OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Tip & Curb Side Finds Victa Rapier

I read a while back here about putting an add up to do free pickups of old mowers.
S a couple of years back I put an add on Gumtree, Wanter Dead or Alive, old Victa 2 strokes.....
Got my first call last week, with a Victa Rapier 160cc with power torque, my favourite engine.
I flushed the tank out and put fresh fuel in , and mower half the front lawn.
It has plenty of power and is sturdy, so I feel lucky.
I will take the piston out and decoke the rings, exhaust port , head and put new big o rings and clean carb, might even paint it....

speedy

That's a good story speedy.

I feel we live in an age where things are dumped before their usefulness expires.
It's a horrible irony - given the 'recycling' movement. I'm sure many folks
would like to pass on possessions that others may find useful.

I hope you get many more.

----------------------
Jack

I think they would be a good mower if you just wanted something to mow grass, if you could fit a better carby to them but the design prevents this

I have big plans for this mower. I like the plastic carby, only not when the white face plate cracks up and the primer breaks. I have plastic welded cracks in the bodies and it works...
thanks
speedy

I was getting excited about what your big plans were,then you side stepped to the carby.
Go on tell me what are your big plans are?
I want to know.I like knowing that something that was destined to be scrapped given new live.
I mean that's what we do,some would think why that kind of mower.I reckon good on ya, go for it,if it makes you happy then that's fantastic.A mower fan is a mower fan I say.
I know when I'm not having fun (In life) I spend some time with my mowers and all good and happy again.
Oh look I side tracked again,bugger.
So yes big plans do tell.

Jack, I'm feeling really guilty and annoyed with myself at the moment. I had 2 Greenfield ride on mower chassis sitting here and I kept looking at them and thinking nobody will ever want these, so on Wednesday I stopped looking at them pulled the trailer out and straight up to the scrap bins at the tip with them. Could you believe it, a bloke rang me this afternoon wanting a chassis. I was sure they were past their useful life, you never can tell

Hello Blumbly,
Just take the motor apart, decoke clean, check rings.
Clean up the base , sand and get some Rustolium paint from Bunnings. This paint doesn't dissolve when petrol dribbles over it....
Just have to pick a wild colour.......

Maybe that guy could buy the old chassis at the dump....
speedy

Speedy, they have huge scrap metal bins at this tip and by now it would have a mountain of scrap on top of it and you would never get it out, and imagine the OH&S uproar that would create if you tried to get in the bin and fish it out

This is a good story Norm - in a way. It's a shame in another way.

It's only in more recent times that folks have started 'collecting' Australian
Ride-ons. Even today, It is still not clear who made our first production ride-on
lawn mower.

--------------------
Jack

p.s. The Name 'Rapier' had been used before.
Here is a British Rapier by Farmfitters.
I do not believe they sold here, but it is a great example of how
mower names have been used across countries... and companies.

It proves the sword name is mightier than the mower.

First coat....


Trying to identify year of manufacture.


Decoked the exhaust port, I just noticed this upward notch filled with carbon, cleaned it out, must be there for a reason.


With all this work, I'm keeping this one for just mowing my lawn......
speedy

Hi Speedy, looks good so far. They never stamped the year of manufacture on the early ones but i can tell you it's somewhere between 82 and about 89. Realistically it doesn't really matter, they're essentially the same with minor differences in the transfer port design/shape.

Well I got it together today...
but the EI module has a very loose contact. It doesn't look good.
There was a bit of a spark, but didn't start. I will get it going..... have to.
speedy


It looks like the module had been changed before. I put new muffler , axle parts, head gasket, carb gasket. hoses. Probably spent $60 so far.
It's going to be my main home mower. I love the Aussie design of the engine, carb .
That contact dhould not wobble....
cheers
speedy

Speedy, your opinion and my opinion on the carby is obviously very different

I put a newer EI module in today and bingo, it started and runs OK. I will mow a few lawns to see how it goes....
some progress after all that expense............

more rain more grass need mowers.............. never ending story, it's on TV tonight, Never Ending Story, missus and daughter are watching........ I have my own......
speedy
Bundy

Good job speedy. I have done a lot of those except I paint mine green, bought a few cartons of a good quality paint that doesn't mark easily and is fairly petrol and rust proof. By the time I strip them down, sand and weld up/repair any problems with the base, re-assemble, find 4 matching wheels, get the thing running and the carby working properly it takes me a good couple of days to build one and up to $50 in parts. I sure don't do it for the money