Bearing in mind I unfortunately don't find them of much use due to only having about 5 metres of edging where I can actually use it regularly, and the fact I have 2x SPFC ones in very good condition (each bought at the tip for $15 apiece) I probably don't value them as highly as many eastern states people would.
Have walked past at least half a dozen at the tip over the last few years - from some fairly dodgy series 80 models to quite reasonable later yellow PT models.
They are great at cutting retic ditches though, especially with the double width/edge blade.
When these were new, they cost more than a Victa Commando, so they were not a cheap bit of kit. They are perhaps more common over here due to the greater propensity of really fussy lawn owners over here. Even today, most contractors use cylinder mowers.
If you spend $600+ on an Alroh or SB back in the day, then you won't bat an eyelid over another 300 to keep your edges nice.
Thats my theory why they are more common over here
For one in really good condition, running with good paint and nothing needing doing (no grumbly bearings, good belt, etc) I would pay up to $170 - IF I really wanted one.
For the one in those photos, I wouldn't want to pay over $90. Would be nothing wrong with it as a regular knock around edger, but it just doesn't look like really great condition
The full crank was designed more for multipurpose use whereas the Powertorque was engineered as a dedicated mower engine without other uses in mind. The tilt-a-cut was an afterthought repurposed use. They don't like being started without a reciprocating mass a blade disc gives. I'd look for a full crank.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF, even the full cranks are harder I find. This second one I have is like brand new and its a mongrel. Took at least 50 pulls the first times I used it, then have changed all the usual culprits (decomp looks good).
The way I have to start it is turn fuel tap on for 5 seconds, then turn off, throttle on run, prime 1 time then pull about 10 times.
Thinking of swapping the round disc blade onto it and see it it helps
The other one threw me on my bum one day - that was my own fault for leaving the blade off though.
Thanks for all of the input guys! Appreciate it and so does my mate, who found in dumped on the side of the road. I gave him a carby service kit and a new fuel cap. It was running but leaking fuel from all over the shop. So we started cleaning it up tonight but it runs really well. Wheels are solid as a rock. Paint is a little bubbled up.
Personally I never came in contact with edgers in my 16 years gardening until the last 5 because I was taught how to do it with a snipper. Until I started working at a company that took care of a gated community called Sandhurst, which is a smallish suburb with 2 golf courses tangled throughout the houses and streets. We had a 2 kilometre stretch that was the main drive up to the clubhouse and past. With footpaths and it all had to be done a certain way and part of the edging process was done by 1 guy with an atom-edger. Now I have to say the way this company made us do edging and brush-cutting the grass from the edge blend into the height of the ride on mower and where it couldn't get to. I have to say I worked at some places where I thought the edging was good but this company did it on a large scale but to another level of quality. 7 guys every Friday did the entire stretch during spring and summer. The whole place had recycled water irrigation and was always green even during water restrictions.
Anyway, I don't do that stuff any more and I can do my own lawn edges nicely with a snipper.
Thanks again, he's probably going to have it up on ebay tomorrow night.
Hey guys, just been looking at this post. I am basically semi retired but do a little bit of yard work for cash while being a carer for my wife. I have been looking for a Tilt a Cut edger for a while and just came across what looks like an 80 series , bloke wanted $70 and I have offered 50 which he said okay, not picked up yet and have another, a powertorque by the look. He had $100 on it with a leaking carb, offered him $50 for that and he accepted (been on the market for 8 weeks). Have never used a tilt a cut, picking both up today. Probably keep one and sell the other. The 80n series looks a bit worse for where but he says it runs, bit of paint, Grey and orange and will clean up all right. Opinions??
Tyler SPFC? Not sure what this is and what tip?
Last edited by Topcat58; 11/07/2209:24 AM. Reason: add thoughts
MF, you are correct with the PT needing more spinning mass,I recently bought a pulley for a PT Tilt A Cut just to find out about what they were. The thing weighs 3kg, hard to believe they need that much extra spinning mass. I thought adding 500 grams to a PT 24 was about what they needed Hi Topcat58 SPFC is a side pull full crank motor fitted on the earlier models
The tip mine came from is balcatta transfer station. Unfortunately they have more recently become a bunch of entitled fwits who thing crap that has been given to them is worth $$$.
They did have a SPFC tac there a week ago - $35 to 50 should get it.
I am sorry, if you posted this about 3 weeks ago I would have given you the shell of one (complete except wheels and some motor bits). It went on the verge quite quickly.
Hi Tyler It would appear I have become a Tilt a Cut tragic.
Picked up 3 in a week.
The SPFC I picked up today complete for $30. It does run but dies quickly. Have not looked at it yet
The Zip start, I am guessing full crank I picked up for $50 and have done a few hours work with it already.
The S90 power torque I also picked up for $50. In amazing condition. Bloke I bought it of had it on the market for 3 months for $150. You can see by the carby that the primer cap has been taken off and put back incorrectly and apparently leaking. I havnt even attempted to do anything but will have no trouble with it. Will probably end up selling it.
Looks perfectly reasonable to me. You have a great mix, one for everyday use, one spare and one “vintage”.
I’m thinking the full crank version you have there might be the earliest iteration. I can’t remember them being advertised in the Victa range before the late 1970’s. I’ll have to do a bit of digging.
I did a bit of digging and it seems that these first appeared in their full crank guise shortly after the arrival of the G4 carburettor.
The earliest models had white handles and cream/white coloured plastic cowls with the zip start on top. From the appearance and the way Victa organised their styling for consistency I would put their introduction in the latter half of the 1970’s.
