OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Tip & Curb Side Finds White VICTA 4stroke - Mayfair ?

Hi guys,

picked this 4stroke VICTA up today. Not too sure what it is, haven't come across any stickers/markings yet. Looking around in the history section.. could be a possible Mayfair 16C or 16N 4 stroke ? Mid-Late 60's ?

One thing though, the handle bars.. they're different than what the history shows.. maybe added later but a previous owner ?

The colour is actually a light blue.. almost baby blue but maybe lighter.. shows up white in the photos though.

Base seems alloy.. damaged at the front, might have to grind that back before painting. Split at the very front.. not sure how to weld aluminium but will look into it.

Also came with a metal catcher. bit rusty though the rust doesn't appear to have eating through.. mostly surface.. will check tomorrow.

Also looks like it could be missing some parts.. particularly the fuel cap. The height adjuster also doesn't stay in place, springs back to low when moving the mower.. maybe worn out or not lining up properly.. will check that too.

Aluminium can be welded either with a mig with the right gas or quite simply by using oxy acetylene and aluminium wire just like brazing. If you cannot find aluminium wire you can use a bit of power line. If there happens to be a line depot for your local energy retailer around you may be able to pick up an offcut for free. The wire used for power lines is a very pure aluminium and works fine.

TIG/GTA with straight Argon shield gas is the top welding method for Al alloy, particularly cast.

Oxy welding thin section cast alloy tends to be pretty dicey, as the metal will liquefy very suddenly, and fall away in blobs if there isn't a backup plate supporting it.

G'day Widget,
That mower most resembles a Model 506, 1962-3 Ambassador. But it could be slightly bitserised - it has had a repaint, after all.

For sure, the engine is 1963 or earlier, as it has a Zenith carby. Victa dropped those from late 1963 onwards, and used only Walbro carbs on their Kirby-Lauson 4-stroke models thereafter. That engine would be either an LV30 or VK30 125cc, to use the engine manufacturer's model designations.

However, the chassis looks more like a 1964-6 Corvette 4 Model 524, with that LHS side discharge. The 506 has that on the RHS, in the Victa green book line drawings at any rate.

If you're a dab hand at silver solder, silver brazing and straight brazing, like me :-), then aluminum is no problem. Just have to keep your tip size and flame down to match the metal. But I guess not everyone has done a NASA standards course like I did back in the 70's when oxy was still the predominant method.

Thanks guys :), unfortunately I only have access to an ARC welder .. I've watched some video though and apparently you 'can' technically stick weld aluminium, it's a bit fiddly.




Oooh darn.. seem to be getting bitserised mowers these days . I checked out the Ambassador and it does look like it.. especially the duel-fold handle bars.

How could you tell it was re-painted? Colours don't match original VICTAS ?

Yup, that's it. These models were only sold under the Victa banner; there were no storebrand versions.

is the catcher from that mower?

Oho, Ninja Welding Skillz!
Rare indeed, these days.

I think so, it fits in and has the rear latches that line up. Not sure if theres a different 'style' of catcher though.

'Tin' catchers were original equipment, when that mower was made.

Victa wasn't an early adopter of plastic catchers; Turner beat them by several years. And Pope and Masport stuck with all-metal catchers well into the 1970's.