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

Ok,If you can verify the Automatic went past 118 thou that's fine. I would dearly love to see some documentation for the archives as well as my own records. Someone needs to set the record straight once and for all, maybe you can

The main reason for our assumption of the 117,000-118,000 Automatic end, is mostly due to original examples of model 4 STDS and Specials that have been seen to have started around this serial run.

Since they often came with some Auto parts, this is when most thought was the Automatics Demise, and redistribution of remaining parts. We do know for certain these models got the remaining parts as there are quite a few originally owned examples

As Blumbly says we can only rely on what we know and by examples we can see. ( and more are coming up all the time)
Its only recently all these higher number Automatics are starting to come to light. So If you say yours is genuine and never been touched then I cannot dispute the fact, nor would I question it, it is what it is, and your lucky to have an Automatic in any case.
I don't think anyone will ever know how many model 4s were made with the predicta setup, but with each original example to come up, we finally might start to see an accurate picture, as this remains the last of the early Victas we really aren't 100% sure about its series run
I would love to see some images of your machine, if you wouldn't mind, its always good to see another, in the forums.
Thanks for your input Kyle,hopefully others will come forward and attest to the higher serial run also, and maybe even an original owner who bought his new.

Yes "Predicta " is mentioned quite a lot in the original manual, but the manual title is Victa 18 "Automatic",so yes, Blumbly It is a Victa Automatic...The term "Predicta" is the name for the system set up; not the mower.
We call it a "Predicta" because this set up is how we all came to know this mower, and distinguish it from a plain Victa with an Automatic badge
Either way, they are both correct...just my opinion

Hi Mal, a wonderful post for the archives....I hope you don't mind that I edited it in to paragraphs....for us oldies, it was a little hard to read in its original form...
Your thoughts would be appreciated mate,

Yes,Even I can understand it now! Perfectly done Deejay..I do tend to go on without taking a breath sometimes....lmao.

While we do know so much of this sort after Model,Some valuable Info from Kyle hopefully should add more accuracy to the Automatic run sequence,bringing us much closer to finally getting it accounted for correctly,as this really is one of the last pieces of the story.

Perhaps a register or sub forum on the Automatic" is in order if others are willing to contribute their info?.

Would be great reference since it seems to be drawing so much more attention lately. Just putting it out there:) ...

HI guys i would gladly post some pics of my victas but every time i try and upload it wont let me, does anyone know why????

cheers Kyle

Thanks Blue now I sort of get the picture well written.You should be a writer of some kind of book.I'd read it.
KYLE. GGGG I have sent you a PM which hopefully will help you understand how to post pictures.I mean they have a section to show you how to,but not about what can and can't work.Try what I have got there.

Appears that your 125116 is increasingly likely to be a Predicta, Jonesy! Don't suppose you would like to post pics of your Autos on the other thread, as I don't think the mods have any interest in starting a dedicated thread on the Predicta - no worries if you cant be bothered.

Well just thought I would put up a couple of pics of some parts I've started cleaning up from my Model 4 Auto #112832, I also have most of the base and cowling stripped ready for etch primer, still to hone the barrel and measure it up to see if just new rings required or go oversize, got all gaskets needed and seals, still have to get some bearings. (heaps still to do,I get distracted too easily :))

NOS fuel tank & strap stripped back and etch primed also case bolts etc cleaned up.





A couple of carbys in the cleaning prosess.





Cases are getting close to clean.




Some more bits at the initial cleaning stage.




I am only guessing but is this a standard bore size piston??




will get some more pics up soon.

Thanks for the update Jonesy. Parts look very shiny. We're they just cleaned up and polished? Or we're they painted. Either way, it looks very good so far. I love seeing other people's restorations in action.

James, I'm not painting anything that was'nt painted from factory, and do not want to polish either as thats not how they came out, some of the stuff still looks a bit shiny but I am hoping they will dull off a bit, the only things I feel I might have to paint are things that are steel and may rust, but will look into plating of some sort as that would be prefrable.

well I bought this for $30.75 on Ebay.






Ok, so I was really only after some parts off it, (really one part)





Spot it yet????







got it for one of my Model 4's, all I got sent to me was the Choke, carby & muffler, I would have liked the whole thing but due to freight was not worth it, but just those parts were worth it.

Also picked up a nice, relativly early series 1 in pretty good nik, and with the 8 tab toe ring from the correct erea.












also come with a box of bits.







the tin of Avocardo pait is near full and is worth more than what I paid for the whole mower so I am stoked.

Hi are those wheels still available??

As far as I am aware, the only new reproduction wheels are on eBay

Well Guys got a good score the other day from the guy who is going to bring me a (to be confirmed yet) 1955 Rotomo when he has burnt the wood stacked around it, this was sitting under his shack so he gave it to me, a Rotomo model 3, a few bits missing but it is my first Rotomo so I am stoked, dont really know why the barrel was taken off as the piston and bore look good.

Well picked up another Model 5 series 1 today, put some fuel in it and give it a couple of pulls and it fired, the needle was not shutting off the fuel and neather was the tap, so give the carb a quick clean out and it runs really well. It does have a strange bottom case letter "S" rather than a number so ?? here are a couple of pics.









I give it a hit with the hose and it come up with a fair amount of good original paint left on it.

Well done jonesy, another nice score You certainly know how to find em! Got me thinking about doing a model 5 resto now, I've got a couple here but they're not very original. Looking forward to seeing what else you come up with, thanks for the great pics.

Michael

Yeah no worries Michael, I have the feelers out on a Model 2a so you never know, also waiting for an update on the Model 1 Rotomo I hope to score, went and got some Hammertone matched to suit some original paint off my Automatic yesterday and with the weather picking up should start to make some progress shortly.

Jonesy.

Any advise on the "S" on the bottom case??? I have not seen one like it before.

cheers.

They lost the #5 punch that day and used an S.... Seen X few times now and blank lowers,also serials on lowers. Dont remember any letters other than store/repairers markings. S is close enough to a 5 so I dont think there is a mystery? Somone may know otherwise...Nice score Btw.

Well got this Today and will just use for parts, it has a good base, a bit flat on the left side, good wheels, handles etc, it has a 160cc mark 4 engine, it also has a green plastic fuel tank that I need to go in my V68 self propelled as the one it had, had a crack in it and I replaced it with a black one, it also has the red & white fuel tap but a peice has broken off the lever part, the engine number is 0 top half, 3 740 8059 bottom half, any info for what this motor originally came off would be great as it wont take much to get going as it has good compression, just need to see why no spark but it's too hot so





once again