OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines High Compression Powertorque???????

Hi All mower enthusiasts, especially those Victa fans,
Yesterday I saw this Powertorque being thrown out, and being in good nick and having a catcher I decided it was a keeper.
The sticker on the front left me a bit perplexed. I have attached a photo. I think it’s just marketing hype to deceive the public. I have never heard of a “ high compression” Powertorque model.
Is there such a thing, other than a home made version by shaving down the head?

G'day twostroker,

I know there were various power outputs with these engines depending on model, but don't know if this was achieved by a high compression head like the PowerPlus full crank engines of the late 70s.
I don't think Victa would lie with a label like that so they must have marketed an extra powerful domestic model that way. First I've seen though.
Get it going and see if you notice!

Where did you find it? You got lucky there. That would have grown legs fast if you hadn't got to it when you did, especially with that engine cover.

Hi twostroker,

There were high and low compression models, however, I can't remember details about what made them high or low compression.

I am pretty sure though, that the high compression models had a Decompressor Valve coming out of the head. Low compression models don't use these.

If you ever had a high-compression model and the wrong head, someone had blocked off the decompressor valve outlet, or the decompressor was faulty, you'd know because it was damn near impossible to pull start. That wasn't an issue on the lower compression models (When you pull the starter to rotate the engine, because there's less compression on each side of the engine, it isn't as difficult to pull), hence no need for a decompressor valve.

Cheers,

pau13z

Thanks pa13z,

Given that every PT I have seen has had the decompressor head, it seems that it was just a bit of marketing hype.

Or maybe I’m just too young (47) for this forum!!!!!!

By the way when were the Powertorque mowers without the decompressor outlet around? Late seventies?

Twostroker, Victa released the powertorque in 1984.

In the very late 90s, they decided to fit a decompressor-less engine to their base models for a few years - the one I have is a 1999 victa pace.

Even the low compression one will kick most 4 stroke mowers backsides - I did a major scalp the other year with it. Never stalled once, but the 190cc quantum did.


From this 1999 parts manual, I would dare say the 'HCE high comp' was the immediate precursor to the 'vsx160'

Tyler, a decent OHV four stroke like a Kohlër give a Victa 160 a run.

That part list settles it in my books.

G'day 2Stroker ,Mf ,pau13z and Tyler

There must be a lot of powertorque mowers around with the high comp head , my 460 Pro Utility with a decomp
uses the high compression motor. From memory the High Comp motors use a less restrictive exhaust.

Some powertorque engines with no decompressor are low compression engines.

Cheers
Max.

Are the later Powertorque motors with the straight inlet manifold more powerful than the old dogleg style?
They look less restrictive.

Yes Mf , the image I uploaded last time shows the straight manifold and says VSX High Torque.