OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames Victa 850 Professional

Does anybody have any knowledge or experience with these. I'm very dubious of these Briggs OHV motors and I have no idea how good or robust the drive is in these. At about $1400 they would need to be good but I am very cautious, seen too many Briggs with legs out of bed.

G'day Norm,


No I haven't used the 850 Victa but there is a review of the 850 motor here https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/29352/1.html.

I've also seen a lot of Briggs with a thrown rod but most were from lack of oil ,as we know once the alloy rod has no oil on the
big end the rod overheats and breaks if the engine doesn't seize first .

Cheers
Max.

Thanks Max,
Motor sounds to be ok but I am interested in their long term durability and that didn't give me any info on the drive system so I will keep seeing what I can find out about them

Yep I don't think they would be any good Norm as Victa are known for cheap self drive units since the seventies.

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/victa-corvette-500-vgma489-cast-alloy-4-stroke

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/victa-mustang

Cheers
Max.

Hi NormK,

They have two gearboxes for the 850 one is a domestic one CH87295A and the other is the commercial one CH87296A. I have attached a parts list for the commercial one.

Thanks Bruce, I hope my mate doesn't need parts for the box,
Hi Max,too late my mate bought one because he does things on impulse, paid over $1800 for it and his reasoning is if he can mow his lawn 10 times a year for 10 years it will only cost him $18 per cut.. This is the same bloke I rebuilt his Enfield motor several times because he insisted on using the cheap big ends and bearing he had brought back from India. One time when I was putting the motor together he was standing beside me and I said to him "this conrod has done a lot of ks so we should replace it" His reply was "because it has done so many ks it must be a good rod" Needless to say about 5000ks later the rod broke and took out the cases. His reply was "I should have listened" Looks like he hasn't listened to me again, I told him to wait till I had some info on them.

Sounds like the domestic models need the commercial version going by the drama in that review MW posted.
That mate doesn't deserve you NK!

Ok well if he is only mowing 10 times a year he is asking for trouble - trying to push it through tall grass will wear it out in shorter order

If thats what he is doing, tell him to factor in $36 a cut because it will only last 5 years haha

MF, people don't know how to treat a SP box - most boxes are single speed - if you only pull the lever half way it goes slower but its the same as halfway releasing the clutch on a car.

Pair that with them being sealed units with grease not oil and you have a problem.

I told him I could put a brand new GXV160 Honda on his Ariens for $600 and that would have lasted him many many years. Then he said too late I bought the Victa.

Does he have a brain lol?

Hi Bruce,
I had a look at the gearbox details on the PDF you posted. Now I am really concerned about the durability of it. Maybe I should keep his Ariens because if the Briggs lasts I could put that motor on it.