I recently purchased a Victa Special 2. I'm a bit perplexed by the air filter canister on this model. It is the same shape as Victa Mayfair canister, only in this case it does not have a removable cap on top. In fact written around the top in raised lettering is "This cap cannot be removed". I thought I might be able to get into it by disconnecting it from the handlebars and the throttle lever, but still no go. I can see the filter inside the canister but it seems to be a permanent fixture. There doesn't seem to be any way to remove it. I can only guess the operator had to just blow the dust out of it and keep using it? Or am I missing some trick to removing the filter?
It is actually a light green colour. I'll try to take a few photos. First time I've ever come across a Victa air filter like this one. Was filled with spider webs and leaves and dirt when I took it off the handlebars. I can still breathe through it easily if I put my mouth over the intake part.
I can imagine a lot of operators who had bought this model might have assumed they could replace the filters but were left a bit puzzled when they could not open the canister. I am sure out of frustration more than a few got broken or sawed open in an effort to change the filter. Perhaps this is why Victa decided to introduce the capped tops so operators could replace the filter inside and not the entire canister. If these were regarded as a throwaway item, I guess that might be why there are so few in existence today? It's the first one I've ever seen.
In one set of early Victa instructions I read it says that you shouldn’t hose your mower down and if it’s dusty you should water the lawn before mowing. It seems there may have been a lack of practical understanding in some departments.
G'day all I guess we all get the message that messages were confused. I was not aware that Victa offered throw-away air filter assemblies. I agree with Tyler that this was a bad idea.
This does not sit well with the 'right to repair' movement.
Ah! So it looks like I have the choice of blowing the dust out of the old one or upgrading to a more modern filter. Amazing to think that someone had still been using this mower until relatively recently with the same filter that it had when new. That's a lot of years of dust! Even more astounding that I can still breathe through it!
Must have been exceptional dust free areas it operated V_M. I thought Victa couldn't get any more daft than it's steel deck handle mounts, the idle control and cut out wires of their G4 carby, they do this in the sixties, when right to repair wasn't a thing.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
When I look at practical items, whether it be tools, machinery, implements or fixtures, my attention is generally drawn to how durable I think it might be in its intended use. Then I think about ease of maintenance to extend the useful life.
Victa full crank mowers were generally built in a manner that allowed both easy maintenance and long life. I own a couple of mowers that were initially purchased more than fifty years ago and are still in use. One of them has had very regular use and is only on first oversize rings. A lot of blades, air filters and spark plugs have gone through that machine and three sets of wheels that I’m aware of. It’s the ease of maintenance that I think has kept it going so long.
It’s not like a four stroke where you need to do those oil changes, the two strokes were easy by comparison. People didn’t mind doing a regular air filter change, so why make it so hard? Beggars belief really.
I guess the only consoling thing is that these filters are probably quite rare and "collectible" today. Most operators would have scratched their heads at them and either thrown them to the trash long ago in order to fit a newer model or aftermarket canister, or got cranky with it and cut the top off it. Guess I should put it on ebay as one of those (capital, bold lettering) RARE items and watch the bids roll in. Haha! I couldn't be bothered but will put it away. A good display item for a "museum of early technical mower goofs".
