OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines Look at this

Hi MF,

Do you have any means of at least raising it off the ground so it doesn't get wet? Where the water pools, can you grind a groove into the cement that the water can channel out of the shed?

If it's leaking from the sides (I'm assuming you have fence pailings or something?) have you considered just putting up some fibro board or using marine grade ply sheeting or something?

Hi pau 13z,
It's a colorbond steel 2m x 2m shed on a cement slab just above the ground, on a rental property so I don't think they'll take too kindly to me carving a channel into the slab. The slab protrudes about 10 cm beyond each side and I think that is at least partly the cause. Rain falls on the exposed slab ledges and seeps under the steel sides. Problem is the interior gets very humid from the trapped water on the floor which has nowhere to evaporate outside the shed. When you go in on a sunny day after a downpour, there is trapped condensation all over the underside of the roof. I hate it and I'm afraid of my tools getting rusty because of the hot wet air inside. I'm out of room in the garage which is nice and dry.

I used to install those sheds in a past life and you can't seal those sitting like that on a slab. If somebody wanted one that would keep most of the water out I had to put the shed up and pour the slab inside so the concrete was at least up to the top of the bottom channel/rail. You can try silicone around the bottom on the inside but usually water will find its way in. Bottom rail corners are a problem as well

You could put a whirlybird on top if they would let you, or you could just cover the entire shed with a tarp which tucks in under the edge of the slab. The only problem is that you could still end up with humidity in there with the tarp idea. Tough call. You could always explain the issue to the owner and ask if they'll let you grind a groove around the outside edge just before the sheet metal that runs to the edge, so any rain that falls will go into that channel and run off before entering the shed. Either way, its a bit sucky, sorry mate.

I've got some of my collection in the shed and the blade discs seem to have scale on them, though I am not sure that's totally to blame, as the handles aren't all covered in rust. At least it does keep the rain and uv rays off them, but still wouldn't want to put a brand new one in those conditions.

I have just finished a 3x3 shed which I layed on 600x600x35 mm concrete slabs - 25 of them (26 including the one I dropped and cracked haha). I slopped them away from each wall to hopefully flow water out.
I put the whirley bird sprinkler on the roof after I finished, and only water that got in was at each corner and it ran straight out of the slabs.

Only winter will tell the real situation

With regards to extending the life of the deck, Do the large nature strip last, which is very slightly sandy - tends to get a lot of the grass off. After I drain the fuel, I tip the mower on its side, sweep and wipe the grass out, then use the leaf blower and blow over it and through it. Empty the catcher, blow that out as well. The catcher either ends up on the shelf, or ontop of the mower (handle bars up so the snorkel isn't buggered). They are now stored in a (hopefully) well draining shed that gets morning and afternoon sun, day shade, and reasonable ventilation.

I am like Ted Bulpitt and his Kingswood.

The Victa, your not taking the Victa, I just ajaxed the hubcaps

Bit of OCD going on there Tyler I feel and Ajax is not good on the hubcaps even if Ted thought it was

G'day everyone,

Gees you guys are a bit harsh, you going to store a brand new Victa out in the shed? LOL! I am sure I can find a spot for the Victa somewhere in the house! Haha!

That might solve your humidity and outside leaky shed issues..lol. Just joking but seriously if you have some spare space or a room why not?

I am talking about storing a brand new one in the box in a spare room, I wouldn't go storing one you use in the house, unless you like the smell of 2 stroke fuel around the home...lol

Seriously though, I hope that this isn't the last ever Victa 2 stroke and somehow they get exempted from the tough new emissions standards on the 1st July this year and they keep making and selling them.

I did send a nice email to Victa (Briggs And Stratton) the other day asking if they have any footage of the last Victa 2 stroke being assembled at the factory, and if they did could they please make it public, or if not could they please save something on video for Australian lawnmowing history if they are still assembling them.

Well just like last time I have received no reply from them, but I am sure someone there must read these emails, then again maybe they don't?

If anyone here knows someone personally or has better connections to someone within this company, it would be great if you could help us out and try and ask them also.

Cheers!

G'day everyone,

Well I went to my local Victa Gold Dealer yesterday to get some parts for my mowers. Anyway I started chatting to most of the guys in there about what's happening with the Victa 2 strokes they have for sale, and is anything happening to them after the 1st of July this year. Here's the official news below:

Sadly the Victa 2 stroke lawnmower will not be available for sale legally from the 1st of July 2019 from all retailers in Australia.

This is now a fact, I was in this Victa Gold Dealer for a long time chatting about this.

Sadly it will be goodbye to any new Victa 2 stroke lawnmowers from this date.

As usual I never got a reply back from Victa (Briggs And Stratton) about any news or saving any footage of the last one made. I do hope someone there read it and they have saved something at least for Australian lawnmowing history and archives. No doubt we will see news reports on the 1st of July this year showing the lovely history of our beloved legendary aussie Victa 2 stroke lawnmowers, which will be no longer be made or sold here in Australia.

So did they say what was going to happen with any left over stock in their store, or did they not have any left?

Hi NormK, here's the thing. They have a couple of 2 stroke mowers left. I asked well what price can you give me for one. I got a slightly cheaper price this time of $499. It's still too much I reckon. Last time they gave me a price of $550.

So it seems to be coming down a slight bit. I think the problem is these guys are also thinking now is the time to make a bit of money off these "collectors" as they know it's the end of the line for this mower. One of the guys in there even said what are we going to do with them after that date? No one said anything.

I think they can order more in from the warehouse though. Just a little thing I picked up when he suddenly said oh we have 2 then it suddenly went up to 6 mowers? Where did that come from?

You know what NormK, I think it's best to wait a little longer, I have a feeling they will get cheaper again when it gets nearer to this cut off date.

Cheers!

Converse, usually it takes them between a week and a month to reply.

I believe there is only one bloke who does all the Victa emails - over the past couple of years I have sent a few emails to them, and the same bloke always replys.
Cant think of what his name is, but it is like an Indian name.

Converse, the old Kenny Rogers stuff , you've got to know when to hold them, you've got to know when to fold them.

G'day everyone,

Hey Tyler, at least you do get a reply back mate, remember some years ago I contacted them about their air filters..lol. I never got a reply and it's been years now. This time though I have tried to contact them via the Victa contact page and also through another email directly to Briggs And Stratton Australia. I really want someone to read the email about the last Victa 2 stroke.

Yes NormK that's a good one. You know for me to buy a new last ever Victa 2 stroke, I want to actually buy 2 of them. One to use and one to put away. If I can get 2 for the price of 1 i'm sold. lol.

Cheers!