OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Victa Rotomo Specifications

Something we need to research better for accuracy I think.

This is all the info I have from memory,see what you think,we can make adjustments as we gather more concise info:)

Mk 1 and 2 fan,Std Villiers throttle control.

Model 1 and very early model 2,chrome over copper plated cast alloy.

Model 2 full plastic (Black)

Note I am unsure whether the use of a bi material(as per your diagram) throttle control was Victa issue or a repair option for plastic assy due to base failure? Although I have seen many of your type around.

There is evidence of a green(same green as the groove cover) throttle control used on early model 2 rotos but ive yet to come across a real sample.

So black plastic for rotomo 2 and into model 2a. Then the full chrome alloy with the red Victa embossed on the cover which im certain saw out the model 2a.

Model 4 and 5 control same as 2a with the exclusion of the red embossed victa logo.
Fan,Model 1,model 2 are confirmed accurate,just need to see when(IF) your example was Victa issued and also the correct fittment for the red embossed full metal version.

Please feel free to correct any discrepencies,as ive not fully researched throttle controls,only going of what type ive seen on the majority of corresponding models.
Also my appologies for lack of images lately,my printer /scanner is cactus my comp is on its last legs and i cant find the cable for my phone sighs*.

sorry its a little late...The Green Victa badge as fitted to the first Rotomos "The billy cart" Mk 1 Fan and an undetermied amount of Mk 2 fans. This badge has also been seen and confirmed accurate to very early model 1 Rotomos.

The intersection of green to red appears to have been somewhere in the latter period of the Mk 2 fan run with both Mk 2 fan and early Rotomo model 1 recieving either.

This example is one of 3 unrestored model 1s I have in my collection,it is original and untouched. Of the other 2 one has the green badge the other the red.

Both green badge models are below the 1000 serial.

Correct screws and nuts for the Rotomo displayed are identical to the ones fitted in the images and the others I have in my collection.

This is Rotomo 2 serial 96,000 so one of the last model 2's made.

The image isnt the best but it shows the same screws fitted to the earlier models,showing that at this point rivets were still not being used.

This was on display at fairfield machinery museum...yeah I bought it lols.
Its an original Rotomo 2 serial 70,000+ and was donated by the original owners estate.

This is an example of enhancing an original mower without full restoration so as to keep its original patina and history.

This was fully stripped,everything cleaned and repaired and missing parts replaced. Engine was stripped,honed SH piston and new rings+ new full gasket kit+ rebuilt electrics+ HT,new throttle cable and new brass wheel bushes. Enhanced all the parts to bring out the remaing colour,then fully coated the steel with penetrol to bring out lustre and stop further rust.

Note also the cigar fuel tap. While I know they were first introduced on the later Rotomo 2 Id not seen one on a tin wheel version. First original fittment of the cigar? or just replaced over time? hmmmm.

Anyways this is my prefered method for mowers that do not require full restoration.




Required parts, Badge choke assy,correct carb. sorry bout the front tyres lols was probably waiting for some when i took the pics,but it has its booties" on now








Next ill post what I do to a complete relic thats way past this condition. oh and another of my favourite unusual Rotomo relics lols.

One of my favourite Rotomo Relics. This Is Rotomo 2 Serial 30,000+ its not my earliest model 2 but this one highlights the correct use of left over model 1 parts even up until this serial and with examples beyond.
This is a correct model 2 as sold. Model 2 tin wheel chassis running model 1 throttle control(not fitted as I stole it for another model 1 lols) engine,barrel and brass nut carby as per model 1. The combinations varied model 2 engine model 1 barrel and model 1 head or model 1 brass nut carby model 1 barrel model 2 head and so on. these transitional models are accurate and sold this way to use up existing stock. Model 1 engine parts only were fitted but always the correct model 2 chassis was used. Note this was random or sporadic as and not the norm for all early Rotomo 2 Models.

Restored as found,busted choke assy no snorkel no front tyre,pretty wrecked head and field modified villiers carby mesh filter and hose as fitted by previous owner.

Shes a real beast and one of my best runners and was also one of the worst condition Rotos id seen prior to resto,just a pile of rust and siezed parts covered in and inch of mud. But one of my favs as its the only transitional model I own....I like to think of it as Rotomo Model 1 1/2 lols.

Can someone check to see what spark plug they are using I have recently acquired a Model two and the plug is a modern ND model which is badly fouled. I'm assuming it's an incorrect alternate.
Cheers!

G'day fish. Victa adopted the Bosch plug (175/T2) in March 1957, which would be around serial #75-80,000. The Champion N21 (I think) was adopted around the intro of the Special. I don't recall what they used before the Bosch, sorry. The Champion N21 is the go to plug these days.

Great posts also Blue! I love your old survivor, it oozes character. One of my model 2s (#19,431) has a few of the transitional features - Model 1 barrel, pulley and badge with the wide set axles on the base. Do you reckon it started life with a brass nut carby?

Unkieeee!

yeah id love to see your 19,000...full restore or dressing up to keep original?

19,000 should have those features thats for sure. As for the brass nut carby its anyones guess.

I do know it was rare to recieve all of the model 1 parts on one mower. from most of the examples ive seen its been a few bits here and a few there,but things get changed over time. The head and BN carb are most likely to be the least seen as they failed easily,so may have been changed.

Since it has all you say then the odds are good...is the head a model 2 or 1?

Your choice whether to add or not but personally id leave it how you found it. The heads are near impossible to find and save the brass nut carb for a true model 1,unless you have surplus. The brass nut/carb combo are getting quite expensive and hard to buy as a set. Either way it will still be a fantastic part of your collection as the transitional models are getting quite rare.

then again you could solve this dilema easily...by selling it to me! lmao.... Might place an add me thinks as i am still yet to aquire a model 2 Roto under the 10,000..as my aim is to own at least one of every 10,000 serial. just need that and a 20,000,but another 19,000 wont go astray...lmao.

No plans to restore her yet mate. I'm pretty sure it's running a model two head, but I've never seen the two variants side by side so I might be wrong lol.

The chassis is in pretty good shape, so she might be worth keeping original, but does need a set of tin wheels and the correct choke. I'm running out of space and time so it will probably stay that way for a bit - unless I trade it for some other bits I'm after

Throttle control does this help
Ian
From a 1963 parts book


From the green book

My Rotomo's
Ian

My Rotomo's and numbers
Ian

Thanks heaps Ian....Interesting all the 70's serials being so close.
For your reference,

17420 early model 2 tin wheel possibly using some model 1 parts...need to see more images.

60435 mid run model 2 tin wheel

The remaining are later rotomo model 2 plastic wheel.

Id like to see the complete 17,000 serial if thats ok and see what chassis and parts its running:) nice little collection.

Hi Bluegmhtmonaro is this what you want(mower 17420), this mower is a little bit said BUT did come with a recondition cylinder and piston
Ian

Interesting all the 70's serials being so close.

Being the mid 50s Townsville was a long was from Sydney (still to far) the roads were not the best and I would say they came up by truck or maybe boat as one order for North Queensland for all the dealers, does that make sense
Ian

I've been doing a bit of research on finding the original spark plug Rotomo's were released with and found some info some of you may find interesting. A copy of VICTA CUTTINGS for March of '57, includes this:


So I'd always used the Champion N21, but according to this the Bosch 175/T2 was used before the Champion. Reading back, it looks like any plastic wheeled Rotomos (75,000 onwards) should have the Bosch. Any before 75,000 should have the Pyrox plug, no idea which number though if anyone wants to chime in!

I'd never heard Pyrox before, so did a little reading, and it turns out that they were an Australian company based in Melbourne. In 1955 Pyrox and Bosch formed a joint venture manufacturing plugs at a factory in Clayton. In 1958, Bosch took over Pyrox completely.

I'm now on the hunt for the correct Pyrox plug number for the 125cc. Anyone?

Hello bestseller

Well that is, indeed, new information.
And a warm welcome to these forums.

I am not a plug aficionado, and had not heard of Pyrox either.
I have since found some things of interest, including the fact that Pyrox
were making spark plugs (under licence from Bosch) since ... 1931!

More to follow.
----------------------
Jack

I will check my spark plug collection and see what I have.

An advertisement I've found appears to backdate the release of the Model 1 by a couple of months:

June 8th, 1955 - Richmond and Windsor Gazette




I've also tracked down Merv Richardson's earliest patent, which predates the release of the Model 1 by only a couple of months. It possibly also represents one of the earliest illustrations of the mower: