OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Two Stroke Lawn Mower Frames Floppy Victa 550 Pro SP cable - easy way to tighten?

Hi All,

Just did a quick tune up on a Victa 550 Pro I use for my acre of Kikuyu - noticed the SP engage cable is pretty floppy/slack - still works but not as well as it should.

Victa don't seem to have incorporated an easy way to adjust the cable as it stretches over time/use - and getting it completely off at the top of the plastic throttle grip is a PITA.

Wondered if there's an easy 'tightening' methodology folks use on stretched metal cables like these or is it a replacement only option?

I considered putting something close to either end of the cable where there's only the metal core exposed to wind it around - and thus shorten it's length - but rough and ready but would suit the mower.

Thanks in advance.

Bump...

I was sure there must be a tricky way to tighten these older, stretched cables? I know I could tie a knot in it - but I know that places a lot of stress in that spot and it'll likely break - perhaps loop it around something.

I am pretty sure these are the older style cables, that don't have the twist adjustment bits at either end - which allow you to easily change the effective length.

This is an image of the cable which you should be able to adjust.

Hi Bruce,

Appreciate your reply but the cable on my 550 Pro is completely different to that - in fact all 3 of the 550 Pro's don't have that cable - though I wish they did - it looks very easy to adjust.

The cable on mine has no adjustment fittings on it - it goes all the way up where it goes into a ¬5cm like cylindrical tube, which bolts on to the chassis handles. I'd take a photo but didn't have my phone down there with me.

That all said, because I went down to check that it wasn't as you said - I managed to find what I presume is Victa's way of adjusting the one I have. The cable itself has no adjustment mechanism on either end of it - however where it connects to the chassis handle is adjustable - a slide-long bolt hole which enables you to slide it up or down ¬20mm in total - then you just have to tighten the 2 bolts to hold in place.

Simple enough and seemed to add the necessary tension to the cable.

Appreciate your reply and suggestion though - but hopefully is sorted now. :-)

Victa were pigs with this design (as well as the G4 carb idle adjust knob -what a joke). It's like who cares if it's serviceable or NOT that can be the owner's problem!!

I had a stretched cable. I took my cable off the bars and slipped a cut nut on to it to provide a bit of extra length.

I cut the nut with a hacksaw at an angle and slipped it over the cable between the outer and the handlebar mount. Then squeezed the gap in the nut closed to keep it on. I've got full drive again.

Hi Tasmaniacs,
some pictures would be great as I can't understand how your method works just by your description.
You can't remove the cable from the handlebar lever end without difficulty. Stupid push on washers!

Easy MF you put the nut below the cable holder/lever on the handelbar. It is just to take up the cable slack. Cut the nut with a hacksaw, spread the cut open enough so it can go over the cable then close it up so nut doesn't fall off.

So the nut clamps a loop of cable slack?
Think I got it.
You could solder it as well to be sure.

Still not getting it MF, the nut becomes a spacer on the cable to take out any slack in the cable

I think I get it now NormK. The nut becomes an extension of the outer, making the inner cable taught again.