I have this Victa 1968 New Utility which I only use once per year for scalping my couch lawn in spring.
The engine is a 160cc with a G2 carby and has been giving me all sorts of starting issues.
I am considering putting a newer engine on it and was hoping someone may know if this is possible without having to modify the chassis and if so, what engine(s) may suit a direct swap?
G-day tomkatoz, that looks like a beautiful original example, except for the zip starter in lieu of the wind up type, and while you can swap with any full crank engine up to about 1983, I think it could be the notoriously problematic G2 carb that's the problem. Most were swapped for the much better G3. I suggest you look into trying that option first. What a beauty.
Last edited by Mowerfreak; 05/09/2205:59 PM.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
A 160 cc full crank motor with the muffler on the side would bolt straight on ( example ,Mayfair mower engine)
If you use a motor with the muffler at the front you will need to re drill the 4 engine mounting bolt holes in the base and cut a slot in the front of the base for the muffler.( as you say you don't want to modify the chassis)
The front muffler motor can be turned to fit your base but you would need to use the Victa 1968 New Utility cowl starter and fuel tank .The problem with doing this is there's no vacuum connection on the Victa 1968 New Utility cowl for the carby governors diaphragm.( governor won't work) it's less work to buy a mower with the muffler at the side for a donor engine. Another problem with your cowl on a later engine with a decompressor is that the cowl would need modifying to fit over the decompressor unit.
Any Victa full crank motor with the G4 carby will fit but the side muffler motor is less work.
I'd swap to the later motor rather than swap the carby as it's less work and Victa 2 stroke mowers are cheap. I've also seen a few cheap later model Victa Utilities for $10 to $30 on eBay etc.
The Victa Utility below has been re drilled and has a new hole in the front of the base for the muffler.( engine swap) 2nd last mower is the $20 Mayfair and the last is a front muffler $30 mower. Cheers Max.
I have fitted G4 carbs to the G2 stubs by boring out a PT manifold and then fitting a modified G4 carby and they work very well but it is a bit of work
The Victa full crank motor as you have there is, in my view, one of the best engines made for rotary push mowers. If properly maintained and run with the right fuel mix they can last 50 years or more between rebuilds. Even then, in most cases, only new rings and bearings are required.
G2 carbys are more prone to issues than the later G3 and G4/LM. Many G2s were replaced in period with the much more serviceable G3, they bolt straight on. You can pick a G3 up relatively cheaply, or even free if you drive around during hard rubbish collection. The G3 isn’t a totally bombproof solution and some folks do have issues but I have three mowers I use regularly that are close enough to 50 years old fitted with them.
If you can’t easily get a G3 then a G4\LM as suggested by Norm will be your next best bet. There’s a bit more mucking about to fit the G4 though so that’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
Hi Ironbark, It isn't a massive job, it is just a case of bore out the PT inlet manifold to suit the existing inlet spigot and JB Weld it in place. After that it is just fit a G3/LM carb as per normal. Only hard bit is boring out the PT manifold if you don't have a lathe.
The problem is most people don't have a Lathe Norm and Ironbark and if you paid someone to machine the spigot it would cost a minimum of $30. plus the cost of another mower for the carby but it's worth doing if you have the lathe and the carby parts already.
I don't usually call the plastic carby a LM , because I just refer to them as a G4 , the LM just stands for Late Model , so you have an early G4 and a Late Model G4.
Yes I agree, just call it the G4. Maxwestern, it must be a Victorian thing to find those deals. In and around Sydney they want much much higher prices for Victas like that. Look what this seller is asking for a well used PT and old Rover. https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/roo...s/victa-and-rover-lawn-mowers/1296368221
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Yes and No Mf, I see expensive and cheap Victa mowers advertised in most states ,this one below is $25. and comes with a line trimmer, only about 1 hour from Rooty Hill NSW. Probably in general NSW mowers would sell for more than Victorian mowers but the cheap mowers can still be found around NSW.
recently eBay had a Victa ride on mower in NSW for $30.
I've seen cheaper Old Victa mowers in NSW than Victoria some times. Grays NSW has a lot of cheap mowers and some don't even get one bid on a Victa 2 stroke with Grays NSW.
Lots of expensive Victa mowers advertised online never sell ,some sellers just run the same ad for years.
Assuming its only carb issues you are having with the utility you could also consider a slide type carb found on quite a few of the victa "power units" a rotomo carb will not fit as the intake diameter is much smaller, but there are larger ones to suit the series 70 engine out there. I do have one at home i can get a photo of with measurements for reference.
Finding a donor mower for me is pretty easy, theres a good tip shop about an hours drive from home that usually has a couple of full crank victa mowers for $5-10, ill usually get 4 or 5 of them in my little corolla hatchback
Assuming its only carb issues you are having with the utility you could also consider a slide type carb found on quite a few of the victa "power units" a rotomo carb will not fit as the intake diameter is much smaller, but there are larger ones to suit the series 70 engine out there. I do have one at home i can get a photo of with measurements for reference.
That would be appreciated Joe. Can I ask what a "slide type" carb is?
G-day tomkatoz, I think it could be the notoriously problematic G2 carb that's the problem. Most were swapped for the much better G3. I suggest you look into trying that option first. What a beauty.
Thank you Mowerfreak.
Being a newbie to the world of Victa's what models should I be looking for that would have a G3 carby? And am I correct in assuming the G3 is a direct fit as a replacement for the G2 (ie, no mod's required)?
Yes, any discarded mower with a g3 should have the cowl and they swap straight over. There’s no change to the bolt pattern.
If not you can sit the cowl on a depression over a stump and give it a few judicious whacks with a hammer in the spot where the vane goes. Give it a lick of paint and it’ll be good to go.
