OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers My new Victa's 18

OK, so just look what I found.


Havent seen it in person yet but told him I will take it and will be going to pick it up as soon as I get back from work.
opinions please?

Congrats Jonesy, looks like a ripper. How are your other restorations coming on?

Its a model 4 standard. Looks like someone has restored it at some point. Although that did paint the boomerang red around the victa part.

Hmmm,maybee a better score than he thinks...Seeminlgy a 4 special/STD,but whats the engine no? Be good to see the Prefix. Maybee another Predicta revert? That would make it a little bit more special. Nice score Jonesy...

Where do you get your info on model numbers, Blue? Are they published anywhere?

been holding out on the engine number, it's 112,832

Nice work Jonesy...Ahh an early Fella.So that settles it then,it was once a Predicta inside the first 3,000 released. Just missed out on the oil nips. Obviously its missing its important bits,but still a good find. I personally think if you dont have a Predicta(which not many do) A revert is the next best thing as it was once and still is REAL, and not a model 4 Special/std produced after the Predictas had been pulled. Id re restore her to its original condition and keep your eye out for the hard to get bits down the track....you never know...Very good find:)
As for engine nos...We have all the engine nos from Mid Fan 1 right up until late model 5 Also the sheerline 6/9 with the latter 5s and sheerlines being a little sporadic,but fairly accurate. the later nos 60/70/80 sereies are held by a few other members who are very knowledgable in this area...Ty Blumbly Deejay and a few others,if you require a number,please ask
Im unsure if a common list has been compiled,as some members were discussing this,I think we need to in the future get together and see if we cant work out an accurate serial run for ALL members

For sure, a compiled list of numbers would be an amazing help to new collectors such as myself. It would be a real shame for all that knowledge to be lost with the old timers.

I don't suppose you know what the numbers for the model 2 Rotomo start and finish at? I've got a resto on the go now with a serial number in the 50 thousands, but am not sure where it fits in the production run.

Naaa They wont be lost as im only 40 years young,lols. But agreed we need a list,might be a job for me to get into:) Ok so a Roto 2 your making it too easy for me.....ok the model 2 run went from aprox between 8,500-9,000 up until 100,000.
So yours falls into the mid run category. early line code should be 2 or 6 with some exceptions. definately has tin wheels (circlip axles)which ran up until approximately the mid 75,000 then the remainder where the plastic wheels. red embossed smiley face choke,circlip carby,central bun muffler,metal T/C plastic for some later. ESS pulley(LRG stamped)Model 2 badge with straight 18 not curved as for the model 1,and offset front axle mounts(not straight as for model 1) Thats about it. one additional( some early model 2 Rotos ran model 1 parts,not so much chassis but head,barrel and brass nut carby,have seen some examples right up into the 40,000s. these parts are also a lot harder to find.
Got any more? lols.

Damn, thanks mate! That info is a great help. When you say red embossed choke, is this the one you mean?


Also, sorry to hijack your thread, Jonesy

hey uniemonk get your eyes off that choke LOL

Ha! You spotted it too?! Do a deal with ya, you let me win this one, and i'll let you know if I see any Predicta parts come up

Your Welcome. Yup,Sure is...dont go to hard on it but,they are getting 2 dear now 30-40 tops,cheaper would be better but you know Ebay:(....its got minimum wear and good shape,will restore back to near new nicely.

The other resto's are progressing slowly as its to cold to paint at the moment, but have been busy cleaning and organising bits, have also been on the road picking up mowers and generally scrounging around looking for mowers and bits, I did the post an add on our notice board at work and have been given two 18's that he is even going to drop off to me on Sun so they could be anything yet, I have also picked up two other automatics that I don't have the engine numbers with me right now but are around the 127k mark from memory, and have a Victa 18 outboard to pickup soon to, I am starting to lose count already

Hey Blue what year or number did the oil nips finish? I will also be keen to see what air cleaner/choke it has on it as I can't see in the pick and also the fuel tap, the old bloke with it said it has a leather pull cord and wooden handle?

Seems tassie is the place to go...2 18s and 2 autos plus an OB! Not a bad haul...Oil nips im certain were up until around the 2,000 mark so aprox 112,000 serial run. The air filter assy Will be the smiley face as per the diagram in this thread,but the embossing will be black not red. Cigar fuel tap is accurate as is twin hole carby cap. check the fuel tank cap for the green(same colour as the groove cover) not black,but they have been painted so check the inside. All Predictas were pull start. pully is incorrect you need the early starter type with the retaining nut,steel cord and 2 piece alloy pull knob and green rubber cover(also same green colour as the cap and groove cover)and also the dog nut for the engine. The four side skirt mount bolts should have dampening springs and cups under the heads if they havnt been lost. All this will then make it accurate other than the flaps and skirts. As for the other autos unfortunately at this serial no they will be nothing more than Model 4 Specials with possibly the auto badge if still fitted. This is the only xtra they got after the Predicta finished that Im aware of.
Still nice mowers though...As for the model 5s wait and see,but I doubt they will hold anything special unless they are by chance a Dep store model. give me the serials and ill date them for you if you like:) hope this helps you

oh I forgot 1 more thing...check the front height adjust axle housing,there should be NO slit on the side(slit added later with the large nut to hold it in place,because the height adjust would move from vibration)

Yeah once I get the others I will let you know, I have got two wire rope starters and alloy knobs but no rubbers for the alloy round handles have got 3 dog nuts in good nick too, looks like I will be on the lookout for a side flap bolt, did anyone see the lot that came up on eBay the other day with the auto with R/H side flap and some other stuff for $450 buy it now, it got snapped up pretty quick?

No slit, got it, have not heard that difference before so all automatics are male?

Male? Ahm... No,They were ammended quite early most Autos will have the slit. But this is one thing I cant tell you exactly when they did ammend it,but very early on maybee like the oil nips,within the first few thousand...Im not sure really if anyone knows. Since you dont have oil nips,id like to bet that your housing has the slit even though its still reasonably early.