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

Sounds a bit like a Utility engine from 1974 to me,but I could be wrong.It definitely was made in 1974 though.

Cheers Blumbly, PS I havent forgot about you ol mate.

I was hoping you hadn't,besides I though I was "unforgettable"."That what they say".I hope you are singing that song now.

Some of you Rotomo buffs may be able to help me with identifying what model this base is I was just given, seems all very straight, it has a couple of makeshift brackets made for the back axel supports, the tank does not have any dents and is very clean inside, pitty it does not have a cap, the axel stubs do not so much wear either, a good score for a freeby, the flywheel cover is straight but the top hat pully is broken any advise would be great thanks.









The pully has ESS on the underside and has next to no chamfer on the edge of the Top hat so am I correct in asuming this was a Model 1 pully? so with a bit of luck I may have my first Romoto Model 1 base also does not appear to have any additional welds put on the axel supports on the base which a lot do, Oh and the tank has the wrong tap but I have plenty of other mowers that can use this one, cheers.

Hi Jonesy, and ODK members,

From my untrained eye, I would say that is a Model 1 Rotomo base...It doesn't seem to have the deep dish of the Model 2, seen here:

The tank looks in very good nick....
All in all, and a good score there mate!

Model 1 & 2 bases are exactly the same the only different's is some model 1's (not all) had a different axel height. Yes it is a model starter but I think it's all done now. Good find thought.

Thanks Deejay & Blumbly, I did have to have a good look at the base Deejay to see the shape of it, it is the colour that makes it hard to tell. So now I have a home for my 94828 over 1 motor, also picked up a Circlip carb the other day so what are the differences in the Model 1 & 2 badges? one has the same size numbers in the "18" and one has a shorter one in the "18" so which is which? and is that the only difference in the two? also the badge off a Model 12 I think it is, is that the same as either the 1&2 or is it a totally different fish? cheers guys.

Well guys, picked up No 15 today, another Model 1 that is in good nick, some good useable wheels with really good axels etc, has good compression and after cleaning out the tank & carby is looking like it will be a good goer, still have to have a look at the points etc as there is no spark, could even be a spark plug, just have not looked that far yet but thought I would put up a couple of pics while having a bit to eat and a beverage.

Well Got it running, with just a brush up of the points and bit of a clean of the coil & flywheel clean up, wasnt bad, the points and condenser dont look that old, the timing was way off. so Here it is running.

Hey guys, just after some help and info as I have not been able to find anything on the colour of toe rings, does anyone know if they ever came out in hammertone colour or were they the same as the handles, solid mid or Brunswick green, from what I have been able to gather so far is the Model 4 Automatic had the side skirts painted in hammertone and possibly some later Utilities could of had the hammertone toe ring (I may well be wrong too) I am in the thinking that from the early Romoto through the Model 5 range were of the solid Brunwick green colour, what have others found or know as correct??

Never known them to be anything other than Dark green Jonesy. Havnt seen a variant other than As you said that the auto skirts were avocado. Model 2 2a and 3 are definately dark green, as for 4 and 5 I cannot confirm 100% but all originals ive seen were dark green. I have seen restored rings in hammered finish. Restorers preference I guess and they are usually in alpine green hammer spray,not even avocado. Anyways ive only had a few with traces of colour and they were dark green:)

Thanks Blue, at least this confirms what my initial thoughts were.

Was just browsing old Ebay and came across this gem, earlier I posted an engine No of 283737 over S that was on a model 5 series 1, I picked up, here is a model 5 series 1 with an S on the lower crankcase also, it has a larger S than the one of mine and is around 10K later engine No, No real point here but just thought it interesting.






how many other lower crankcase letters out there???

It is an odd one Jonesy...Not sure its relevance,what is interesting is this is the small numbering and the S is uniform size to the numbers. You say yours is smaller,and this is the smallest stamping Victa used so it is quite odd. There are a few theories as discussed previously,but seriously ive not come across any other letters only blank lowers....But youve got a keen eye and id like to know its meaning if any someday,as it definately falls in the mower series run and not a tiger or other variant.

Here they are side by side.



small s

Thats a horrible mating for a special jonesy. Another theory may be a replacement lower in warranty? Probably wouldnt be marked as normal. A replacement part after warranty or from spares would be unmarked as its not assigned to a model or series run....

So got some more goodies to go towards the Model 4, 112832 over 2

Hmmmmm....Those parts look very familiar....lmao. Well thats pretty much your auto nearly complete bar a few bits.....Very impressive Jonesy!

Back to your S Ref, I forgot when i was doing my marine, the engine has your small S also...hmmmm. maybee does require some more examination.:)

NA just lost the 5 stamp that day/days/week/? see what else turns up



And yep got a few bits to get yet, but have more than I had before, no doubt you noticed the front flap is a cast alloy replica and is the only part of the front set up I have, so the hunt continues on that one, also if some more info comes along with details of the required parts and photos I will know what I am missing from the rear flap as well, the mower the bits came off I sprayed some brake cleaner into the barrel and gave it a pull and away it went, so I hooked it up to my service trolly carby and it started & run straight away, the timing is a bit out but it run, will put up a YouTube link when it finishes uploading. So pretty stoked to have the bits I have for the minute.

Just thought I would put up some pics of the parts donor mower here.










Vidoe link to the old girl running HERE!