I've got an unserviceable Victa Vantage PT mower. If the serial number is anything to go by, it is a 1999 model. I got it as it refused to start, but apart from a little rust, was actually in decent condition. Fun project to learn on. Fuel was rotten, that was dumped and the tank flushed. De-compressor was stuffed, that's been replaced. Dicky ignition cutout wires all been fixed and it starts first pull! No smoke, nothing.
Except it won't continue to run. Starts and idles fine, accelerates fine but then seems to want to over rev. Then I lose throttle control about half way to full power and it stops with what I'm guessing is a lean mix cut. I did have this problem when I first got it (after I fixed the ignition wires, but before any other work) only difference is that it was a right [Censored] to start and didn't really like running. No idea how long it had been sitting for, but like i said above, the fuel was totally gone. It now starts easily and runs well with very little throttle - i.e. Start position.
A second start attempt has it trying to over rev pretty quickly on start up and it only runs for maybe five seconds.
Fuel vent unblocked. In fact, I've swapped to a different tank to eliminate that possibility. Carby cleaned, seals and faceplate replaced. New head gasket. New starter housing seal, new intake manifold seals. Air filter is in decent condition. No holes I can see in intake tubing. Everything torqued to spec from manuals. Before I replaced the starter housing seal, I was getting 50 psi compression - up from 10 psi when I got it! Piston seems ok through the intake and exhaust ports, but I haven't had it out yet.
What else could I be missing? If I'm right, the bottom bearing also creates a crankcase seal. I can't see any traces of oil or blow-by under the mower, or do you need the engine off the chassis in order to see this?
The little plate/gasket that sits between the chassis and engine is a bit corroded and has a few small holes.
Thoughts appreciated. Apart from some plonker putting the handle bolts in the wrong way where it attaches to the chassis (going to need to cut them out I think, as they're rusted to %!@$) it really is in decent nick.
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutionsâ„¢.
Howdy Mystyler, have you checked fuel flow out of the tank. The stick filter inside the tank attached to the fuel tap can get varnish clogging fuel flow out the tap and through the fuel hose to the carburettor.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
The tap that came with the mower leaks like a sieve, so I'm using a tap and tank from another mower. Seems ok, but I did buy a new tap and attached filter today just in case. I'll fit it if I get a chance tomorrow. If not, it'll be Wednesday.
Last edited by Mystyler; 12/02/1912:59 AM.
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutionsâ„¢.
I tend to agree with Norm, probably a carb issue. Since I started ultasonically cleaning them (probably not really required, but doesn’t seem to hurt) and using a viton tipped needle, I haven’t had any starting or running issues over about 10 machines. I had a mower exhibiting very similar issues, thought I’d cleaned the carby well etc. but cleaned the jet again and tried a new needle, started running nicely.
I've had a look at that thread previously. Carby mod is on the back burner until I can at least get a vise put in somewhere! It can't be much else, I suppose, there isn't much to these PT motors.
G'day John,
I've got a whole other carby kicking around. I've used the body after I accidentally chipped a bit off the main housing while trying to remove the cap. Which seemed to cause a leak...
I'll try to fit all the internals from this other carb again and see how we go. Might try replacing the jet first, but I don't think that would be causing the issue in currently having?
Thank you for your help lads.
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutionsâ„¢.
Can't say I have ever had a jet problem, I always blow through the jet to ensure the strainer is clear. Only other cause of problems is the float needle. The only reason for the way I modify the cam is so I can get rid of this flat out or nothing problem they suffer from. If I'm emptying a catcher I just like the mower to be able to sit there and idle at a nice tickover
Just to clarify I meant to clean the strainer on the jet. Blow through it and turn the strainer around the jet and check it’s all clear. I’ve had a carb with a crack in the body where the jet screws in to - that caused issues until I found it after having a good look at everything. Norm’s mod is also great if you like throttle control. I’ve successfully done it once, but now have a few good runners with the standard set up but the metal needle.
Moe, as he's been dubbed by the sister in law, was running very lean indeed.
As the tank wasn't the original and not sitting properly, what little fuel there was in the tank was not reaching the tap...far out, what a n00b mistake!
Put the original tank on, swapped in a new fuel tap (the old one STANK of varnish, thanks for the tip!), topped him up and away he went. Starts first pull, even cut the back lawn to see how he goes.
Another PT saved from scrap and about to be put back into service. Just have to fix the handles and he'll be sweet.
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutionsâ„¢.
I think this comment is a bit too late since the issue has already been resolved. When I first read this thread, I knew the mower is already in good running condition. Mowerfreak has already pointed out the issue in the right direction. For everyone to know, when this PT runs fine on iddle and suddenly revs high then stops at high throttle, the problem is there's no enough fuel in the reservoir for higher throttle demand and no matter what, only focus on the fuel supply. You can reproduce this phenomenon by switching off the fuel tap and runs the engine at high throttle until it runs out of fuel. At the end of the fuel supply, the engine will revs high then stops.
