I have boxes of the bare basic PT tank top covers. They are usually in good condition compared to the big wide flat tops that were on the upmarket models of which I also have many boxes of them but they usually have broken sections in them. The basic tops do not cover the barrel section of the motors and they are generally rusty and a bit off putting. I just thought about it and with a few minutes with the grinder I was able to make the grey barrel cover fit under the basic tank top so it hides the rusty barrel section. For some reason I can't add the pics, I will try later
I personally like seeing the exposed fins and I understand the rust it's part and parcel due to the heat. That's the same reason I don't mind the exhaust being coated in rust and see little point painting them in heat proof paint.
Even though those lowest tier covers look plain, I think the higher mounted fuel tank helps in using up all the fuel over the lower mounted ones. I hate seeing quite a quantity of two stroke mix at the bottom by the time the mower stalls through supposed lack of fuel.
I'd be interested in seeing this mod you've done NK.
Last edited by Mowerfreak; 27/02/2208:05 PM.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Why not if it's making use of excess lower sections? Could we see what it looks like from further away showing more of the mower? Another day if course.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I didn't say anything upon seeing the initial photos as the unflattering angles made it look a bit shoddy
But the second pictures look perfect and professional, definite improvement over open fins, though I don't mind them myself
In 50 years, collectors are going to come across these odd mowers with different cowls than any victa brochure and plugged up handle ends and wonder when Victa did this stuff
We will have to answer "Well, there was this bloke called Norm..."
For the purpose of selling the mower ,the modified cowl makes the mower look like a later model ,so looks like a good idea, possibly may look better black as Mf suggested but may not be worth spending money on more paint.
I have tried to stay away from selling 2 strokes as no one around here wants them ,if I have one serviced like new it takes a month to sell for $50. then I get lots of offers for $20. .
If I have two stoke mowers that are good but need a service I struggle to get $15.
I guess I will throw out all my seventies and eighties 2 stokes Victa mowers and sell the alloy base for scrap. VC sports ,VC mustangs etc ,all with crack free bases , just worth keeping the motors.
Hi Tyler, I find it too difficult to get reasonable Victa wheels, they are usually junk and replacing the bearings is just cost prohibitive. It is a bit time consuming replacing the axles but not much else I can do. I have to go through my drums of wheels and sort them into what is usable and dump the rest. Yes there is one I put Talon wheels on, probably the best set of Talon wheels I have come across, usually only get 3 good wheels and it is too hard to find a fourth to make up a set Hi Max. I won't sell these PT's for less than $100, massive amount of work to get them to this level of repair. If people don't want to pay, doesn't bother me, they all sell. I didn't have many ready for sale this year because I was busy with other stuff, but now I will put half a dozen together and they can sit there. If I get a chance over winter I will put another dozen or so together ready for when the mower season starts later this year. Please don't dump any of the 2 stroke motors I am happy to buy them from you. I probably have 60 motors here at the moment but I don't want to see them be discarded. Will I ever get to build them all, who knows but I can't build them if I don't have the bits
It's a good solution -for now. Only thing is when these particular wheels fail, you may not be able to easily find the right size for those particular stubs without finding a way to modify another set to fit. I suppose you can lopp them off and fit a new lot lol.
PS, is it too late in the peak season for selling mowers? I've almost completed another mower I want to sell.
PPS just looked at the pics again and it looks better to my eyes. It was just not what I'm used to seeing with a PT mower. Leave it grey! It looks fine.
Last edited by Mowerfreak; 28/02/2210:01 PM.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi MF Tyler and Max, MF, peak season is when people want mowers faster than you can build them, wanting to sell one mower would not be a problem and I'm not sure how the grass grows up around Woy Woy, also depends on how wet it is up around there at the moment Tyler, here is another one I put together a few days ago, this one has a set of Sanli wheels on it Max, The hours I spend building these things is silly, but it keeps me busy sorting out the problems and at the end of the day people get a good mower. Problem is once you get on the train it is hard to get off. I keep having to buy bulk parts to get the prices right and then I have to to keep fixing mowers to use up the parts I have bought and then I still have to try and keep it all cost neutral, I don't make much money but at least it is a hobby that doesn't end up costing me money
Norm ,yes the finished mowers are cheap at $100. ,I'm sure I've seen some of your mowers on Facebook Marketplace after you have sold them and the seller is asking over double your sale price.
A refurbished rear discharge Victa 2 stroke takes too long to sell here even at $50.
I had half a dozen all with good alloy bases and couldn't sell them at $50 so stuck 4 stroke motors on all and they went quick at $100.
Norm ,yes the finished mowers are cheap at $100. ,I'm sure I've seen some of your mowers on Facebook Marketplace after you have sold them and the seller is asking over double your sale price.
Going by your experience, he'll be waiting till doomsday to move them. Doesn't he think Norm would charge that price first time around? Some loons out there will try it on.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I will probably build another 10 PT's over the next few weeks and I will wait till they sell before I build any more. Most likely that won't be to Sept/October when people realize they need a mower quickly. Max I would be surprised if any of my mowers would end up on Facebook/Market place because the people that buy them are sick of buying mowers that only last a year or so. The PT's I sell I give a lifetime warranty on them, my lifetime, not the mowers, no warranty if mower is straight fueled. I see very few come back and usually a float needle problem
I wonder how the straight fuellers react when you reject them after what they've done? I bet plenty attempt to deny it or get stroppy and storm off.
It's encouraging to hear many not needing to return. Are you running out of grey hammertone yet? You can't go wrong slapping that on. A nice neutral shade that takes a few years off them.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF, I have only had a few straight fuelers but you can pick them fairly easily they get a strange look on their face, and usually protest "no no" but it is a weak "no no" and you can tell. Pompis Marine hammertone is fantastic and cheap and just requires a trip to Mordialloc to pick up another 4 litres. I painted the deck on a ride on recently and it came up a million dollars looked like new and I just brush painted it. Touch up is easy and you can't see where it has been done As for the the mower this topic started on I had an email this morning from somebody asking what year it is. He obviously didn't recognize the cowl or wheels. I just replied I had no idea.
The mower that I thought was one of Norm's was painted his distinct green ,haven't seen anyone else paint mowers that green.
Yes I didn't think the seller would get his price any time soon and have seen the same thing happen with mowers I've sold but sometimes on eBay I do see some get $50. more .
I've had a couple come back that were straight fueled , the owners deny it , but it's easy to tell ,the fuel isn't the right colour for 2 stroke mix also doesn't feel like there is oil in the fuel when you rub the fuel between your fingers and the rubber primer bubble becomes very soft when straight fueled.
Both cases I told them they were straight fueled ,then fitted free engines and changed the fuel.
The funny thing is people asking how old the mower is and will only buy if it's 3 years old ,lots of times I've sold 2 mowers at the same time ,one looks new but has done a lot of work the other is older but is hardly used and they all take the newer looking mower.
The new RYOBI mower ad is poking fun at petrol mowers comparing them to dinosaurs.
Haven't had anybody bring me a battery mower yet but a woman down the street brought me an Ozito corded one that her daughter had used one and wondered if I wanted it. I just said put it straight in the rubbish bin, catcher one week and mower the next. I cut the handles off so the mower would fit in the bin easily
