OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers my vc mustang :-)

Got my vc mustang out today an I had to fix the pull start, an for some reason the person before me had played with the carby an when they put it together they had left out bits. So also fixed up the carby an put a snorkel on it. Only thing left to do now is the kill wires cause they have been cut.

Also looks like the hose for the decompression value has been blocked off.

Yea this one doesnt run a decompresser

it should have a decompesser though , does it have another hole in the head on top under coweling ? makes them really hard to pull if its blocked off , hard on the starter too !

Na no hole for it in head. But yes very hard to pull at times an thats why I had to do starter. How would I go about puttin one on?

I can see the hole in the cowl for the hose to go through.Most likely some one has put an old spark plug in to block the hole.You just need to take the cowl off and put a decompresser value in and then run the hose to the carby.

So I took the cowling off an what I found was a spark pkug replacin the decomp lol

See I told you that would be there.

U sure did. Now to get a new/another decomp for it an it will almost be done :-)

You should be able to get one off pretty much anything from the same time.As long as it fits past the fins on the head.You may even be able to buy a new one.Not sure if Bruce has any.The only thing is it will be a sealed unit unlike the original which were serviceable units.

Yea iam gunna try source a second hand one first as new they are around $30-40

Good luck sorry I don't have many myself and don't have enough spares.I'll keep looking maybe soon I can find another oldie.

Thanks :-)

I do have a bunch of second hand ones at work.

There you go nathan_867 you need to have a talk to James P.I think he could help you there.

Im sure that any mower shop in your area would have some second hand decompressors around. Unless they scrapped all their mowers including rare early Victa 18's, (without telling me. Not mentioning any names) Or they might be too lazy to get a 3/4 spanner out and take one off and try and sell you a new one.

Another option would be find one off any older 160cc engine as Blumbly said. You just want to get one that is repairable with clips and not the newer sealed ones (garbage).

If you still have no luck I may be able to help.

I know that most mower shops here don't have older mowers for parts they would prefer just to sell you a new (junky)one.

Yes that is why I get frustrated with other mower shops these days. They just dont care and scrap anything that is not bright victa blue. Maybe I should edit my post and say 'SOME' mower shops keep old parts instead of 'ANY'.

Its very frustrating but true Blumbly. At least we keep old parts at work. If they try to scrap them, I take them home, lol.

I guess there is a couple of reasons why.
1.I guess demand for the older parts isn't very large.So there just storing parts that could sit there for years.
2.It's easier just to order in (If available) and possible make a bit extra on the part.As well as not have to have somewhere to store the parts.

Yeah thats all true. Plus:
- Some small shops dont have the room to keep many parts. Space is limited.
- There is so many new parts off newer machines that are comming out every year. These parts must be kept in stock because there is customer demand plus contractors need parts installed on same day. So old parts get pushed aside.

When does a customer come in with his vc125 mark II for a service. I would be first to take the job. Since I started at work I have seen one vc mustang. And it got written off.

'Sad but True'.

I guess would have been due to parts harder to find?

No not at all. It has to do with money.

When we quote them 150-200 for a full service, they dont want to even go there when they can buy a $299 victa 18" brand new.Or even cheaper at bunnings. People in general arent focused on qualilty, they are focused on price.

Alot of things are just not worth fixing any more. At least in there eyes anyway . Ok enough of my little rant. Let's keep this on topic.

That surely can't be the price on a service? I mean say it was a newer mower is that still the price?

No. A newer one that gets looked after would be around the 110 to 140 mark. But all the older ones that come in get thrashed and when alot of parts need replacing it all adds up.

Sorry mate, I didnt mean to shock you with a price but alot of mowers that come in just dont get looked after.

You should take them home maybe we could use them or parts of them.

Lol that what I am doing from now on...Mabye a VC auto drive will come in lol.

Thats the thing I dont like the newer ones an I would spend the same amount an buy a older one. Built to last :-)

Yes that would be good James. Nathan I'm a bit the same way. I'll never buy a new mower,there just doesn't seem to be any quailtiy control anymore. The old girls were always made to last.