OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Restoration of My Dads Victa 18

After My Dad past away last year. I decided to give his old Victa a new lease on life. It has a lot of memories attached of him teaching us kids to mow the lawn with it. I hope you guys on this forum can help out with advice and maybe spare parts i need.







I manufactured new stainless steel axles



trying out the wheels and axles. I need to get all parts soda blasted now. Iam thinking of getting a small blast cabinet

Hi Gavin, and welcome to Outdoorking. If the Victa doesn't keep you busy, it looks as if that Mini will.

You seem to be taking a serious approach to your restoration, and should end up with an impressive example of that fairly early model - I used to have one just like it, in about 1964 I think, but it was second-hand at the time. At this point I don't understand why your repainted handle looks like it's a different colour from the old paint, especially when the old paint looked just like mine did on a fairly new machine. Is it a photographic problem, or have you decided to use a different colour scheme from the original?

We have a number of keen restorers of Victas here, I'm sure you will find people who can help you, and who you can help.

Thanks Grumpy. The mini was our family car as a kid as well. That is a long ongoing labour of love as well. I was not sure on the colours for the handles still up for options i used brunswich green. I couldnt source the hamertone paint but i got a guy in Mitre 10 mixed some for me its a bit lighter but should be alright.

It would be good if anyone here can help with the hot start cold start lever or mechanisim on the air filter. some parts are missing i dont have a manual or parts list.

Only if you give me that mini. lol


I love a good mini.


Welcome to the forum, Sorry to hear about your dad.

That resto looks like its coming along well. I like the stainless steel axles.
Are the height adjuster gears new or did you salvage them from the old axles??
A few comments have been made about the reliablity and ease of use of the height adjusters.

thanks Rodeobob. The mini will never be sold. "i dont know if it will ever be finished".
I salavaged the old height adjuster gears and welded them on to the shafts.
I did draw them up on Autocad and was going to make them out of stainless but i thought because they are inside the housing well lubricated it would be ok.
Stainless is good for corosion but is not good for wearing or very strong for the gears. the axles wont be doing much work because it will be a show piece.

Hi Mate, Welcome aboard!

More than happy to help where possible mate, you might have trouble with the choke lever from the air filter, as that is quite a rare part, however, Ebay has them every now and then, and I can check with a few sources, and see what I cant find for you.

If you could list any parts you need, or concerns/issues you are having, there are many here who can help.

The manuals section has parts lists, dating guides and repair manuals that can help you here, and if anything is missing from the section that you need, just let ma know, and I will pop it up.

Any Gregory's manual for Victa engines will cover your engine (excluding the later manuals for multiple manufacturers, just look for the ones that are just Victa)

The mower itself is a Model 5, series 2 I believe, it still has the slot for the never released edger attachment, but the extensions on the front for the model 4 flaps are not there.

I believe this one is 1957-1959, but someone here may be able to pin that down more for you.

The original colour is generally accepted as Avocado Green hammer-tone, however I believe this s because that was the colour used by Victa HQ, in reality, many shops selling these at the time assembled and painted them in store, and the colours used varied from store to store, so there s variation, even back in the beginning.

The carby is a Victa 3f, any parts needed for this, I can get you, gasket set for this mower are available here, in the online store.

your starter has me interested, as i believe that one was from an earlier model, however i could be mistaken.

Also, you will wan t to change the blades, as from what i can see, those are actually later blades, and will eventually cause a groove to be cut in the underside of the base (if they have not already)

The badge pops up ever now and then on ebay, but be careful of reproductions, not that it's an issue if you don't mind, but f you are unsure, let us know first, just to make sure you are not paying original price for a reproduction.

You have a head start on many collectors with the toe ring, that in itself is a hard part to find.

Anyway, good luck with the rest of your restore, and as I said, please list any parts or advice you need, and we will do or best!

P.S: if the round muffler plate from underneath the base had any light coloured fibrous material inside it, get rid of it careful and fast, they used to use asbestos for that!!!

Thanks Ty
When i require more parts or good advice. its good to know i have some where to come.

No worries Mate!

Just let us know anything you need!

Hi Gavinm and welcome.So far I think your doing a great job on your restore,keep up the good work and you will end up with a fine example of the Model 5 Victa.Just a couple of corrections for what Ty (Mr Davis) said.It was not uncommon to find the wire starter on this model.This one is most likely the earlier of the series 2.I'm actually also restoring this same model and it also had the same starter on it.Also with what you said about a light coloured fibres material under the exhaust plate.If it was light in colour it would most likely be a replacement one.The asbestos ones that were under there would almost come out black.Certainly a very dark brown,and should be deposed of,try not to tear them.They won't kill you that takes years,but it isn't the sort of stuff you'd like to risk it with.Have fun and keep us updated.

been a while since i have worked on victa but here is the progress.

Cool coming alone well.Keep up the good work.

^^ditto^^

yeah keep the photos flowing

Hi Gavinm, and congrats on your resto thus far, I really like what you have done with the axles....brilliant! The Avocado hammertone on the base looks a close match to the original...well done mate!

Re: the handles, there is a line of thought that they were not painted in hammertone but in a solid finish in mid-Brunswick green, but with so many changes (with many stores assembling and painting the machines they sold) it is hard to know what is correct. Maybe one of our Victa gurus will jump in here and let us know.

With the Victa logo on the base, Killrust makes a paint colour called "Delicious Red" which is very close to the original....and of course, you will realise that the 'lightning flash' is left unpainted; just in the Avocado hammertone.

Looking forward to seeing the pics as you go along.

Thanks Deejay. The handles are solid mid brunswick green. worked out a good match to hammertone. I am not 100% happy with the hammertone finish had to do it several times stripping back each time. tried with a sponge and very small roller came up ok. the paint was mixed for me by an old fella (retired painter) from our local mitre 10. he did a good job.

Getting closer to finishing. carby and exhaust fitted. Ordered a throttle cable. The choke air filter tube is from a newer model. I modified it to fit, till can source the correct one. If anyone can help with the choke hot cold start switch eg pictures would be appreciated. checked timing all seems ok.





It will be 12 months next month since Dad passed away;
I would love to start it up again on the Day

I just check my Photos and i have the pull starter on the wrong way

You do indeed,but other than that. Excellent work your dad would just love it.Well done.

So how can i get my hands on Victa 18 special badge would prefer replica (only if you could find a mint condition original). also as i said last post. Description of choke internal mechanism. still could be in the old mans parts I just dont know what it looks like.

Hi Gavinm, and on a great restoration. What a fantastic tribute in your Dad's name...Well done mate!
Re: the 18 Special handle bar badge...you will often see very good reproductions on eBay (as has been mentioned here, just be careful you are not paying the price for a mint genuine one ;))
Also on ebay you will see reproduction fuel tank stickers; one of these would look great on your tank and finish it off nicely...Here's a pic;
Unfortunately, I have not seen inside the large choke/air filter on this model...so I cannot help you there...Perhaps one of the Victa gurus here will jump in and throw some light on it for you.
Once again Gavin,

Thanks Deejay, I have seen those stickers. Next on the list.
Just another question for the gurus out there. Does it matter using unleaded petrol to mix 2 stroke and the mix is 1/3 pint to gallon. Is this 150ml to 455 liters approx ?

Unleaded petrol does not act in exactly the same way as leaded, since when leaded burns the tetra-ethyl lead is converted to metallic lead, which lubricates the valve seats and guides on a 4 stroke. In the case of a port-controlled 2 stroke there are less likely to be problems but you would have to try it and see. On the other hand I'm not personally aware of Victa 2 strokes having problems on unleaded fuel.

One imperial gallon is 8 imperial pints, so the mix is 8x3, or 24 to one, petrol to oil. That means you would add 167 millilitres of oil to 4 litres of petrol.

It wont affect a victa 2 stroke, and the mix I have always run in any victa engine is 25:1

Hi All, for my 2 bobs worth, I will second Joe's suggestion...I have always used 25: 1 with the Tilt-A -Cut (full crank) 2 stroke as recommended on the sticker and never had a problem....Use a good quality 2 stroke oil...this will never let you down.

The main thing to remember is to use fresh fuel; preferably at the start of the mowing season (Spring) and use premium unleaded rather than regular unleaded; so that you are not affected (by ruthless operators not stating or publishing that their fuel contains a percentage of ethanol) This has happened quite frequently in my area; (mostly the big brands...but occasionally with the Independents) and can cause some problems if left to its own devices over time, in the tank and carby. There is a good thread on this, in our archives, (if only I could find it!! )

Thanks guys

could not start the mower found a cracked bush on the starter. Will try machining a new one.

Best to keep an eye on eBay for that,I know that I won't have a spare.Don't have enough for myself.

I finally got back to working on the victa. Machined a new starter bush. fuelled her up and she runs like a dream.
The only things I need now are a handle badge probably a replica due to cost and the internal mechanism for choke. If anyone can help will be appreciated.

here is a link to video of Me starting it. Great source of pride that it still runs.

Hi Gavin,
on an awesome restoration, your Dad would be so very proud of you, and she runs! Well done mate!

Could you please post a few close up pics for our archives, its always nice to see the finished product.