OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Talon Mowers - Some Thoughts ...

MF, you have obviously never done it then? I have been doing it for years and never had one problem

I attempted it once with an 18v cordless drill and it couldn't spin it fast enough. I imagine a plug in drill has the power to spin it as quickly as a pull starter. As long as the socket stays on well and it doesn't bind to the nut it's engaging with, it would work ok. It's a matter of lifting it off as the motor fires I guess.

My problem is I don't always have the coordination to lift off the drill quick enough - and I worry about buggering up the flywheel fan.

When used properly on a cowled motor (or at least mesh covered flywheel) I have no problem with it, but its when people do this it scares me (watch for about 20 seconds until the socket pops off and hits the (thankfully mesh covered) flywheel.

Seems to me to be a big deal about nothing, socket can't damage the flywheel, they are both travelling at the same speed, if the socket decides to jump off it just falls on the ground. Trust me I have never had to go looking for a far flung socket, and the only reason my socket might come off is because it is all a bit loose from years of hard work and as it doesn't cause me any more problem than having to bend down (that is the hard part) to pick the socket up off the ground. My setup is a 3/8th socket shaft that I turned down at least 30 years ago so it would fit in my drill chuck, then it has a 3/8th to half inch adapter and then a 1/2 inch drive socket to fit the nut on the top of the crank. I have been doing this sort of stuff for close on 60 years and if I thought it was dangerous I certainly wouldn't be doing it Each to their own, but I will continue to start and test run mine with my half inch electric drill

im with you Norm i use my drill and socket all the time,never had a problem except bending down to p/up socket

I've used the drill start method for donkeys years like Norm,gml, never had a problem and a lot of the time the socket gets stuck on the flywheel
nut , so don't weld your extension to the socket,then remove the socket after shutting down the motor .

Just to test how safe this method is I once spun the socket up on a drill at full speed then hit the socket off with a lump of wood,
the socket went virtually nowhere in distance just down to the ground,it's a similar concept when using a parting tool
on a lathe the metal being parted off does not fly up and smack you in the face.

It wouldn't be too difficult to make a socket like a crank starter that disengages when the motor starts.

Cheers
Max.

Am I the only one that just puts a Talon stright in the scrap pile? Had success repairing the starter - done 6 or 7 over the years but they are just a crap mower..... Not Husqvarna's best effort

I'm not so sure the Talons are that bad,ok they aren't that flash, sure they are no Honda, the top cowl was a fools idea,but you would have to rate them better than a lot of the Chondas now

Even the Victa V40?

i just shoved a 17.5 china motor in the stiga lots to do before it is running but for $500 and 2 year warranty we will see

Talons aren't awful mowers - at least they have swing back blades, quite easy starting, and the throttle control that many chondas lack.

And their blades are same as a Rover, that can be bought dirt cheap, unlike the odd blades some of these cheap mowers use

That being said, if I had a choice of a Victa 2 stroke or Talon from a curbisde collection and only had room in the car for 1 mower, the talon wouldn't get a second glance (provided the Victa wasn't straight fueled)

I'm with you all the way there Tyler, my missus has brought home 2 PT's complete with catchers off the kerbside in the last week. Then today she asked me if I went and looked at the mower just around the corner she told me about . I said I did see it but saw it was a Chonda so I didn't stop.
gml your $500 Chonda will be fine, the ones I have fitted to a couple of rideons haven't missed a beat

Norm, I noticed the Talon sold on gumtree - what I can't get my head around is why the buyer would, given the choice of a nice Vortex or Standard PT or the Talon for $90, why would someone pick the Talon?

Is it just because they don't want to mix fuel, or don't they like the noise, or something else? The Victa will cut longer grass, start easier, and last much longer (provided the deck doesn't rust out)

Not saying the Talon isn't worth $90 - in fact for a working mower with back up service $90 in my opinion is a bargain.

I just don't understand some peoples hate of 2 strokes.

As much as I admire and am an enthusiast of the Victa two cycle, I can definitely understand why people prefer four strokes. They are quieter, don't make your clothes reak of petrol and just take straight petrol.
All very appealing to those who keep their lawns cut regularly and who don't want to annoy their neighbours.
They also don't realise how durable the two strokes are and their capability in rougher conditions. The amount buying four stokes has the snowball effect of making everyone think they are the way to go. The demise of the Victa two stroke won't help the situation.
Powertorques are going to go up in value once rarity increases and word spreads how uniquely capable they are.

I suppose I can see Mr Average looking across the road and seeing one neighbour with a 2 stroke, wearing ear muffs, mowing in a plume of smoke since the fuel is mixed at about 15:1 after fuel evaporation and taking 20 pulls to start because its never been serviced. Then running out of fuel and stuffing around (as many seem to do) trying to mix up the fuel.

Then seeing the other neighbour with their 4 stroke, mowing without ear muffs, without many fumes, first pull starts, and just filling up with fuel when it runs out.

Tyler I was discussing the Vortex with another bloke here who fixes up a few mowers and I said to him it looks like I will pull the motor off it, put it in a steel base and then see if I can get $50 for the rest of it with all the undamaged ally base and plastics and a very rare undamaged thumblatch catcher . That has to be worth $50 to somebody. I will probably keep the wheels because they are in excellent condition as well. The thing has done very little work. I do get people who want a 2 stroke because they have been caught with the other cheap rubbish and won't get caught again

If you do decide to dismantle the Vortex Norm ,another option is I give you 2 clean, good running Victa 2 stroke steel base mowers with catchers for the Vortex,no pressure
up to you.

Thanks Max, it would be a pity to pull the Vortex apart it is in such good condition, you can have first options if I decide to go that way

I'm surprised the Vortex hasn't sold Norm ,If you buy a new Aldi mower for $140 it goes down in value with age and the Vortex should at
least hold its value and last longer.

A few Talon leftover parts.

Max I have one of those $140 Aldi mowers here, it has been used once, a bloke dropped it off here 12 months ago to see if I could get it going. The coil had failed but he hasn't come back. I have had a couple of people ring in the last couple of days wanting a 2 stroke mower but I have avoided offering them the Vortex because I would prefer it went to somebody who appreciated what it is instead of just a mower they can use and abuse. I can build them plenty of standard PT's to fill that need. I haven't built any for the last couple of weeks because I have had a run on 4 stroke stuff for some reason

Hi NormK, if not a coil, a leg out of bed!