OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Victa 4 Star & Victa 4 stroke

I have one of each not restored as yet
These two mowers have a lot difference
The 4 Star has a Lauson engine
The 4 Stroke has a Kirby-Lauson engine with the only difference in appearance is the Lauson engine has a oval air cleaner where the Kirby-Lauson engine has a round one

The 4 Star engine has no gape from engine to base where the 4 Stroke does


The base is also a different shape. In the GREEN book it show the 2 bases
The 4 star base is more of a square look where the 4 Stroke is more rounded


The under side of the base is also different
The 4 Star has ribs the 4 Stroke does not


The throttle on the 4 Stroke is not original the last owner fitted it
These mowers most likely come under the heading of being a SHEERLINE
Ian

nice work. i did not know they were different as i only have one. now i will have to check to see which ONE it is? there is no gap from engine to base but i was sure its a 4 stroke.round filter too

Looking at your pictures its the same as 4 Star
if you can read the engine plate the 4 Star has LV22B engine the 4 Stroke LV30 engine
Ian

Hi Ian it's not that the engines are very different just was in between one company taking over another.The four Star was also know as a Model 7 and the four stroke was also known as a model 7a.
The four stroke run a LV22B Lauson four stroke and the four stroke run a LV30 Kirby-Lauson.
They were kind of nick named a four stroke Sheerline and they did have the same base.Not to sure why you think the bases are different as the only change was the extra ribs under the base.Also to pull the handles off was a little different.The four stars could be removed by pushing inwards and up.The four stroke you had to undo a scerw either side and then push in and up.Which was direct from the Sheerline.
You should (unless it's been changed) find two different carbys between them.
The four star has a Tecumseh carby (can't remember which model it was)and the four stroke run a Zenith carby model AH914-B2,I think.
You have the oval air filter,that is awesome I'd love to see some closer pictures of that.As most were replaced so they are getting harder to find.Mine doesn't have it on.
The four stroke had a spacer under the engine,my guess was just for looks as it didn't serve any other purpose than that.
You can see my two here,My model 7 and 7a four stokes
Gizmo your one is in fact the model 7a,or four stroke.

Hi Blumbly
The bases are very different on both sides here some better pictures that might show it better
4 Star

4 Stroke

The other side
4 Star

4 Stroke

Also the base is different when the engine fits and is listed as 2 parts in the Victa books you can see the difference as below, the engine mounts

AS you would know the 4 Star was made from 1960-61 the 4 Stroke 1961-62
I wounder there is a over lap of models or was the base shape changed while is was still a 4 Star which would explane that your two bases are the same
Ian

Carburetors
4 Stroke
4 Star

Hmm strange I'll have a better look at mine as I have two of each base and I haven't noticed changes as their bases where used for both two and four strokes.If you have a look at a Sheerline base you can clearly see the holes for the spacer plate on the for the four star.I wonder if one hasn't been changed as they weren't the strongest bases ever made and even earlier on some where changed.The picture from the green books really only give a rough idea.As if you look you'll see two hollowed bits for the carby on the two stroke.Only the consul 2 had those as their carbys were on the opposite side from other two strokes.Does the four stroke base have hole on the wheel at the bottom of the handles where a screw can go in?
They do have the right carbys on them and yes it is the right air cleaner for the four star.Bugger I've never been able to find one.Good work there.

Here is the hole behind the wheel
4 Star has a hole the 4 Stroke does not


You will also note the under side of the bass picture above the center hole is a different size

OK I didn't do a lot today but I did go and have a look and yes there does appear to be some small changes in the bases. What I can see is the four star has the same base as the Sheerline and four stroke has the same base as the Cadet.