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

Nips and a slit?! Reminds me why I like mowers so much

Bows* Nice work old boy! I never intended it..HONEST..Evil Grin* lmao

well off to pick it up in the morning will let you know what the verdict is on HER fuel cap and tap and I'll be real keen to check out the slit. but I do know it's a true predictor, hope he has a couple of flaps for it

OK I'm back and I'm stoked, chech out the photos (heaps of em)first the over all.



Now the engine number.


badge in good condition, only a bit of overspray.


only 3 side extention bolts but they are complete with cups and springs.


And it does have oil nips, question how do the plugs come out are they just pushed in or threaded?


No slit.


Air cleaner/choke, has red writing.


Fuel cap is green.
[img]https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/uploads/usergals/2013/06/full-6801-11299-cap_top.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/uploads/usergals/2013/06/full-6801-11300-inside_cap.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/uploads/usergals/2013/06/full-6801-11301-inside_cap_2.jpg[/img]
Cigar tap.
[img]https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/uploads/usergals/2013/06/full-6801-11302-cigar_fuel_tap.jpg[/img]
Two cable carby.
[img]https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/uploads/usergals/2013/06/full-6801-11303-2_cable_carby.jpg[/img]
Groove cover nuts and bolts.
[img]https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/uploads/usergals/2013/06/full-6801-11304-groove_cover_nuts.jpg[/img]
the wheels are in very reasonable condition and will see how they clean up as I would like to keep as much of the original bits on it as I can, one hub cap is missing and one has had the center V rubbed off but thats no biggy, well I am very happy with the condition with the mower and it runs very well also, maybe just a brush up of the pionts and check the timing it should be sweet. that will do for now, I think the $150 was cheap.

Here are the pictures that didn't work.You posted to many.






Wow jonsey I'm not sure you really know what you have there.With that engine number and the extra bits I can tell you that when that left Victa it was a genuine Model 4 Automatic.Will all the flaps and guards.With the bolts around the edges they are screwed in.If you decide to remove them make sure you soak the hell out of them with something like oil for a long time.Remove the extra paint etc.They may still even break I can see one has already.The problem is they are steel that has rusted in alloy.Very difficult to get out without breaking.You still have on there the original small height adjuster with the caps on.Mine doesn't even have that. and welcome to the non-complete automatic club.Well done that was a great score.

yep I know what I got, the guard bolts I have just taken out OK, very carefully and with some Inox to help, without trying I'm after the info about the oil nip plugs for lack of a technical term so will leave them until someone comes forward with how they fit in as the front one alreadt has a bit chipped off it, something else has me stumped as well, it's what type of tool do you use to take the grub screw that goes into the shaft of the wheel adjuster, it's the one you can see from the outside of the axel housing as I have got quite a few that need stripping down and freeing up, after looking at the choke the other picture that was put into the post does not have the sad smiley face on it, I thought the predictor was suppose to have the one like mine does only have black writing on it, but blue mentioned the other one was correct also, did they come out with both types? I was also wondering if everything else is so correct with this mower why would it have red writing and be wrong, what other models had the sad smiley face choke I wonder, also when I was taking out the guard bolts I did notice one that did not have a domed/rounded head so it might be a ring in also. will take a photo of the grub screw I am talking about if ya's cant work out from my discription.

any help please?

Oh yeah thanks for fixing the pics to Blumbly.

You were lucky getting the side bolts out.I'd say they have been taken out before.Not sure how the oil nips come out,as I said my automatic doesn't have them.With you height adjuster problem,once they are off the base the shaft that pokes out for the rod (front to back)(I think this is what you are asking)just pulls out.They will be tight as they have been in there a long time.I just carefully price them out with a screw driver.Some can take some time,but they will come out.You also will see on the opposite side the end of there shaft,just a small round piece.You can use a small punch (Not to hard) and knock them out that way.Those cokes ran right from the model 1 through to the model 5 so it does have the correct choke on it.Hope this helps,have fun with it all.

yep thats it thanks, now I can see what the go is, I just didn't whant to break nothing, thought the end of the shaft was a grub screw type set up. I just noticed Blue has nips on his predicta so he might know?

cheers.

Ahhh was wondering about that???

The automatic didn't have a throttle control. It was controlled by the front and rear flap. Of which there was a cable connected to the front and rear flap. So you had a cable coming from both. They both connected to the carby. So both cables went into that brass fitting. That's why there's two holes there. It was surpose to rev the engine as the flaps went over higher grass and less for lower grass. The theory was good but apperantly this failed and that's why the project was scrapped. Most automatics were then converted back to the throttle type like your has.Hems making them rare and very collectible with all the gear still on them. As not all were converted. There was only 10,000 full automatics produced. How many are left who knows.

Worked out well jonsey, as I said shes a factory predicta....all correct even the skirt bolts have their cups. All the bits you couldnt see when you bought it turned out accurate. Smiley face is fine, red or black is ok....oil nips are press fit, ,gently prise them out do the damaged one first and be gentle. Yeah 150 is a good price, Although its a predicta its still missing its goodies, but a very good early example. Id put its current value around 250-350 as is. very pleased we have another in the forums...love it! Also we now know the nips went longer, but id say yours is definately one of the last....and no slit! 1 more thing I forgot to mention...with the nips and non slit early run predictas..had the height adjust housings in hammer tone colour as well.All the following models were plain alloy..now you know everthing their is...enjoy!

Thanks Blumbly & Blue, I have been scouring the site and writing down all the info I come across and have made an Excel spred sheet with all the differences between models & series, am just starting to add engine numbers to it as well because I would love to get a Rotomo or two as well. I'm glad I found you guys as your help is invaluable thanks.

All good, afterall its nice to help out another Jones....lols. I did say that was everything...but well it never ends...I got another less known fact...the starter....check all 4/5 starters they have the rivet pin that holds the recoil spring protruding through the housing on the side. The early predicta does not. I guess being the first model things went wrong so they ammended them...height adjust lock, oil nips starter....and the whole predicta set up...lols no wonder it was a flop. If I think off anything else ill let ya know...ha ha And yeah Rotomos, can never have too many!

Right! So is this correct???? below are the only 2 wire rope starters with wire rope, so the one on the right is the correct one for the Predicta, the other green one would be off other model 4 and early model 5??

This one is a wire rope one with a normal chord on it has a screw in the roll pin but the same flat top so presume the same as the green one above?

Now this one from what I gathered from what you said is maybe not an 18 starter? or could it be off a series 3 or what year?, you have really thrown a spanner in the works here Blue As here I was thinking I was getting close to haveing enough starter for my mowers.

Blue another point you made in another topic someware you said the predicta's had a straight bar spanner? does anyone have a photo of the beast? I got a spanner out of Dads shed but with no bar, still better than the one I had, I can remember having at least a couple of them over the years but probably just got turfed and now I want them back

Yeah Unkiemonk i've looked at those picks too and also wondered which is the right tank sticker as they are both different? I think probably the second photo but there is two different versions of them also one has Green writing and the other has black writing? buggered if I know is there a thread with you Predicta on it as I have not seen it?

Here she is. Front flap still is not connected, as is NOS and dont want to knock it about until the mower is cleaned up. Overall, she is missing more bits than she has (starter cup and handle,side skirts, tail flap, and correct choke) but with a number in the low 117 thousands, she seems to be pretty sound and worthy of preserving. I'm yet to strip her down and clean her up, and am still unsure if I should go ahead with a full resto or leave her as is. Most of the paint is gone from the deck, so I may end up restoring, but I do prefer original and unrestored mowers, when the condition warrants it.

Thought I would throw up a few pics of the front flap, as they are pretty rare, especially in NOS condition as this one is. It had been sitting in the same cardboard box on a shelf since 1958, with a note saying "very desirable"....I'll say! Even came with an extra cable and an alloy piece I'm yet to identify (see the last few images). I'm pretty sure it is the adapter and spring for the rear flap cable, but I'm sure you guys will be able to set me straight and ID it for me. Another interesting feature are the clips on the cables. Are they intended to be screwed to the holes next to the axle hounsing? Any thoughts?

Ok the starter with the lock nut and no protruding pin is for jonseys.the early runs. The starter with the nut and exposed pin is later predicta and some early model 5s. The blank/plain starter covers all the rest. The 2 predictas in the diagrams are later models 1 is correct. The straight handle on the predicta spanner has been said to be accurate, but ive yet to see a diagram proving this..mine is straight but innacurate as its ends arent flared. So until I see an image or advert I cant be certain, but for a few reliable sources. Incredible score on the flap! Other parts...who knows..the front complete is the rarest...the skirts I see usualy around the 300 mark each and rear flap fir 500.00 but this is high end price...but truthfully you could spend this an come way out in front.....the last predicta complete I saw sold for2, 000 but the engine was wrong and later version. Yours whi knows between 3 and 4, 000 id reakon...id really love to see another complete..and with yours I dont rhink you can lose..very good example, hipe you get the opp to finish her

Thanks Blue, I just hope I can do it justice! So do you have any idea what the alloy part in pics is for? Also, do you think with an engine number in the low 117 thousands, the correct starter for my mower is the later type with the exposed screw?

Sorry which alloy part? Stupid phone I missed a few posts, yours has the flap not jonesys,my appologies as I based my comments on his early model( but yours is still the same just later and maybee a TINY bit less in value,when its all complete,but id say negligable as they are all so rare...Ok Ive caught up Now I think lols. Please show me the part if you dont mind. Correct starter for yours is locknut with exposed pin. Sticker colour for early predicta (jonesies) concord/green/red. Now you need check what year they moved to milperra as I cant recall off hand as it is then full red. But im sure all predictas were concord,so green/red, others may know for sure. Also ill do some checking as your 117,000 may be the last predicta as this is where they crossed to the model 4 special/std where they ran approx 10,000 with left over bases, auto badges and starters,right up until the model 3 started at around 128,000. So I cannot be certain 100% yours was/a factory predicta....but I think it might just be inside the run....Check with Blumbly as I think his is a later version and you may be able to use his as a better example for accuracy.

"Which alloy part?" The one in the last two images I posted, sitting next to a couple of springs.

Cheers for clarifying the starter issue up for me. The search begins to find one now lol

Interesting stuff regarding the serial number. I was under the impression the Predicta's ran into the mid 118,000's, so I hope she sneaks in. If you're out there Blumby, can you shed some light ?!

Yes between 117 and 118,000 but i dont know anyone who knows for sure. But most are of this opinion...Im just a little wary when they get up to this number as ive seen many fakes and people who still dispute they went up to 127,000-128,000 which is definately INCORRECT.....There are other ways to clarify,but im sure yours is a Predicta.

Well, Well, Well lets just throw another spanner in the works, (by the way nice score with that front flap ya B%^*?/ard, ) the hardest part to find aquired first I would be smiling if it was me, anyway the spanner, look what I got today.






She tells me that 23 years ago it was rebuilt when they lived in Melbourne, it also had a different carby put on it??


So if the Predicta set up was such a flop, why would a front flap have ever been on a mower with this late an engine number???? SPANNER complete.

No spanner....The first clue is the engine rebuild. It was very common to just switch engines, exchange if you like. It has a std pull start and correct carby for this model 4 engine no. The line code of 4 is another clue as most 4 special stds had this code, predicta often carried code 2. My opinion is this is a factory predicta with the incorrect engine. To my knowledge Predicta went no where near this serial number......the fact it has again some of its correct parts tells me it was real originally. Usually when this model has its skirt bolts its often real as they were not parts carried over to the model 4 special/std like the auto badge was, it was just not necessary to add them. I think it impossible to dispute the predictas engine run to the17-18, 000 run as it has been highly researched, and well documented. But if for some reason weve all been misled id love to be proven wrong...I wouldnt mind learning something new....you may have somthing unique...that would be cool:)
.

Major spanner there mate. It seems unlikely that a front flap would have ever been retro fitted to a standard mower given that they supposedly never worked. Also appears that it was changed to a regular style throttle at a later date. Seems like Predictas may have run well into the 120 thousands after all? And what about that line code 4? Does the carby still have the dual cable barrel? And what about the choke? Its got the old Rotomo style rather than smiley/sad face. More questions than answers eh what!

I recon Blue is correct with the engine swap (bastards weres my engine) and the carby is single cable slide, the choke who knows? I have started pulling it down and it was definatly painted while all together and I noticed the handles being a darker shade of green than the model 5's that I have seen some original paint on, was wondering if the early Mod 4 got the same colour as the models 1,2 & 3? what colour is that please Blue?

Sorry unkiemonk I must have been editing,when you posted. Re read my post if you like:) I deleted this second option as it didnt seem plausible. My point was however,that the other alternative was they had a Working Predicta with a blown engine and decided to put all the gear on the model 4 special....A long shot as it would be much easier to just swap engines from the special to the predicta,but yes Agreed it would be a fairly unlikely option,but an option none the less. Im sure it was just a simple engine swap from the model 4 special,as this mower in my opinon is or was a definately a Predicta when new. I doubt id take the view of later sequence/numbered Predictas because of the extensive research done on them over the years...Im sure about 95% of info on the Predicta is accurate and proven many times over...The choke isnt a real issue as it is where the models intersected and the use of earlier parts on next models was common,as for the carby it would have been swapped along with the engine,cowl and starer pully...
As for paint Jonesy As far as im aware..NOBODY knows of the exact paint code for the Victa green...Most use killrust epoxy enamel in Mid or Dark Brunswick green as its fairly close and with so many using it,has made it almost the uniform colour choice. So yeas since the model 3 came after the model 4 and has the same shade id say its the same as models 1 2 and 3. But in my opinon the model 5 is a lighter shade again. But seriously,dont spend to much time with paint as they often changed suppliers,mixed their own,shops mixed as well and the shades were always different so as long as its close go with it. The same applies to Galmet Hammer in avocado...You CANNOT get an exact shade with any formula so be wary... I found a paint match to be better and more accurate to the original colour. Just my opinion from My own experiences.

Yep thanks for the paint tip, will test a bit next to some original before I paint the bases, bloody cold weather