on the Atco/Vinco, fitted up the magneto and starter pulley and fitted the engine back onto the base.









Going by the numbers the engine was made in 1957 and was number 148.





This advert is dated December 1957 so perhaps the initial batch of mowers in early 1957 carried the Vinco engine before fitting the Villiers?

🙂

Good Afternoon ODK Members,

Not much done today due to all the rain about at the moment, fitted up the Amal carb, handle bars and fuel tank.





👍

Good afternoon ODK Members,

Back on four wheels now, the good old Bunnings wheels really look the part



🙂

LGood afternoon ODK Members,

The Atco/Vinco is finished, came up pretty good compared to what it was 🙂

















👍🙂

That looks fantastic. What an awesome job you have done. Congrats

Someone will offer you a grand for that. Don't take it!!

Looks good , well done