OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers VC-125 Mark I & II Restoration

Back to the discussion, perhaps you could start a new thread asking peoples input on head cleaning for restoration purposes?

I have done that in the past but their really isn't any easy to do it other than the way I'm doing it. I just can't get it right,it's close but it just can't pass my satisfaction test. I just don't have another head to play around with,as this was the worse one I've tried to restore all the rest can and have passed my test. I'm think that I made need to find another head somewhere.

It's true, I recall a number of long chats out on your veranda about this, they always ended the same, no answers, giving up, and trying to see if Abby would do it!

That's right and now Abby is no longer with us and Buddy & Shari. Yeah right they certainly won't do it. So I decided that I would find the way and it turns out elbow grease is the way.

Sorry Ty I forgot to answer this the other day. Yes the height adjuster linkage were painted as far as I know only on the VC-125's. Also the handle lock parts on the base were also painted the same colour,and yes they were originally painted that way. On the 125's these parts were not zinc coated,unlike the 160's which were zinc coated.

There you go, it certainly makes sense, Zinc plating cost more, and at the time Victa wanted to offer a cheaper mower, without taking away from the main design features of the VC-160, such as the catcher size, decompression based Zip start system, G3 carby, dual fold handles and hi-arch chute.

Wow, only a small detail, but very important, and when it comes to VC's, I do love to learn new things!!

Well that's where my job as a restorer gets harder in keeping the attention to detail.Like look at the latch assembly,spring clip latch and the rivet. I've kept them all the original colours.That wasn't the easiest to do,but I did it.

Wow these restorations were put on hold due to the fact that when I was putting the Mark II together I realized I was putting on the wrong handles.
So they were put on hold to find the right Mark II handles.I can't believe that was well over twelve months ago.Where does the time go?
Well I have had some success this week on finding a VC-125 Mark II.
Pictured below,




It was purchased from a very nice young man who was happy to help.
So now I can take the parts off I need and finally finish my resotoration of the Mark I and Mark II.
Unfortunately this mower will be parts only sad I know but at least some of it will end up on a restored mower.

Hello Blumbly!

Absolutely incredible!

Questions:
Is there any difference in the bases (just the base)?
Would you have a photo of the VC125 Mk2 crankcase numbers?

Cheers.
---------------------
JACK.

Jack good question there.There is a few changes to the bases,but they are very minimal.
One of which the casting on the Mark II is a lot better than on the Mark I.Like around the the Victa logo on the Mark II there are no cast lines also around the handle for the rear flap as well as a few other places(more listed below).The Mark I's had these cast marks.Also I'm not sure if this is how they were,but from my observation the Mark I's had a (I) cast into the base where the engine mounts.Marked below in red.Where as the Mark II's (From what I have seen so far) had a (2 or 3) cast into them.
The blue lines are the cast marks I was talking about.

The only other change is the Mark II had extra holes put into the side for the new style height adjuster which was the plastic type.
Mark I

Mark II

Other than that there really isn't anything else I can see or have found that is different.
I haven't taken any pictures of the Mark II's crankcase but it is the same as the Mark I's number except as the model number is different it reads 76720 then the serial number.

Great,

Thanks for that. I'm hoping to use some of these photos for the History Record
and link to this post as a restoration exemplar.

I would like to confirm the main differences. Is this right?

The main differences in chassis are:
- minor changes in base (as discussed here).
- the height adjustment moved from all metal slot and sector to
metal lever and plastic sector.
- the rear flap was changed to a new "Automatic safety flip flap"

Are there any other chassis changes between the models - for the record?

Cheers and thanks
------------------------------
JACK.

Jack there are some more differences so don't do it yet.I'll get some more photos of it all and I'll show you the other things that are different.There's not to many more but there is a couple more and photos do say it better,just don't have on my computer....yet.

We need a "like" button here!

Hello Blumbly and Bigted

Yes, this will become an exemplar of the VC125s.
From Blumbly's vast experience of '70s Victa, we should be able
to create an accurate History Record of these machines at some
point this year.

It is amazing that these 'little' VCs only lasted two seasons
before disappearing - 1972 (MK1) and 1973 (Mk2).

Here's your 'Like' button, Bigted:-



All very likeable.
-------------------------------
JACK.

Not quite right there Jack there was in-fact a VC-125 Mark III and they to my knowledge are as rare as hens teeth.I came close to getting one but it was stolen before I could get the deal done (very long story that one is,it was stolen with a 100 or so other mowers).Very very sad,as it was the only one I've come close to getting in 20 years of collecting.

Hello Blumbly,

No that's not a problem.
I'll listen to the argument(s) for the 3rd version.
For the History Record, though, I will need to take account of the primary
documents that support another version. This may prove quite easy.

WE learnt from the Cortina post that significant changes could be made
within a model year range (the Cortina had 4 engine models within 1969-70,
necessitating 4 Mower Model changes: 69VE; 69VE-1; 69VE-2; 69VE-3.
Should these be considered 4 different 'marks'?

In other words, the 'rare' 3rd MK is more likely to be a Mower model change
within the 1972 range, or within the 1973 range. I must say, I'm reluctant
to use the term 'mark' for these reasons (unless Victa did so).

In any case, this is the best chance to look at these things and get it
factually right, and separate primary sources from other ones.

In just a few short years the VCs will be half a century old!
I'm keen to record the 'most correct' record possible, given the tyranny
of time elapsed.

That's where your superb (and accurate) restorations come in!

Cheers.
------------------------
JACK.

OK then let me see if I can get this right.
As well as the other differences mentioned above here are some other pictures of the different bits.
Catcher Flaps
Mark I

Mark II

Thottle control
Mark I

Mark II

Bottom part of handles to base.
Mark I

Mark II

The only other different's which I don't have a picture of is the Mark II had the plastic fuel bowl.You will see in my photos my mark II has the metal bowl I just haven't put it back on yet.
The Mark III of which still escapes me.

This is the one that got away from me,I almost had it (Bugger).


I hope this helps.With what you are creating.

Hello Blumbly,

That's good.
The 1974 VC125 is completely different isn't it!
The only one with the Mark 3 engine.

Could you tell me the story of the green starter handles?
We're they fitted just to the VCs?

Cheers and thanks.
------------------------------
JACK.

Green handles were only on the VC-125 Mark I and Mark II's.There were a lot of Utility's that had green handles,but there not part of this range.The VC-160's all had chrome handles,that's why mine don't have there handles on yet.I'm still trying to find someone to re-chrome them.The VC-125 Mark III had white handles.
As for the starter handles all VC-125's and 160's had them in the green colour and the VC-160 Auto Drive Mark I only.The VC-125's had just a green fuel cap.They didn't have the fuel gauge part like the 160's did.
The only other mower that used the same stater in the white colour was the Super 24's & Imperial,but they had the black handle.There are others to use the zip starter (Like VC-160 Auto Drives and some utility's),but they were black in colour.
The only other mower I can think of which had a green starter handle was the Impala 2 but it had the more squarer shape handle like the VC-Sports and VC-Mustang types.
I hope that's not to confusing.

Thanks for that. No, not too confusing at all.
Any idea why the re-design on the handle hinges and locks?
The first design looks difficult to release...

Thanks.
----------------------------
JACK

I'm not sure why the change in the handle locking system.It did change from 1972-73 and they seem to keep it that way right up until the bases were changed,when they started using the power-torque engines.Although the VC-Auto Drives kept the same set up.It just may have been Victa changed the supplier or the design.I guess the Auto drives just had enough handles to see that model out.

Thanks for that!

We look forward to the progress of your machines.
Not long now, I guess.

Cheers
-----------------------
JACK.

Yes now I have most of the parts I need it's now just getting the time to do it all.
In-fact here some progress photos of the Mark II after putting it's engine together yesterday.


I think I really need to clean the dust off before the next photos.

The Mark II had the plastic fuel bowl on it.I prefer the alloy one but it's not how it was new.



Unfortunately I didn't get time on it today so that's how it is for this week at least.
I'll keep adding as I go.

OK guys my VC-125 Mark I & Mark II restoration are just about done.I just have to sauce some better wheels (Of which Bigted has got some for me)(Awesome) clean up there catchers.The hardest part is finding someone to do the decals.I know there are some on eBay which I think for memory is also an ODK member.I purchased two sets,but unfortunately 3 of the original decals where done on a chrome foil back.These ones were done just in silver ink and when compared to the original they really don't look right.The others that were done look absolutely sensational.I'm trying to track down another sauce to get them done,which hasn't proved to be very easy as it requires a special printer to print on the foil backs.
Here's some pictures of how they look now.
So from left to right.
VC-125 Mark I,VC-125 Mark II and VC-125 Mark III.




I know there still not the greatest pictures will get some better ones soon.

You could perhaps try the guys that do car wraps for printing onto foil, they seem to have some pretty impressive printing capabilities.

That's a good idea I didn't think about that.Thanks.There's also a printer place on Boundary rd at Archerfield I spoke to some time ago and they said they were getting the printer and materials to do it.I should visit them again and see where there at too.