OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary Mustang Month !

Good morning all members

I was out looking through a pile of catchers which had been advertised when I spotted this mustang, same model as Tyler got this month. Did my best to ignore it and you know the rest of the story !
In better than average condition apart from missing a leg, it cleaned up well. Only thing wrong was the end had come off the decompressor valve and melted, engine runs great.
There was a lot of build up under the cowling and between the engine and shroud, I can't help thinking that these engines would have to run hotter than average with the muffler and engine block quite tightly covered ? and many must have suffered engine failure and the odd fire or two wouldn't be of surprise to me. As for noise suppression, there is a 72 dba sticker on the handle bar whereby 75dba is the standard, doesn't sound quieter to the ear though. Have no idea what the hand written 5hr with a tick next to it on the engine shroud means.

Cheers
wce

Good find wce. Looks in better condition than mine.

Maybe the 5hr was from its first service back in the day - though I have never owned a new mower I am fairly sure a first service is 5 hours???

Mechanic probably figured no one would notice it under there. But usually there would be a date after it otherwise its quite useless on its own

I think the 72db difference is overrated - though it is slightly noticeable. When new, with a tight carby, there probably was more of a difference.


Lawn is looking mint by the way


Regards

Hi wce and Tyler,
I heard one in 88 and it sounded just as noisy to me as a casual observer across the street.
I did find my yellow Vortex slightly quieter after a direct comparo with another Powertorque but that could be down to the individual engines rather than all the covering.
By looking at it, you'd think it would be whisper quiet.
But not going to happen with a 2 stroke.

I think any noise reduction worth noting is down to the lower typical operating revs required due to the lift effect of the Vortex cutting disc.

Im too late for mustang moth but I did get 4 mock up's put mostly together today for pictures. 3 Mustangs 1 PowerPlus
Here are the Mustangs running a month and a half behind with their advertisements.

These are just mock up pictures before they get put away until it's their turn for restoration.

I wonder, did the series 80 white top Mustang come with that revised catcher shape as used in the electronic ignition Mustang that followed it?

No, it isn't the correct one. I used the catcher that's actually for the next mustang model after that one that I bought the same day. Again, I have one lined up that will suit it closer but still isn't correct completely. In the advertisement it has no indicator hole and the Victa logo is white, in this picture I'll show you the one I have lined up but I might have to give it a paint with a slightly darker green to match the dark deck and then airbrush the Victa logo and give it a solid gloss to match the advertisement.

So to answer the question: No, I cheated.... 🤫

I think this one that's been on ebay since I started collecting is the correct one for one of my 80's Mustangs. It's $300 New Old Stock with box. I've blown my savings and I never had a match for it until now.

Please someone tell me I'm wrong!!!

Update, it's not the right part number, that fits the late 70's early 80's lightweight and some of the later 80's electric's according to the parts reference list on this forum (Probably one of the best sources of basic information to identify parts and mowers)

I knew straight away that was for the compact. Thanks for confirming about the series 80 Mustang catcher. I was pretty sure it still used the old shape catcher but I wasn't positive.

How do you find things like this. Whenever I look on EBay, I hardly ever see things of that calibre. Another member who hasn't posted for many months scored an early PT green base Mustang for $21.00 in Sydney in good condition for it's age complete with good catcher and it had an oversized piston meaning it had been rebuilt at some point. I had been searching the site at the time he announced he got it.
Is eBay playing tricks on me by an algorithm?

It's changing the search engine settings and the wording I put into the engine.

My ebay goes world wide. That's how I've scored some great manuals and memorabilia

It's difficult to set it to worldwide, but I have a roundabout way of doing it.
I used to also type the address for ebay in the UK and would find stuff you don't see with the "worldwide" setting, but they were items not posted overseas but you may get a seller to send it if you contact them.

Here is the correct catcher MF. I picked up today along with a heap of other stuff and I have more to pick up.

It certainly looks better than the green frog version but the SuperStart Mustang that succeeded this one with the same base casting looked more aerodynamic. This was starting to date quite badly by the late 70s.
The 125 III was a better looking all green mower.

Hmm, I disagree. I love the look of this Mustang and the way they put the cowl design back to the bone white, which in my mind is an homage to the first Mustangs with a cross over of the bone white (Like the red and white one) and the green, all be it a darker shade.

But I define agree that of all of the green 70's series that the 73-74 VC125 was the best looking green combination. There is only 1 that trumps it and that's the 72-73 Impala 2 125cc in the VC160 dark green and the red logo.

I don't like that shape catcher either. I never knew they made a darker green one. I do like it on the VC-125 III as an overall package though, but the Mustang with it's green all over cover that makes it look like an ugly lump is just too much.

I guess my issue with the all green Mustangs of the 70's is the different shades of green after the weather has discoloured some parts and not others....

Good to see you got your response in just in time (30 June). Mustang Month is almost over.

Honestly this is my favourite mower, out of all of my mowers.

It's in good condition for it's age. I just wish so many weren't scraped on the edge like that. I thought line trimmers took over the role of edges near cement and rockery years ago.
I recently reshaped a badly worn edge of a red Vortex base using a section of steel strap and grey epoxy filler for steel and aluminium. There was no metal at all up to an inch from the bottom. Wouldn't know it now.

Better picture.

Handy bit of work there MF, well done.

Cheers
wce

Hi wce,
appreciate the comment. I wish I had a before pic.
Believe me it was shocking. Base in good condition otherwise apart from wheels and rear flap spring.

Brought out the Mustang to mow with and grabbed the nearest catcher which is from a Corvette.
I have repaired the side of the base but not as comprehensively as the Vortex. Still looks better than before.

Very nice MF, I do plan on having all of my Mustangs as mint as I can get them. I still haven't put the engine of my first resto back together because I'm still waiting on surgery on my right wrist and can only do small amounts before I can't use my thumb and index finger for 2 days. That's why I spend most of my time at the moment collecting everything, reading and learning. Now my interest's have turned a bit towards the 50's Pace mowers before Victa bought them. I received 3 Scott bonnar mowers in pieces but with everything there to put them back together and my sunbeam to pick up and another purple VC-SPORT to pick up too and hopefully find some decent catcher's too this week.

I read that Pace mowers were considered better than Victas at the time Victa bought them out. They were fIerce rivals. It's a shame Victa eliminated it's competition this way and just used the name to badge engineer their own products.
I'm glad somebody is focussing on Pace products before the Victa takeover.

PS hope your hand heals soon. At least you're making the most of the situation.

Cheers mate, the one that I picked up today in good condition should be running tomorrow. But im going to fix the paint job on the base because it's not the original so I'll try and get it back to the original colour scheme and get the original "Automatic" decal put back on the front. It won't be mowing any lawns, it's done enough I think. But it will definitely get run quite often just because I like to sit there and listen to my mowers occasionally when the lawn doesn't need mowing I just start some of them up and let them run for a bit, just making sure they stay well lubricated. I do mow my lawns with my Mustangs and vortexes and I'm really looking forward to mowing my lawn with my cortina 2 with the old metal catcher on it. I have a long steep nature strip that leads down to on of the 2 main roads where I live so heaps of people see me Using them, I got a toot of the horn with my yellow vortex!

I like it best when girls watch.

😂😂😂 don't we all! But now I'm not a gardener any more the old gut has become less appealing and I'm old and grey

Come off it Sean, 30s and even 40s these days is hardly old. 60s is still middle age now, though I was a bit worried when I overheard two teen girls looking at a ripped shirtless jogger who looked no older than 40 and one of them said no way, that guy's 60!

With it's proper, albeit black replacement catcher as the green one I had was full of cracks toward the front so found this on Gumtree and disposed of the other. I like the look of the black catcher.

Also showing the repair I did to the base.

Of course you think it looks better in black when you don't have the green. The green is what makes it. All Mustangs that are green look better with the correct catcher. Sorry mate.

I have so many green catchers I could paint one purple easily to fit my VC-SPORT but in my heart I know that it's not the original. So I get the original. I could mock up the red and white 73-74 Mustang but I would know that it's not real!

Come on MF Original is best!

Remember these are mock-up pictures done before these mowers get full restorations

You know you can never mow with them again but you can bug the neighbours with them (assuming you don't get on with them -this is Australia) starting them up.
I actually fully agree with you there with the Mustang but I can live with having the right shape replacement catcher. Much better than non or a green one being held together by multiple rivets.
Would like to get a greenie so I can use the black one without worry about risking the plastic.

I painted up the red Vortex base with dark grey hammered paint ready to fit a painted up cover.
The paint turned out to be a perfect matching shade of dark grey to the original paint despite the cap suggesting it was quite a bit blacker.
The yellow line traces how much metal was worn away before I filled it with epoxy putty (pictured). It's good stuff easier to knead than the Selleys stuff.
Don't buy it at SCA or Auto Barn as they want $23 for it. I paid $7.00 at Aldi! Wish I bought more.
It sets very hard and bonds to whatever you attach it to.
I also straightened the slightly bent in front apron section using a hammer and metal rod (old Victa rear flap hinge rod) while resting the front on a piece of wood.
One I clean it, and silver up the handles, it'll look almost restored to the casual eye. This is just a light refresh for regular use.

That is worth chroming the handelbars, that looks mint!!!!

Very very good job

If a mower is older then me it deserves a good retirement! But retirement evolves being fired up and depending on the mower probably used to mow a lawn strip occasionally but then be cleaned ad detailed after then one or 2 photos and by then I'll have a new mission and probably sell some on. But by the time that's done, well who knows where covid will have led the the country by then.

Rear flap is next. The way this is going I will have it in unboxed conditIon. *fingertips on temples* not a restoration, not a restoration its not a restoration!!
I want to use this!

Thanks Sean, for the fantastic compliment. It means a lot. I wanted to also show what can be achieved with that stuff and a bit of bog and spot putty also.

Well I'll be doing %90 of my stuff at home so watching what others have achieved using simple solutions at home is excellent information MF! I'm looking forward to getting my tax return next week hopefully because I'm getting a sand blasting unit with a compressor big enough and It gets installed and I get a demonstration once it's in. Then I've got a special tent coming for painting too.

Finishing touches to the cover almost done before paint. A couple of cracks mended with builders bog (pictured) and some deep scratches.
Selleys builders bog is good stuff for this.
Paint I'll be using below.

Bravo! Great work, I bet you're almost all self taught? It's excellent work!

Thank you Sean,
That's pretty much the case. Consulting the Gregory's body work book helped on one occasion.

All but 4 of my mustang cowlings sitting out of the weather until resto.....

I like the Super Start cover how it's sitting on top of all those green tops .

Painted up my first Vortex cover. I used Dulux hot lips red gloss. It was the closest match to the unfaded plastic underneath. The Dy -Mark red was way off the cap colour. I'm thrilled with how this looks. Not sure whether to blacken the Victa logo or not. Looks good like this.
Seanoss, I took a couple of pics of my truck hubodometers as well.

Hi all,
I added a repro decal on the front and tried the repainted cover on for size. Only serves to highlight what else needs attention! I got the motor going after flushing out the tank, fitting a missing decompression valve, vacuum tube, spark plug, and adjusting the starter rope tension. It's a pretty quiet machine this one and has good low idle and doesn't over rev.

Slowly getting the old girl back in order.

Finally found a yellow I was pleased with for the other Vortex. I would have preferred an enamel but had to settle for an automotive acrylic from Duplicolor which turned out a shade to my liking. Ideally wanted a slightly more golden shade of yellow. If I find one down the track, I'll apply it then.

It looks great with clear applied.

I found a white Mustang the other day in good condition for it's 35 year old age. Just needed a tank clean and the blades are worn. Sign was left saying it worked well last time it was used.

The deck for the yellow Mustang. I moved the metal patch holding a crack together, from outside to inside and recessed the rivets so I could fill them in for a smooth external finish.
Brush painted the rear door with Aldi metal care paint after grinding away rust and treating the exposed metal with rust converter. Finish isn't fantastic but it looks far tidier than before.

Great work MF. I just noticed something on one of the pictures on here. See if you see what I see! Then look at what I'm picking up hopefully next week.

A VC Mustang with black cover and chrome or polished aluminium base. I wonder was it a commemorative production number mower that was going on permanent display somewhere? The one in colour is an earlier version with G3 carb instead of the G4 set up in the B&W 1970s photo, with a black cover (painted our not?).

So the colour one is definitely painted black but the one in the original picture is definitely a black version that I definitely haven't heard anything about and only noticed because I'm researching earlier models at the moment.

I would love to know if anyone has any suggestions or knowledge about the origins of the mysterious mustang with a black cowl.

I have just had it pointed out that the Mustang is running the G4 throttle controller and air hose system. So they were developing the G4 in 1970 minimum.

No about 1973 they started developing it I believe.

Well can you explain the airfilter assembly and throttle controller in the picture then? How do you know for sure that's when they started the idea, I don't know how someone can just say NO. I'm sure we didn't think the mustang was being developed in 1970. Unless the date of this picture is incorrect, I did get it off ODK.

So many times I hear that info from this era isn't very reliable. Just because you believe something to be a certain way for a long time doesn't mean that your information is correct. Just look at the serial number information all saying that the 73-74 engines were 77 and "WE" proved that the formula being used was wrong.

Cuz I read about it cuz!

I remember thinking the square air filter t bar controller was a whole new thing for Victa in 1988 after being used to the cylindrical design.
Same with the rear wheels with the large white section around the hubcap. Only years later found out they existed since the mid 70s for the higher end models.
I'm still getting my mind around that after 20 years of knowing that.

No way in 100,000 years am I buying that the pic dates from 1970. You have your information crossed somewhere.

Ok MF, I made a big mistake with that picture. It says in the 1970's not 1970 as I previously thought. So yes if the G4 was started in 73 then that at least makes this picture 73 onwards. It still doesn't explain the black mustang cowling but it could be paint, a prototype or just showing what's coming next? Only the people in the picture will know, I guess.

Thanks for challenging my post! I wouldn't have investigated it more if you didn't put forward a very very important argument! I've said it before and said it again, I'm happy to be wrong as long as I'm learning.

That's a mega difference between 1970 specifically and "the 70s"!!
You know how much change in styles, pop culture and technology in general changed from 1970 to 79?
It was gargantuan!!
It might as well have been 20 years or more!
Could you see a Holden Commodore or XD Falcon in say 1972? Only Mercedes could come up with something close back then.
1975 was much more like 1980 compared to 1970.

Only the very start of the project to develop the plastic carburettor we first saw in 1975 with the unveiling of the 500 twin, occurred in 73 some time. I don't know of any pictures of Powertorque motors dating from 1978/79 even though that's when development began for it's eventual unveiling in 82. I think I have seen either a wooden mock up or artist's rendering of the Vortex cover dating early as 1979!

So you know that my main love and passion are the mowers from the 70's with the smaller cowlings, now I still love the 70's Mustangs, but the different colours, shapes and designs of those 70's mowers were some real out there designs, obviously, from a fresh way of thinking. I'm speculating here that the designs department had a shake up of some sort to change the very similar looking 60's models to the very very different looking 70's series, that I considered more like art then the 60's models. I consider the vortex art but to me the money to design new engines, redesign entire mowers and to make mowers that look like art has been heavily out weighed by the extra money that victa company can make with a reliable 4-stroke (Generally non mower people prefer 4-stroke because they have no clue) that goes for function over looks, cheap easy to produce pressed decks and as little changes to their design as much as possible. Where as look at the 70's models, money had little to do with being the best! Pride!!

Can anyone tell me if the model mustang In the picture, from the parts reference manual, is a power torque engine or is it the last mustang before power torque? If it's not power torque then I have all of the models of mustang up to 85-86. It also means I can finish off my little essay about the Victa MUSTANG history.

If it's not the power torque I'm guessing it's the super start side mounted pull starter Mustang. But im not sure about this one model!!! I've put up a picture of the model I hope it is but I need some help putting the rubber stamp on what model and engine the 82-83 Mustang is and has!!!

Cheers and I look forward to hearing from anyone who can help me out with this.....

I painted the grill with so called satin black (I don't know White Knights idea of satin paint, but much nearer to gloss doesn't qualify to me). I would recommend going matt or don't paint it at all.
Just as well it will get dusty soon enough. I prefer how it was. Live and learn.

While we're on yellow as a theme, I thought I'd include a pic of a hubbo on my car's wheel. I filmed it with an action camera. Fun times.

Hi Seanoss, thats a side pull full crank.
Cheers, Ted

So I managed to come across the one catcher I didn't think I would find for a very long time. I'm very very lucky that it just happened to appear.

It's the first power torque Mustang catcher. Green Vortex style and no magic eye.

I haven't got the mower yet but I think the harder piece to find is this catcher. I'm pretty chuffed, especially after winning a grand final.......

Should find the mower to go with it soon enough. Securing the catcher is a good start.
You want to find it's mower as that green catcher doesn't match well with other Powertorque models.

It may work on this refurbished mower ok. Not an original colour but looks great.

Luckily I have the 83-84 workshop spare parts manual. It's not a %100 match, but the 83-84 silverstreak base looks to fit the catcher I have and I've got a choice of 2 silverstreak's to choose from that have been put aside for me as a trade for a 4-stroke rover, that I don't collect.

But thanks for the heads up MF, I'll be bringing the catcher with me now when I go to pick it up and make sure it fits correctly. I wasn't aware that the Mustangs base was different to the other 83-84 decks until you replied to my post. Cheers mate, thanks for looking out for me!!!!

The silverstreak is just a backup in case I can't find the original Mustang. I couldn't believe I found that catcher in great condition. MF I agree with you mate that I'm just bloody lucky! I do a lot of kilometres travelling for things like this tho.... but to me it's worth it!!!!

Thanks for your reply too bigted. I asked the wrong question by mistake. I was trying to work out what the next mustang after the side pull was and if there was another side pull or power torque before they were changed to white. The man MF, set me straight!!!

Thanks to all who have helped me out.

I've been working on the model history of the Mustangs up to the White Mustang GTS with the optional V40 cowling for about 4 or 5 months now and I'll hopefully be able to present it here with part reference numbers, years, engine type, colour and hopefully pictures of all of the ones I have. Unfortunately I don't think I'll find the beautiful cherry red and white 73-74 and a catcher for 1 other by the time its finished.

Your misread my post Sean.
I meant the green catcher for the first Powertorque Mustang you got won't be a good match to other models looks wise because of it's colour. It's 100% compatible physically. It's just a green version of the black Powertorque thumblatch catcher, it just doesn't look any good on any model that isn't green in colour.

Ahh, sorry mate. The silverstreak deck I would use would be getting painted up to match the original colour. That's what I meant, when I said I have the 2 to choose from. Even if I find an original mustang, it will need a coat of paint for sure any way. But would be nice to have an original!

Still, I appreciate the information mate! As you are aware, I shoot first and ask questions later, too often. Somthing I need to work on. I just get all excited and jump into things without using my brain.....

If my catcher could talk, it would say "It's not easy, being green"
🤣🤢🤣

No worries brother!

I happen to like the Silver Streak a lot. I have a side pull full crank version that needs a repaint and some axle shims to solve a bit of movement on the front.

Just hold onto that greeny. If you could get your hands on the fabled 73 VC 125 (thanks to Tyler), a green 84 PT Mustang will surely show up.
There was also a PT silver streak.

Finally found one!!!! Hopefully picking this up in 2 weeks. The 73-74 Cherry Red and White Mustang. That makes it all of the pre power torque Mustangs, I can now start putting the pictures together with the model history from 1973 through to 1981. Now I'm looking for a good quality power torque Mustang from 82-83, as I've already found 2 but they aren't in the best shape, and I need to pick up my 85-86 Mustang with the GTS decals and the V40 cowl that I've already paid for.

🤦‍♂️ I need a truck, so I can pick everything up on one big round trip, I'd need to bring a camp trailer and I'd drive all around Vic picking up all of the 16 mowers I need to pick up. Bloody hell, I only just counted in my head how many mowers I need to pick up that I've paid for.

That's an exceedingly rare find, a red Mustang with matching red catcher. It seems most buyers preferred froggy! Hence a store full of them here.


Green base PT Mustang was late 83 or 1984 and GTS decals was 1987/88.
I think I may have just figured out why the PT Mustang got lower end round throttle assembly instead of the rectangular one the FC ones with G4/LM carby always had. They were positioned at the top of domestic push mowers. With the 1983 introduction of the PT range, the Vortex was then positioned at the top with it's fuller engine cover bolted to the base, and the Mustang now was not, getting a top tier engine bolted cover instead.

Later on, during the GTS era Victa heads decided to cascade the square housing down to lower models, including some higher up steel deck models.

Yes the 83-84 Mustangs was the green, apologise MF I was half asleep when making this post.

But, the 85-86 Mustang came with optional GTS and Turbo decals. I know because mine has them and they are very original. You may have been eluding to the 86-87 Mustang that comes with optional V40 cowl and is often called the Mustang GTS. But the first all white 85-86 PT Mustang didn't come with optional decals and no lug holes for a cowl.

Im happy that most went for froggy colour models. Because I love these more desirable now and seemingly less desirable back in the day models. The only all green mower I love is the VC125...... but I haven't seen a green PT with catcher together yet and I have a feeling that the different shaped of the catcher and colour shade difference will make me a lover of it!!!! Coloured combinations on all the different models from 70's and early 80's are something that made me fall for these mowers. The further along I go and finding all of these different shades of catchers it blowing my mind as I find more and more catchers with difference colours and most are for store brand models. But if they could turn mowers from just tools to a fashion statement again I'd be very happy!!

Thank God for flower power of the 60's so that the designers of the 70's weren't afraid to go out and use some real flair for design and colours.

You got the entire colour palette of Mustang type thumblatch catchers it seems, except maybe the lighter red catcher for the red VC Sports. You are the one who made me realise there were two greens and now two reds in the range.

I think the first Powertorque Mustang was the last Victa with a coloured catcher. They were all black or black and grey since.

So sad the change from colour catchers to black. I have 3 red 73-74 VC-SPORT catchers. The one that I'm really happy about is the dark green catcher without the magic eye for my store brand eclipse, I'm not sure if green is the right name for the colour it's so dark and almost a dark blue but it's green.....

The one I haven't picked up MF Is a purple one for my blue and purple VC-SPORT......

Oh and there are a heap of different colour thumblatch catchers from the 70's in the shape of the Mustang one but without the magic eye for store brands. I know the one with the magic eye comes in at least 3 shades of green, 2 shades of red and 1 shade of purple, that I have personally come across so far.

I've put up some pictures of different colours I've come across. First picture is the one for my store brand Eclipse and matches the deck colour perfectly, the second and third picture are of a low arch, I believe, catcher but another colour, then what I believe the Impala 2 catcher colour might be and finally one of my Red VC-SPORT catchers. But the 4th picture shows a catcher from the early 70's in the Mustangs style but a much darker shade of green, I'm %99 sure that there is another shade darker catcher in that model too that I have seen at some stage.

Here's my input into Mustang month.
This beauty was traded in today and a little TLC and here she is.

Nice one Ted! Thanks a beauty

I demand to know, is that thing a resto or a very charmed life? Very envious if it's the latter.

Haven't forgotten your gold hi arch Mayfair you cleaned up a while ago.

MF it's a combination of both a very light resto and being in a good paddock most of it's life. It was sold 2 days after i posted the pic. The new owner fell in love with it the moment he saw it and i'm sure it'll serve him well for another 30 years or so.
P.S. I did replace the upper and lower handles with a better set of chrome ones i had here after this photo was taken.

Didn't even notice. I was paying attention to the paint on the base. Looks mint in the pics.
Remember I found one like it with no handles at all!
I was given a pair of rather shabby ones with old white paint and some rust over it. I painted them black. Wish I knew what paint I used. They've held up well in the four years since I did them.

PS just had a closer look and it appears it had had a fresh coat of green applied. Makes the mower look a million bucks! If so, what is the paint? The colour match is spot on (in the pics at least).

Finally brought home my 1973 Mark 3 G3 carby Cherry Red Mustang and catcher. I decided to take a couple of quick pictures of it and some next to the last of the Mustangs with the large white cowl, before the side pull start was introduced. So the first and the last, side by side!!!

I do love how the first run of the Mustang cowl had extra slots in it on either side towards the top of the cowl. Any way, hope you enjoy!!!

Your really are breeding them points ignition Mustangs Sean.
If you ever want/need to sell them, bring them up to Sydney. It'll be like throwing meat into a tank full of piranhas!

Im sorry to say that these 2 are a permanent part of my collection now. I'm going to do up the 4 all green Mustangs I have and once I do a few pictures and maybe take them to a local market for a bit of show, then I'll be selling the all green unless I find a 73-74 Mustang in green with the extra vents in the cowl and black hubcaps! If I get one of those I'll keep that but after I've finished the bloodline with pictures I'm moving a bunch of my Mustangs.

Yes the G4/LM ones are far more common than the 73-75 years with the solid rubber wheels.
I do like the last of the all green ones with the carb facing out and the hole made for the snorkel to thread through the cowl.

Much prefer the look with the black covers but the standard orange ones look fine.

Edit: look forward to this pictorial for the Mustang through the years.
The disappointing reality though, is that the first chassis was superior to the ones used for the PT series Mustangs, good mowers as they were in their own right.
They should have kept producing them. I suspect too much reengineering was required so they did a revised version of the store brand/Corsair/Corvette high arch instead.

On top of the re engineering of the design, I'm not sure if you touched on it of its part of your issue with the later design, is the quality of the metal going into the casts. All of the decks I have that pre date 1978 all have much less damage than anything produced from 78 onwards.

I have had to buy 3 of the side pull super start Mustangs to make 1 good one and it's because 2 of them were very good, all accept the bases that have large pieces broke by what I guess is larger rocks

I only see this damage on this era of deck and the second release of the white Power Torque Mustangs. Its the same with my powerplus mowers, the decks all have corrosion or breaks that shouldn't happen and didn't pre 1978! So I agreed that the changes made to the alloy used in the cast made them so much weaker and then design changes caused even more issues.....

You might be onto something there. I've had two pre 78 Mustangs and they never had cracks or holes in their decks but my SuperStart circa 81 has a 6" section of the front skirt pushed in with a crack either side of it instead of bending in from the knock it had.
That's disappointing to hear if it turns out the quality of the aluminium poured into the mould was inferior on a molecular level or due to contamination.

I have a Powerplus self propelled SuperStart with a good chassis. Self propelled system is faulty and motor won't start unfortunately.

My 3 powerplus chassis come off 1 1978 build engine, 1 had an engine swap so I don't know the year and the most recent one I picked up is also 78.

Out of the 3 I have, like the super start Mustangs, I will only be able to make 1 good one because only 1 of the 3 bases are good enough to use, now the powerplus base is a different cast and, to speculate only, to save on weight maybe the walls aren't as thick? I really don't know?

I do know that any of my high arch mowers from 1971 though to 1977 have very little issues with the bases except for 2 and they were a 1973 Red VC-SPORT and the first Victa that started all of this for me my 1975 Green VC-SPORT. The reason that these 2 bases were in poor condition is because I got them very very locally and I live 3 minutes drive from the beach one way and 4 minutes the other way. Most of the soil here is heavy with sand and all of the damage to these looks like sand blasting. Every other hi-arch from 71-77 are pretty good.

The first evidence of poorer quality decks in the 70's that I see starts with the Powerplus and some of the store brand decks from the end of the 70's and early 80's and then definitely show serious deficiencies in the Super Start Side pull Mustangs.

Then the amount of the 86 White Mustang and Yellow Vortex bases that I have seen with massive cracks or chunks of the bases is very high. Those bases appear it be thicker and they definitely are designed to take the abuse on the front, I guess that's been a problem that they wanted resolved for a long time, and in doing so they have gone for a durable but lightweight alloy to thicken things up and really fix the issue with the front breaking. But in doing this to the design or the choice of alloy when a big rock is thrown at the side wall hard the design has been made to reinforced the front of the base and isn't equipped to take that kind of hit on the sides or the alloy has issues with taking the impact of high velocity projectiles but great for low velocity impacts and thus protecting the front from breaking when bashed into a tree.

This is all speculation but is speculation based on my own observations that I completely admit hasn't been over a long period of time.

Here's a couple of pics of damaged front skirts of a Corvette base and Mustang, both from 81 period.
The force seems to have been concentrated on a smaller spot with the Corvette base as I've actually hammered it out and drilled two holes at the ends of the cracking to stop them spreading further. It's not really an essential part of the structure so some body filler or epoxy compound will have the base virtually mint as it's in very good shape everywhere else.

Used epoxy putty today.

I recently bought aluminium flux core brazing rods and a flame gun to fix cracks in my tinnie. Was wondering if it could be used on mower bases or other al engine parts.....
Time will tell as I find the need.
If you want to see video, search aluminium brazing youtube. It's a diy process not like proper aluminium welding.
speedy

Thanks for that tidbit speedy. Someone mentioned it before. While I've been satisfied with the results I got with epoxy compound, repairs with aluminum itself is the ultimate solution if it can be pulled off!

Sanded it down. Should look good once painted. Also rubbed down the entire deck as well as sanding rust off rear flap before a coat of red zinc primer.

Base is looking mint after I recently applied primer.
Can't decide whether to paint it close to original flat green or a very vivid hammertone green that's not original. I think I've made my mind up to paint it in hammertone.

Added another mustang to the collection last week.

Was advertised on gumtree for $15 - shed clean out. Duly fired up first pull when I got there and ran spot on. Catcher only had one small crack on front right lip.
No deck cracks. Was told it sat in the shed for 4 or more years.

Only thing I could fault was the knackered handle - had a poor design victa did not persist with for long (see 4 millionth victa - putting all load through a thin piece of metal didn't end well). Mine is a 13th Week of 1982, so around the same time

I have locked them in for now and will either source a new pair on design a fix.

Took it home and took the cowl off - very few issues. It must have had a decent going over sometime in the last 10 years as all the lines were new, yellow fuel tap with the 'wick filter (not sintered brass), new muffler gasket, revs just right, all axles rebushed and tight. Motor sounds tight as well, so maybe has a new rings?.

The lower handle clasps at the bottom were seized, so they were ripped apart and cleaned.

Only thing it needed was cut out rubbers, air filter and blades (which were truely naffed). Didn't pull the carby as it was behaving perfect.
Greased the wheel bearings which surprisingly didn't spew bearing balls everywhere. Still has the fuel gauge pyramid.

Have to put a new LHF wheel on as it's scrubbed out.

Works perfectly - a truly 'uncloggable' chute


By the way if anyone accidentally loses their plastic 'screw grommets' that mount the cowl to the deck, Champion TF33 work perfect (learnt that the hard way )

Hi Tyler,
I paid that for a cover alone to replace my cracked one.
I need another chassis for the same reason. You got both for the same price. That's in remarkable shape although better lighting would have helped!

The crack in mine is on the front, so it's not structural. Mine also has quite a bit of wear on the edge. Alhh well, time for some more epoxy sticks. At least it runs well.

You even have the original green catcher. Mine's a black replacement version. Look at that paint!