OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Victa Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers Twins & Compact Restoration

I had started restoring two 500 Twins and my Compact some time ago,but the bases for them just sat around and around waiting for me to get to them.Well on the weekend I thought,bugger lets get it done.
This is how they looked at the time before being pulled apart.


This first Twin I originally wasn't going to restore and just use for parts,however the base is near on perfect and didn't have much wear on it.So I thought why not.


This second Twin also was originally going to be spares,but besides the piece cut out of the bottom (behind the right front wheel) was also near perfect.I had started this one some time in late 2011.Which started by welding a piece of aluminum into where the piece had been cut out of.
So as the Compact were originally the same colour I though fine I will start that at the same time.

As you can see above & below the Compact doesn't have the greatest base,so I was lucky enough that when I bought the Compact I also bought a Lightweight and a spare base.So the base has become the new Compact base.

So after a lot of work,and I do put a lot of work into them.Although the Twin bases didn't have the greatest casting.In fact the casting is very average.I didn't want to stray from that as that is how Victa released them and that's what I want them to look like.Like they just rolled off the show room floor,not a show pony.
This is where I have got them to right now.






Still a long way to go,but I think so far a good start.

Just a couple more pictures.




These two Twins are the first model they both don't have the revised motor so they both have the flat pistons.

You should have them done by the weekend mate.

While you've got the spray gun out, that trailer looks like it could do with some TLC.

Oh bigted if only it was that quick.
aussietrev that's not the trailer that needs my attention.You should see the car trailer.I really need to start that project soon.

Well I think you put a curse on my bigted.
I pulled the engine off the Compact.Well that's not very usable at all.


...and groves on the piston match the bore.Bugger bum poop.
So seeing as parts like these parts are on the impossible side to find.
I have no choice but to part out a spare Lightweight that I have.The only problem is different age and different engine number,but what else can I do.
So up on the table it went.I guess if I find one between now and then then great but I really doubt that happening.
The engine donor.
I still have to use the Compacts ignition,ignition plate etc,as these had the electronic ignition and the lightweight used points.


Well at least this engine is in much better condition

I think for memory I even had this one running at some point.After pulling it apart it is in great condition and should do fine.It's just a shame about the other engine it even had the date it was made.



So fingers crossed this part should now work out.I know the Twin engines are OK as one ran and is still on another base (Still running) and the other engine is half through it's clean up.

Painted the cutting disc and got the Compacts engine all polished up.
Here's a look.







It's difficult to manage so many restores at one time,but I guess I am getting it done.

Almost got the engine back together now.





Just have to finish cleaning the other bolts and coil pack now.

looking good there Blumbly, i have a coupla spare compacts for wrecking if you need anything, never had a look at internals but but could if you needed something.

Bugger I wished you'd said that earlier as this engine is off a lightweight so the engine number is wrong.I could have used a Compact engine as the one on this one was toast.
I had to wreck a Lightweight to get this engine.
I really hate wrecking such models to get parts off.

sorry mate, i've really only just picked up on this thread . and i wasn't aware that the compact and lightweight arnt the same. what's the differences? Ihave a really nice lightweight (green) , a green wreck and an orange wreck,

sure do love your work Blumbly

The green ones are the Lightweights and the orange ones are the Compacts.
There's not much difference between the engines just a lot have the date of manufacture in the number.I guess I'm lucky that this engine I'm using seems to have a different engine number set up that doesn't have a date on it.
Not sure why but it works in my favor.
Thanks Gizmo it is a lot of work but it pays off when your at the end of the job and look back at how it started.

Well , there's something I didn't know, probably like the twins, a surpreme and a 500, or something like that?? i had a heap of them at one stage, but cleared them all fairly quickly when we where moving........couldn't keep everything!

Yeah sort of I have found there seems to be two different models of the first Twins,the 500 Twin.The second of which had a plate in-front of the carby,something to do with diverting the heat from the front cylinder that was causing fuel to evaporate in the carby,causing vapor lock.
They did seem to have the same thing with the engine numbers some had the dates in them and others didn't.I kind of think there could have been two manufactures,there properly wasn't but defiantly two different numbering systems.
There is a rumor I herd many years ago about the engines being made in Canada,however I've never found any information to support this theory.Believe me I have searched for many hours and could find nothing about it,but that's not to say they were or were not.

Oh no you got rid of your Twins squizzy see now that would have been a mower party I would have attended.That is sad though,I would have accepted with a smile.

Blumbly " I didn't know what I was doing officer" is that a good enough excuse??
all i can say is....pre forum days

Yes well I guess lack of knowledge has seen quick a lot of mowers that are awesome fall over the tip face.

That's certainly true....but in my case, they all went to a good home,
At one stage i collected anything Victa, and as most on this forum would know, in no time you have way more than you can house, so, as i have mates that collect specific models, i started to thin them out to good homes and now i tend to concentrate on those of the 60's era. however, as i cleaned out the shed / business.....i did manage to fill 7 skips with old Victas fortunately, most where scrappers anyway, but it showed me just out of hand our desease can get.
funny, in saying that, i have to confess, i have just bought a Victa 505 self propelled 2 stroke, which is one mower that i do regret selling, as i think the 550 and 505 where great mowers.

I'm just -ing.
That's all I can say.
Wish I knew you then.

Wish i'd taken some photos now to share with you Blumbly,........and, at one stage i even had the great wall of mowers, a row of around 50 odd victas that where $10 ea for as many as you wanted , in the end, i started stripping but just ran out of time hence the skips, if i'd known you then, you could have given me a hand