OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Victa Imperial 16" 4-Stroke - Oil Change

I bought this mower used 10 years ago and has been sitting in the shed for 6 years. I pulled it out last night, gave it some new fuel,quick squirt of aerostart and it went second pull.

I would like to know how to change the oil. I can see two plastic plugs. neither have a dip stick.Is there a drain plug somwhere ? Is there meant to be an oil level indicatior ? What is the recomended oil and how much oil is needed ?

Thanks in advance.

We need to know what kind of engine it has, and if possible a picture of the engine. It seems fairly likely it is a Briggs and Stratton, but those have had dipsticks on most models since about 1981, so we need clarification. Their drain plug is also very easy to find on horizontal crankshaft models, and I seem to recall the Imperial is a reel (cylinder)-type mower, which has a horizontal crankshaft engine. Can you give us details please? If it is a Briggs and Stratton engine it has a long series of numbers stamped into the air cowl, near the cylinder head - please give us the whole series.

Hi Mark, and a warm welcome to the forum. It's great to have you onboard.
Re your question, could you please post a pic of your machine and in particular the engine, as from memory, the 16" Victa Imperial used a Series 70; 125cc, 2 Stroke engine, and I wish to confirm this, by the photo.
If it is, then it requires 2 Stroke oil mixed with the petrol to the correct ratio. Also "Aerostart" is not recommended, as it strips the oil film from the cylinder barrel and can damage the engine, with continued use.
Once again Mark,

Hi,

Model : HK30
Spec No: L1283

Not Sure what the tag with 0254 means.

Any Idea when this was manufactured ?

I am going to use this on the weekend weather permiting. Then I will decide if I am going to keep it on sell on ebay.

The HK30 was a three hp four-stroke engine made in the early 1970s. It was a Lauson design (a subsidiary of Tecumseh). Because of import restrictions at the time, the ones sold in Australia were nearly all made here under licence, by Kirby, so they are commonly called Kirby-Lauson engines. They were quite durable engines.

The crankcase drain plug is a horizontal plug right at the center of the very base of the engine, clearly visible in your first picture - the front view of the mower. It is just below, and to one side of, the plastic oil level plug. It has a square head, and screws out. I will be surprised if the drain plug is not made from steel. A plastic drain plug would not be a workable concept, because of the crud and garbage that drains out with the oil, and gets in the bottom of the thread. If you put a plastic drain screw in, it would be destroyed very quickly by the crud.

The recommended oil was SAE 30 viscosity, to the automotive standard of the time (MS). Single grade automotive oils are uncommon these days, but you might find, say, a 20-40 oil that would be fairly suitable. The old MS designation is long gone - a modern oil would be SF or SG standard. I'd avoid using a 10-30 or 10-40 oil if possible, since the engine will have huge clearances by now and the very thin base stock would probably result in heavy oil consumption, maybe even some smoke.

Thanks Grumpy,

So it is the bolt I have highlighted ? The head is actually hex and there is one on the other side(back )as well as another plastic oil level plug.

I found the oil I need in my shed,Victa Formula V 4- stroke high performance engine oil which is SAE30 mono grade oil designed for Briggs and Stratton & Tecumseh Engines. I already use this for my Victa Tornado.
Any Idea what the manufacturers specified capcity is ?

Any Idea what one of these might sell for. One went on ebay recentally not working for around $200

Yes thta would be the drain plug, to tell that the oil level is full once you have replaced the drain plug fill it until oil reaches the bottom of the filler thread.

SAE30 oil is available still, I gte it in 5L bottles at super cheap for $25 when it is on special.

A History Record is now available for the Victa Imperial.
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=72511


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