Ironic you bring that up. Another neighbour had recently bought a PT thumb latch model durng that period and one of their sons brought it out and the son I mentioned before with the SB side throw gave it a pull and I couldn't believe how easy it fired up when he hardly pulled on it at all.
But yeah I understand you are talking about the 24 here where the FC is far better suited than the PT.
The Powertorque really was the ultimate purpose built engine for the sole use of being on a mower directly spinning a blade disc all day long!!

Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!