OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Victa 160 Professional

Hi guys. Was at a farm auction this morning and came across a Victa 160Professional. Orange, cast aluminium base seemed in pretty good condition, Zip starter was hanging out but still turned over okay. Missed out on it as it was well down the queue of items and had to leave early. Should I have hung around to try and get it? Are they rare?

I take it this was a rear catcher model as I believe all or most of the side throw models are steel chassis.
The professional catcher models are not that rare but not that common either. I have come across a couple on EBay in the last year ( one push model in Sydney and a self propelled one on QLD).
Also found a self propelled model on Gumtree recently for sale just outside Sydney.

If it was a side throw model then yes, they must be rarely for sale before being used up and too far gone to be of any use. I can't recall seeing one on eBay or Gumtree, yet I think I have seen some show up on UK listings!
Maybe the commercial grade side throw models are on alloy chassis.

Yes it was a side throw and definitely a cast alloy base, very robust looking and seemed to have an extra large fuel tank. Dang, wish I could have hung around now and picked it up.

The 18"/460mm cut side throw Pro Utes had pressed steel decks, but the 550mm cut versions had cast alloy.

The distinguishing feature of the Pro Ute/Mulcher series was the large handle-mounted fuel tank.

Thanks Gadge. It was probably the 550 then, thought it looked a lot bigger than normal. The fuel tank however was cowl mounted but the cowl seemed to be several inches longer in front than a standard 160. Maybe it was a bitsa being an old farm mower.

If it had the PowerTorque engine, some at least of those 550's had a larger fuel tank mounted on a 'shelf' attached to the cowling, rather than the 5L handle-mounted tank.

This is a Victa Professional 550 with a full crank 160cc

Model: WQ 197EX9

The thing is with these machines is that they are easily capable of outliving their owners with basic maintenance and maybe a new set of rings

Yes and the people handling the deceased estate just throw them out.

Good to see I'm not the only one with an auto push.
Thanks for showing us LRT. Love the bare full crank in all its glory plonked in the middle of that whopping frame.

This one had all the auto push system stripped off at some stage unfortunately.

This one went back to the owner as they brought it to me after seeing all the dealers around as it suddenly lost spark. Thanks to Norm, I was able to put a rebuilt engine on with one of his modified cam

See further this thread: https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/80263/1.html

It is an amazing mower. It cuts through tall grass with incredible ease and is such a light mower to manoeuvre compared to the modern mowers.

There is nothing like the noise and smell of a healthy full crank Victa going flat out through 2 foot tall heavy bent grass. I wish I took a video of it in action.

That is apart from a GM two stroke diesel with a Roots blower of course!

Now all I've got to use is a little 19" side throw Powertorque Utility�

Auto push is a term coined by a long standing member here for any Victa VC 160 Auto Drive that has had it's self propelled system removed, such as mine!!

That sounds like it Gadge because the tank was definitely not handle mounted.

Hi LRT, if you get sick of pushing your little 19 inch around I have a few 24 inch that I'm repairing as I get a chance. Now these are the real deal when it comes to smashing your way through rubbish

Bloody ugly looking mower though.

Who cares about looks, pretty doesn't cut the grass, you don't see much farm equipment that is designed with looks in mind. Most rotary hoes don't look pretty either, they have a job to perform

Is it self propelled or "Auto Push"?

Victa Super 24/600's are push only - but extremely well balanced, with the engine over the back axle; and super-easy to push, due to their huge wide rear wheels.

Norm looks + sound are what got me into Victas in the first place but I don't doubt a well sorted 24 is a fantastic piece of equipment to use. Looks like they would cut a mean swathe in front of you.