OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Gregory’s 1955 + workshop manual

Hey all,

So, I think we have to all face the reality that the workshop manual for the early through to quite modern Victa mowers is becoming a unicorn. Often spoken about in hushed tones, or oh year I saw that once, one dark night back in 1994...

Now, I know that those who have this manual hold on to it for dear life, which is great, EXCEPT it means those of us who are new to this game won’t ever get one.

So... if anyone has a copy in good to excellent condition, I have the time and patience to scan the thing in and turn it into a PDF that we could all use. The copyright has well and truely passed and as the publisher doesn’t even exist anymore there are no legal barriers.

I am in south western Sydney. So come on ladies and gents, let’s get these manuals saved for the future. If you have one, post here or send me a message and we can get it sorted out.

PS I am in NO WAY looking to make money etc from this. And it won’t happen overnight. It will take a couple of months of hard work on my part to get it scanned, but I, happy to do it so I can have a copy myself.

Hi Scott

I truly had no idea these were rare; lucky I picked up the 4 at my ancient local hardware store for $9 apiece.

Given postage from WA to NSW would be a killer, I would suggest you go down to your local library and order from state library nsw

1974 edit

https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLNSW_ALMA21116808560002626&context=L&vid=SLNSW&lang=en_US&search_scope=E&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,victa&facet=rtype,include,books&offset=0

or
1984
https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLNSW_ALMA21130288870002626&context=L&vid=SLNSW&lang=en_US&search_scope=E&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,victa&facet=rtype,include,books&offset=0


or 1981
https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLNSW_ALMA21134152980002626&context=L&vid=SLNSW&lang=en_US&search_scope=E&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,victa&facet=rtype,include,books&offset=0


I have the 1981 copy number 200 - about 80 pages

Hey Tyler. You would think that would be the easy solution. The state library copy was pinched lol. Ive also checked Trove and the linked copies at various Unis etc, I can assess as I’m a student, are also either missing or in such poor condition they won’t lend them outside the library. Hopefully someone in NSW will be willing to loan one for scanning

Mines only 80 pages, give me a few weeks and I will work out how to do

Hi Scott,

There are actually a fair number of Gregorys' Victa repair manuals; a synopsis of their model coverage I drew up a while back, is at https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...s-scientific-publications.html#Post81688

I have Nos. 103 and 424 of these [selected for fullest combined coverage], plus the Small Engines Manual No. 199 [1982 edition].

The copyrights and 'Gregorys' trademark for these manuals, now actually belong to Haynes Manuals, Inc.

But I too, won't be holding my breath for a reprint of any of them! Even in PDF...

Hi Gadge,

Ive booked in at the State Library NSW to have a look at the Gregorys no 220. Which seems to cover 1955 — late 70s/80s I think.

I’m really just trying to get my head around everything. Get a proper parts list, bolt list etc rather than forever having to scramble around in the bloody dark! I’m actually so close to throwing my 18 in the bin tonight it’s not funny. This is my first time working on any sort of mechanical thing, so I’m learning one step at a time. So when I have followed what little instructions I can find, reassembled the engine and it simply WILL NOT START I want to cry

Anyhow hopefully I will get it running.

Hello Scott, Tyler and Gadge

For the record, Victa's first Service Manual was the orange/black book of
late 1963. It is mentioned in the January 1964 News Cuttings: -
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/97197/victa-news-cuttings-january-1964.html

I have a copy of that one, but I have not scanned it for ODK.
Would that be helpful?

The annoying thing is that Victa seem to have not found
it necessary to include chassis info - just engine!

I will check out the TAS State Library.
Their manuals cannot be borrowed, so maybe they have some.

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

G'day Jack and crew,

Quite so, and Victa's 1971 published 2nd edition service manual had the blue cover - still just a stapled binding, though, so not all that durable.

This was superseded in 1974 by Gregory's #102, which was endorsed as their 'official Mower Manual' by Victa Ltd.
This was also the first Gregory's/SP manual to use the actual Victa logo on the cover.

Ozwrenches currently have a rather ratty copy of the Victa first edition for sale, by the way, as well as a Gregorys #220!
Their pricing is quite reasonable, too. https://ozwrenches.com/manuals-mowers.htm

Hi jack,

Mate any manual would be a great start. I would be happy to scan it and the return to your good self. I’m also heading off to the NSW state library next week to check the copies they have and do some scanning/photos

Hi Scott,

1984 actually; so it includes the PowerTorque 160cc half crank two-stroke engine.

But IIRC, it doesn't cover the early Kirby Lauson and Kirby Tecumseh 4-strokes. Same as my #424 edition.

I’m only interested in the early Victas model 1 - 5. I’m hoping to start a very small eBay business selling bolt kits for people doing restorations.

Hi Scott,
Those are well covered in Gregory's #220.
Ozwrenches have an early Victa parts manual [ie pre the 1970s 'Green Books'] for sale, too. I'd recommend just buying both of these.

BTW, for a supplier of BSW/BSF thread fasteners [as these early models used], I recommend you PM our CyberJack - he does or did work for a specialist supplier of these old spec fasteners, in Tassie.

The ODK Shop also stocks the non-standard 'Victa specials', such as the crankshaft nuts [which are 1/2" BSF thread, with AF hexes].

Cheers for the info!

I’m going to start with a general body kit. All the various nuts and bolts for the full body work, engine mounting, exhausts etc. either in modern standard zinc or blackened.

Hi Scott and Gadge
The reason I had not posted this manual to ODK was because
of the of the poor condition of the cover. A hungry owner nibbled
at it. Inside was mostly fine.

So, I did a bit of restoration work and the results seem good...



I have placed the manual in the History Forum.

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/109944/workshop-manual-c1964.html

I should also point out to members that a lot of service information
may be gleaned from Victa 'News Cutting' [History] and Service Guides: -

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/58949/VICTA_SERVICE_GUIDES_-_1960s.html

Cheers
Jack

Mate you are an absolute legend. Slight issue... when I click to the link for the workshop manual, I see your excellent informative post, and 3 JPG images, but no option to download the actual manual. Am I doing something wrong, or might it still be uploading?

Scott

Yes, folks say I am full of it ...

Yes, files are coming on the manual.

The Australian National Library pays tribute.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/

Click on "Find something fun, interesting or quirky".
This tells the tragedy of my association with mowers.

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

I am a life long fan of trove. I’m also heading into SLNSW next week to scan Gregory’s scientific 220

G'day all

I wonder if folks can comment on this anomaly...

The 1964 manual is titled, "Mower and Engine Workshop Manual".
I don't see a lot of mower in the manual ...

Any ideas ...?

All very curious.
--------------------------
Jack

Mmmm. I wonder if the mower basics, such as changing blades, bolts and such, were just taken as a given?

G'day Scott, Jack and Gadge


it looks like they have used Mower and Engine to be the equivalent of saying Motor Mower and as we know the definition is a machine for
cutting grass that has a motor so I think there wouldn't be any point covering all the basic components
that you don't need specifications for or repair information, especially if it's written for Victa dealers.




Cheers
Max..

Hi Max
I'm not convinced... Maybe ...

This manual was written for sale by dealers to the public.
For me, this is a Victa Mower Engine Workshop Manual.

The first page makes it clear this was an engine manual.

Victa were never poor communicators - unless
it suited them for another purpose.

Perhaps an oversight by Victa?

Just my thoughts, Max.

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

G'day Jack


I would interpret a Work Shop or Factory manual as a manual that was written for a dealer/ mechanic even
though a lot are available for the public to buy like this Victa manual.

As we know It's Workshop / Factory Manuals that are used by Manufacturers for apprentice/mechanic training .

This manual shows all the relevant dealer service/repair tools ,the home handyman isn't
going to have these dealer repair tools, hence my thinking that this manual was written for dealers / mechanics.


It says in the manual that Victa mowers ,engines and their component parts have been designed
for simplicity of operation and ease of maintenance.

If Victa mowers are considered fairly basic then this manual will suit the public as well.

The Manual also mentions the illustrations are not generally intended to portray
any particular model.

I see this manual as a mower manual but one written for a mechanic / dealer but also it will suit the public.

That's my opinion but always interested in your opinion Jack or others to change my thinking if I have
missed something.

I'd be interested on any thoughts that it was written as a public manual I know when manufactures
write a repair manual they write them in the shortest possible time and use as much previous factory information
and previous drawings / images as possible.

I just see Mower and Engine in the title as a way to distinguish it from a hand mower ,I guess
technically I wouldn't call it an engine manual if it includes ancillaries like starter motor, carby, ignition coil etc.
( secondary engine components) I think of an engine as all the primary components , although
a complete engine I would assume was an engine with ancillaries.


Thanks for sharing this manual Jack.
Cheers
Max.

+1 on thanks, to our CyberJack, for this one.

Yes, these Victa-published service manuals were freely available for sale to retail customers, initially via the Victa servicing dealer network - there was nothing to restrict we dealers ['commercial in confidence' restrictions etc] from doing that. So we did.

That was entirely the purview of we dealers, until Gregorys/Scientific Publications took over publishing of the Victa Repair Manuals in 1974. Which resulted in these manuals becoming available via the motor parts trade, and technical booksellers. A good move all round!

Of course the big box stores [who started flogging storebrand Victas in the early 1970s] couldn't/wouldn't offer much after sales support; in terms of either servicing references/info, or parts. Blade and bolt sets, and air filter elements, were about all they would stock.

I was sad to see that the Gregory’s manuals are just a reprint of the Victa. Back to square one now for looking for any sort of tech drawing or proper parts list. Sigh.