OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Victa - aaaaaaargh!

Hi, I'm at my wit's end trying to get a friends Victa Power Torque started! Basically it won't fire up at all unless I feed in a splash of fuel or Aerostart into the cylinder via the spark plug hole, where it starts and runs for 2 seconds before dying. New NGK spark plug always comes out dry after pulling it over, nice blue spark at the plug lead. Plenty of compression, fresh fuel, no obvious dirt in carb/ jet, needle in the right way, plenty of fuel flowing through the fuel hose, removing the cut-out lead makes no difference. Even the same story when I changed over the entire carb and air filter assembly from my working recent model Victa. When I changed them over the intake manifold was dry (indicating some carb problem) and then was wet after changing over the carb - but it STILL wouldn't start!

I have the Victa Gregory's manual and am usually pretty good at getting these going, but I'm just about to add a lit match to the fuel tank to solve the problem once and for all! Look forward to your advice.

Thanks from Dean.

Hi, check the top o ring under the starter, could be broken or come out of the groove it sits in.
Is the decompressor working? unscrew it suck on the hose it should close.
Is the muffler blocked and exhaust port clear?
It sounds like its not a carb problem if you have put a good working one on it and made no change.

DeanVSX,

Are you trying to start the motor without the blade plate?

Also DO NOT USE AEROSTART unless you really want to stuff the motor.

Can you do one check for me by holding the blade and seeing if you have any movement.

Let us know what you find so we can go further in helping with your problem.

Thanks for your quick replies, and sorry I havn't been able to respond earlier!

Decompressor works fine, also tried removing it and filling the hole with a spare spark plug - no result, although of course a bit harder to pull the starter. As far as I could see, the muffler/port is ok (BTW is there a trick to make the top clip refit easy, i found it a real pain...). Havn't checked the seal under the starter yet, was holding off on even more disassembly to see if there was some kind of magic bullet cure beforehand!

Bruce, the baseplate is still in place and no evidence around the nut to indicate it has ever been removed. No play side-to-side nor up and down. Thanks for the tip not to use Aerostart (it was one spray in desperation!) - is that because of the lack of oil to lubricate the cylinder or does the esther eat into the seals?

Thanks again, Dean.

Ok this is what I want you to do.

1. Remove the muffler and try to start the engine (will be noisy but need to see if it is blocked).

2. Remove the plastic mount that the carby connects to and replace the 'O' ring that is between it and the cylinder.

3. The plastic section that the carby connects to check the 'O' ring for nicks.

4. Check that the magneto has now movement.

Can you have a look at the area that the carby jet/screw (where it screws into) to see if you have any cracks down the shaft.

Reply to these questions before we further.

hey guys. sorry dean i cant really help you on this topic but could it be possible that there could be something very wrong with the flutes? but i want to ask what is aerostart?

Aerostart is a highly flammable liquid usually comes in a aerosol can. Generally used for starting older cranky motors by spraying it in the carby/air intake.

Ued it all the time on our old oliver bulldozer at mums place, the old diesel fired right up on it rather than take half the day cranking.

IT'S ALIVE!!! Thanks to all for your help! When I removed the starter mechanism (I didn't realise it was as easy as undoing 3 bolts)I found the seal was completely and utterly roo..ined! Replaced that, reassembled, tried to start - nothing. About to suffer a very large humour bypass... then threw 5ml of 2 stroke in the spark plug hole, and burrrooom! Runs like a champion, if nothing else all the other fiddling about would have helped it run so well.

Once again, many thanks, I've been a long time reader but only just joined. Now to find time to fire up the 1964 Utility I inherited from my late father and restore the Model 4 I got as an anniversary present this year (yes, she IS one in a million who can tolerate this hobby...)

Cheers all, happy starting!

Well done mate, good luck with it.

I was given a Victa Commando Power Torque mower today, it wont start, has fuel & spark after reading this thread I decided to check the O ring under the starter.
Sure enough it looked pretty bad, I will get a new one tomorrow,
It pays to search old threads to find solutions.

cheers gmax

Hey Wayne, you're right there mate, You can learn a hell of a lot from reading some of the early posts.....some of them make really good reading!!

Well everyone the more people that post with problems the better as most of the time an answer can be found or given to fix the it.

So keep the question coming.

I replaced the O ring, but it still wont wont run for any longer than 2 seconds, tomorrow I will have more time to look at it.
The Decompression valve is next on the list.


cheers gmax

I removed the muffler, the piston is scored pretty bad, so its not
worth going any further with this, if any one wants it let me know.

cheers gmax

if only you were closer by I would know a buyer LOL.

I don't want any money for it, free if anyone wants it.

If you cant find somone to take it down there I will happily pay post + some of your time for the motor, axles and wheels, they quite happily fit in a box as I just sent a powertorque motor to adelaide.

Joe, If you really want it I will strip some parts off it and post it to you, but the cylinder and piston is badly scored(no compression).
I'm guessing postage would be $20.00- $25.00.