OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames What is this Slasher? [Whirlwind]

Will this handle lantana or is that brush cutter territory?

Hello Mowerfreak
Well, the Whirlwind could handle 'bracken' and 'light scrub'.
It was a 'land clearer' - similar to early Victa advertising ...



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Jack

It is interesting Jack how one of the sales points used in a lot of adds from the 50/60's was the varied uses the motor could be put to. I wonder if people ever got around to unbolting the motor to use on another machine. It was an era where people had to be adaptable

G'day Norm,
Many of the extra uses would not have required dismounting of the motor, but rather the use of a long drive belt to the gear to be powered. Much like the mid mount flat belt PTO pulleys found on older Fordson tractors, which were used for sawbenches in particular.

Post hole borers [for drilling the wire holes in timber fence posts] were often powered by a flexible shaft in an outer sheath/casing, attached direct to the engine PTO.
One of the Cobram rural fencing contractors powered his with a horizontal shaft Villiers mounted on a rusty old wheelbarrow frame. Weird looking setup, but it worked very well indeed, and Reub used it for many years.

G'day Gadge, there was also from memory the idea of swapping your Victa (I think it was) to use as your outboard motor. I guess it was a bit too difficult to get the bolts undone every time you wanted to go fishing so the idea didn't last too long. One of the reasons for this wanting machines to be adaptable was in those days small engines were very expensive, the Victa mowers were up in the 50 pound range and back then it was many weeks wages.

^Might explain why earlier Victa 2 strokes are anecdotally considered better than later ones.
They seem better balanced and more energetic sounding.

At this stage I think I'll buy a set of the triagnluar blades and fabricate a blade bar going off them.
I'll go to ghe sheet metal suppliers in the next few weeks and get an adapter plate and blade bar sorted. Got a new fanbelt for it on Friday, will be exciting when I get to use it.
Quick question for Jack would you know the diameter of the front wheels ? So I can match something up.

Thanks Lorenz

Hello Lorenz

No, I don't know.
But ... you should be able to calculate it by doing this ...

The theory is that on the highest height setting, the tip of the front blade should
be no more than a couple of degrees lower than the same measurement at the back.
This is a positive angle of attack. This would mean, at any height setting,
the tip of the front blade will always be lower.

Too large a diameter of front wheel will result in a negative angle.
That should be avoided. This studio shot depicts front wheels at highest setting.
Note how the blade holder appears horizontal.
Also note that the top of the front wheel is about equal to the radius bend
of the wheel bracket.



Hope this helps.
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Jack

Thanks very useful advice as usual, I will update when I make some progress

Thinking about making some pins up to hold some regular victa mower wheels will be easy and cheap to get. They seem close to the height of the original wheels as per the above picture.

Victa wheels are 150mm or 200mm diameter; 9/16" axle size. For axles on that unit, I'd just use 9/16" Grade 8 high tensile bolts [which aren't fully threaded], with a nut on either side of the bracket. That's the basic setup I used, to put Victa wheels on my home built oxy bottle trolley.

Ball bearing wheels for 1/2" axles are cheap enough too; repro Honda wheels are a type that I've used.

Come up with a plan for the whirlwind slasher today and I little shopping list of the parts I require.
The plan is to get it all functional then I'll put it in line with my other projects for a full restoration.
The following parts are available from villiersparts.co.uk
-scythe cutter blades
-carby kit (carb leaks fuel)
-fuel tap seal (also leaks)
Going to fabricate a new engine adapter plate and engine blade bar.
Few things I'm not sure where to find I need a new governor spring the current one looks stretched anyone know where I can find the correct new one?

Found a replacement for my missing air filter today got it off


ebay.

Also looking for some victa front wheels for it like the ones pictured if anyone has some spares floating around?

And one last thing if anyone has any of the parts above please let me know.
Thanks Lorenz

Hello Lorenz
You could try ... http://www.vaces.com.au/

Many thanks for the update.
A number of members are watching this topic.

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Jack

Well, I have a decent pair of 175mm [seems there are more differing diameters than I'd thought] 9/16" axle bushed Victa wheels on hand, that you can have for the cost of postage.

But they'd require a 3kg prepaid satchel, and you might be able to scrounge something in your local area...

Thanks for the offer of the wheels Gadge I'm still looking for some wheels locally no luck as of yet but I'm sure I'll come across something.

Few little updates for the whirlwind, found a big chunk of metal which will work as a engine mounting plate. Just need to cut it down to size. And attach some mounting studs.

Also made a very cool little discovery today, while removing all loose surface I discovered that this



I've measured it and taken lots of photos so I can replicate it when I repaint it. Seems to be a similar font as the newspaper advert for the whirlwind

New stub axles to accept the wheels pictured above. big thanks to my work college Darren for machining these for me on his lathe.

Wheels fitted may go slightly larger diameter wheels but will see how it all sits when engine plate is fitted. Engine adapter plate is next on the list.

Hello Lorenz
Those images of the Whirlwind logo are absolutely fantastic.
It is amazing that they survive and you have found them!

I can't say I understand the colour scheme.
Was it all green?

Great work by Darren there.
There is something appealing in a nice stub axle.
[Out of context, that would seem quite odd]

Cheers
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Jack

Hi Jack

The colour scheme is a little confusing. I was thinking about painting it brunswick green or maybe something a little brighter. Then doing the whirlwind logo and villiers symbols ect. In a gold colour. Shame there is very little info available for these i'd like to find out the original colour scheme. Still a very cool project very excited to use it when it's completed. Made some more progress this week the engine adapter plate needs some studs for the underside then it's done. Then it's onto the blade bar.



Thanks Lorenz

Hi Lorenz
I'm useless with colours ... except ...
I don't favour Brunswick green at all. It is eminently
suitable for early Victas (that had simple chassis), but it
is so dark it disguises detail on more complex chassis.

I recommend a lighter shade as a personal preference.

Yes, regardless of colour, I love the idea that such an old machine
will have a purpose in the modern age.

This is credit to your vision - that old stuff still has a purpose.
And Whirlwind were such an important company in introducing the
'slasher mower' to these shores.

Many thanks for the update.
This topic serves as part of the provenance to your machine.

A truly great project.
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Jack