It all depends on the motors..... bottom bearings whether it is siezed, completely worn out. I like to see them in real time......... I got one on right for $8 at tip shop and on left for $20... I like them mowers.... speedy
........................Keep your blades sharp......................
I was surprised seeing a starter make around $50 on eBay ,if you can buy the complete mower for $10 and sell the starter for $50 there's no point in fixing the mower because the parts would sell for around the same price as a repaired mower would sell for.
I've seen a few people with restored vintage mowers dismantle the mowers and sell the parts on eBay for more than they would get for the mower.
You wouldn't make much profit with the prices the seller wants for those.
I have a side throw ute base like the right one with missing flap and a couple of tiny rust penetration holes. Worth selling? Scaly underneath but otherwise useable and solid.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi Max, Not a hope in hell for me to get $100 for a ute, best I get is $80. I have pulled all my mowers off gumtree, I put the prices up and not one phone call so it is just not worth my effort dealing with the idiot factor, I will start putting them back later in the year when the mowing season starts and that will probably be the end of it for me. My cost neutral hobby is no longer enjoyable because of the idiots
Don't despair NK, they may jump in value by then when Powertorque motors become less available and you may be able to command the magic three figure amount relatively easily. I think the days of sub $100 levels for used working Victa 2 strokes or Briggs with good sound bodies are coming to an end as people realise what the alternative is. I have noticed asking prices on Ebay have increased (sometimes to ridiculous levels) as well a Gumtree.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I've sold 11 utes recently all made at least a $100 ,didn't paint them but I gave up selling 2 stroke rear discharge mowers years ago Norm ,I would have to sell them for $60 and still it would take weeks to sell ,even if the Victa had an alloy base.The collectable models do ok though. The rear discharge 2 stroke is still impossible to get a decent price for here at the moment ,I've listed a few .
The utes took a fair while to sell ,if i was selling 4 strokes I would have sold 4 times as many in the same time.
"Dealing with the idiot factor" I mostly don't get that problem because I won't fix their mower for less than a shop would charge ,but will sell a complete mower cheaper than a shop.
Hi Max, The idiot factor is mostly from gumtree replies there is a bit of it with fixing peoples equipment but I don't do a lot of that, it is just that a lot of these have been fiddled with before they come to me. I still have 50 tested 2 stroke motors sitting on the shelf, not sure what I am going to do with them. And then again if sidethrow utilities sell then it is very easy from me to cut the side out of a base and turn a rear chute into a sidethrow. Bit of work making up the chute and flap but not too hard. Might build one for kicks and giggles when it rains one day and I'm stuck in the shed.
You would get the occasional person Mf that's looking for the larger tank but I don't think most people would need the larger tank because if you had a lot to mow ,you would use a Victa 24 or a ride on/self drive mower.
I've never looked to see what the bigger ute fuel tanks sell for though Mf.
Originally Posted by NormK
And then again if sidethrow utilities sell then it is very easy from me to cut the side out of a base and turn a rear chute into a sidethrow. Bit of work making up the chute and flap but not too hard. Might build one for kicks and giggles when it rains one day and I'm stuck in the shed.
If you cut the side of the mower out Norm it affects the air discharge rate because the back section of the mower blades are not shrouded like the utilities are , grass would clog the back of the mower unless you used a mulching plug, if you made a rear side shoot ,the mower may sell better as people have the choice of using a catcher or not.
Probably right Max, pretty easy to make up a rear chute out of 2mm sheet metal and just have it mounted on the hinges in the usual manner. I know a lot of people tie the rear flap up with string so there might be a market for the rear chute idea. I will knock one up and see if there is any interest This is one I just knocked up, I will build this one up as a rear sidethrow and see if there is any interest in it. I have seen plenty of people with green up to their knees from mowing with the flap tied up. With this setup it is a case of simply removing the sidethrow flap and fitting the catcher door straight back on. Another thought is with this setup I can offer a mower with a rear sidethrow door and in a couple of minutes it can be fitted back with the door and catcher, makes the mower dual purpose very easily
NormK and maxwestern you've talked me into holding onto the scaly chute that was attached to a worn out steel base. I ended up putting it's motor onto this ute base.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I've a few of these Victa grass deflectors but never got around to trying one on a lawn ,I wonder how effective they are with long grass .I'm sure I have an original one for a Powertorque steel base mower that just clips in under the rear discharge flap.
I have been using just an L shaped piece of steel that screws to the existing rear flap. Works fine in long grass on Victas ,Rovers and Sanlis. The piece of steel keeps the flap up and is held against the mower by the spring. Takes about 5 min to make.
Been doing this for years Not as good as a Utility. Mower is a bit heavier and it does clog a little in very long grass but it's easy to unclog by tilting the mower backwards so the flap lifts up a bit. Leaves a big clump of clippings though.
The new one Norm has made looks like it should work ,I can see mounting the deflector on the rear flap would be quicker to fit / remove , but it's not too difficult sliding the hinge pin in and out.
The only other problem I can see is that the Victa deflector is designed so the grass does not discharge over the left hand rear wheel compared with some home made deflectors.
I've found my original defector from the eighties and cut some grass ,the deflector worked well ,it just clips in under the spring in the rear flap.
I remember our neighbour had one for their wind up starter Corvette and it worked well. Surprised more people didn't use theirs. Obsession with getting rid of clippings instead of feeding the lawn.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi I suppose mine does discharge over the rear wheel but it's never caused a problem even on one of our blocks which is very stony. Been using that way for over 10yrs.
I have never thought about that much. Could put a small barrier on that side as well but I doubt it's worth it.
Concrete insert wheels Really? Never heard of such an item. Photos & description please.
I really do not think wheel damage is much of an issue with a simple homemade deflector Not even that much of the clippings seem to exit at the front. Most of it just hits the back on the L shaped piece of metal then shoots to the side.
Ordinary Victa wheels are fine. Not that the concrete inserts are not a bad idea.
Hi Jeff, I have been experimenting with these wheels because I have hundreds of wheels here with broken/no inserts. I have about half filled the wheels with styrene balls (bean bag) then put in a layer of concrete mix about 10mm thick and then put a 2mm layer of ridge pointing adhesive. Without the adhesive the concrete cracked on the front right hand wheel. I just put the ridge coating on the wheels last week and haven't tried to see how they last. I have to find some jungle type yard/grass to give them a good bashing around to see how they stand up to it
Hi Jeff, I had thought about the resaflex adhesive. I have made up a front wheel without the concrete just the tile adhesive I want to use that on a front right wheel and see how it stands up, the Victa wheels just look so bad with the insert missing. Once you have cut some grass the wheels get grass and a green tinge to them and it is very hard to notice they are concrete. Unless you knew you would never notice
I was thinking body filler or fibreglass filler ages ago but that would not be cost effective.
Not sure about tile adhesive ,if it will stay together in a big lump, stud adhesive is strong stuff that stays together in big lumps. Got to be some sort of cheap compound that would work.
Hi Max, Stud adhesive may work it is strong and still flexible enough to take a stone impact and should be fairly light. I think it would smooth off well enough. And you certainly can't pick up a set of reasonable Victa wheels for $15 and a tub of that would fix many sets of wheels. Another alternative might be black silicone
What about Selleys Space Invader expanding cellulose foam? It's closed cell so is sandable and paintable. Some trial and error will be needed to work out the right size bead to apply so you don't end up with too much excess to file back.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
A couple of these would be worth a try. Certainly the Blue stuff and maybe the foam Some of these products do not like petrol. Might be an issue in case of spills or float needle issues. Concrete would be fine and the tilepoint should keep it together
I'm putting the wheels on a full crank I have here in the morning and my grandson is going to give them a workout on some long grass that hasn't been cut for quite a while. See how they stand up. One concern I have with the stud adhesive is that the blue colour will probably start to show through once the stones etc start hitting it. Maybe the stud adhesive with a smear of black silicone over it might work. Has to be an answer somewhere
