With these primers it is a complete guess, and I would assume plenty of these mowers have gone to an early grave because of these dodgy float needles
Just imagine the thousands who have needlessly thrown away a great mower for one that won't last an eighth as long for a simple problem. These ignorant consumers think a throwaway four stroke is some marvel of technical wizardry because they sound different and don't need fuel premixed. The centre of excellence for technology, Japan absolutely loved their two stroke Suzuki vans until emissions pressure put an end to them.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I just re-read the add and it looks like they have to supply a modified primer cap to take the new needle but that is still in development stages. Be interesting to know what it will all end up costing
They have gone with a nitrile tip which is what I was originally chasing from the States but using the nitrile tip I was hoping not to have to drill the primer cap out. They were going to cost me north of $150 so I'm sort of glad I didn't fork out for those now this mob have decided to come up with these. My cost neutral hobby would have ended up in a negative position
Thank for the link. They've copied you obviously! So much for being first�
It will be interesting to see if it stands up to their claims.
Yes I thought about getting lost wax cast needles made up by Alderdice but all the time and materials to actually do it would be astronomical. Even if done as a hobby it would be time consuming.
No I won't be buying any because I have my own and I'm guessing by the time you also buy their new primer cap and add postage they will cost about $25. My $1.20 ones will do me just fine. Funny how things work out, some of the guests must be watching what goes on here at ODK. Next I guess we will see somebody come up with a modified cam
The primer bulbs on these are particularly robust, I find it very rare to come across a split or hard bulb. Must be made from some good material because some of the ones I end up with must be about 40 years old
I've got a 'project mower' in hand just now, so that I can do 'how-to' write-ups on a few repair techniques; a 1982-3 season Mayfair MK326A1 full crank 160 Ute.
The primer bulb was a bit hard/stiff, so I gave it the Armor-All treatment [which I've also had occasion to use on hoses; e.g. oxy set twin hose], and it did work very well, as expected.
Guys,
I have thrown away and replaced a few of the G4 primer caps purely because the bulbs have gone brittle and cracked. Surely there must be replacement bulbs available? I would rather re-use what appear to be original caps (I have saved a couple) and just replace the bulbs.? Reading this it must mean that the caps I have been buying from a reputable dealer over the years aren't original if I can only get 2 to 3 years out of them..??
I have taken a few measurements, the most critical one I think is the bulb flange diameter which appears to be 24mm. I cant see anything on ebay that would be close, 22mm is about as near it gets.... but thats not close enough.
Original parts are not that easy to come by here in the UK now, bulbs perishing maybe down to our climate/fuel etc, but if there is a problem with the valve seats/dimensions/needles in the repo caps then it makes sense to me to hang on to what could be a frugal fix?
G'day Alan, The primer bulbs to fit the carby caps have never been available as a separate part, as far as I know. As the plastic of the cap is hot crimped over the bulb flange during manufacture, it's not designed to be replaced other than as a complete assembly.
As far as distinguishing OEM from aftermarket, the genuine Victa caps have the Victa part number, CR03501A, in a moulded panel above the 'level line'. The aftermarket caps I've seen here don't have this feature, for what that's worth..
Cheers, Gadge
"ODK Mods can explain it to you, but they can't understand it for you..."
"Crazy can be medicated, ignorance can be educated - but there is no cure for stupid..."
No, you definitely don't replace the primer bulb on these things. Out it all goes! I have actually kept one of those previously unwanted plain grey caps without the primer because, at least you know you will get a perfect fit around the edges, even if you need to give your right arm more of a workout. Also, there was the version with the remote primer, which can be replaced, if you can find them these days.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I picked up another 5 of the new ones yesterday from a bloke who ended up with them from a mower shop that closed down and as Gadge said they don't have the part number on them, but it doesn't matter to me because they don't work, so I pull the seat out and fit a Briggs seat and then make up a needle to suit.At least this way they work, unlike the aftermarket rubbish . The bloke I got the primer caps from had a bag of probably 50 needles and I told him to just throw them in the bin, waste of time even trying them, not worth the fuel you waste trying to get one to work
G'day Alan, The primer bulbs to fit the carby caps have never been available as a separate part, as far as I know. As the plastic of the cap is hot crimped over the bulb flange during manufacture, it's not designed to be replaced other than as a complete assembly.
As far as distinguishing OEM from aftermarket, the genuine Victa caps have the Victa part number, CR03501A, in a moulded panel above the 'level line'. The aftermarket caps I've seen here don't have this feature, for what that's worth..
G'day Gadge,
Yes, the cap I have just found in my workshop seems to be original as it has the CR03501A part number exactly where you described it would be. I managed to pull the old primer bulb off easily enough but you are right, it's not as easy to put it back on again.
One thing I did notice though is under the bulb (once removed) I can see a Victa part number: CR03560A?
A year ago I paid �27 for my last original cap from a seller on Amazon UK........ Ouch..!!
As you have said Mowerfreak, I think I will also just keep the caps that I have, seal up the hole and give my arm a bloody good workout rather than pay money like this every couple of years..!!!
For this reason alone I really cant tell you how much I appreciate the workmanship that went into the simple, but effective G3 Carby..!!
I have bought a few new aftermarket caps for $7, then they were $15... too much as they all perish after time. It's only a primer, so I used a piece of tubing to first blow then suck to get some fuel to prime. It worked. Then I put a Brigs & Stratton primer bulb in, had to be careful pushing it in, and it's not glued or melted in. But it hasn't come out and has lasted a year. I felt ripped off. speedy
........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Hi Alan, Sorry it was just one I had, maybe they are all the same. I measured it and tried to buy those plastic primer bulbs, but couldn't find right ones. speedy
........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Hi Mowerfreak... I tried It on my Powerplus yesterday and it works great..!!
As I said earlier, it's really difficult to seat it into the recess without using some silicone, but when you do it's a real snug fit. I cant see it falling out anytime soon as it's even difficult to pull out by hand.
Thanks for the suggestion Speedy, I'm well chuffed, it saves me spending out stupid amounts for replacement caps in future..!!
