OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Tip & Curb Side Finds Found SPFC and PT Victas.

I saw a hard rubbish collection going on last Sunday night so stopped the car and got out for a look and it didn't take long before I found a complete steel deck SPFC Victa and a steel deck Victa catcher with plastic flap inside, in the same street. I wondered what became of the missing mower. After almost doing a lap of the block on foot, looking at other piles, I saw an object right on the street corner at the side of my eye and it actually gave me a fright as it was dark, and alas it was the missing mower as it had the missing flap. It was a PT with the nice top B_B has talked about. A lot of surface rust but no rust penetration on first examination. The SPFC is the same as Converse model but has the older type wheels, which suggests it's the slightly older 80/81 model.
Haven't had a chance to test them out our take pics yet as they're still in the ute. Photos to follow.

Feels like winning Tattslotto doesn't it MF, well almost, good score

G'day Mowerfreak and NormK,

Sounds like some great finds there Mowerfreak, can't wait to see some pictures of the SPFC mate!

When I attempted to to start the full crank, I thought I detected a slight whimper but didn't run. PT test to follow. Last pic -this is what the surface is like all over.

Still a lot of these FC commandos around - another testament to the longevity of a FC. Also probably helps they sold so many of that particular model.

Mine flat refuses to start first pull - second go every time.

Nice garden you got there Tyler.
That cover fools the eyes into thinking it's a powertorque. It was obviously a stop gap for things to come.

Millions of those cover/tanks around MF, biggest problem I have with those is they are the screws holding them down are screwed into steel nuts in the steel fan shroud and usually they are rusted solid and are a real pain to remove without damaging the plastic. I put them back together with a bit of grease on the threads to hopefully prevent problems in the future

Thanks MF
Those covers do bear a resemblance to the PT.

A few months ago a mate of mine though they were both the same basic engine (he is not very mechanical) and ended up quite perplexed about a mower with the flywheel underneath the engine.

It is very easy for someone who is unfamiliar with these mowers to not know the difference between a PT and a F/C, in particular that model that they made look very similar to the PT, probably as a run out model so the dealers could off load them without most customers noticing the difference

It's funny to think it's the same engine as the 1960s Corvette with the hammer tone metal cover and wind up starter.
Shows what a plastic cover can achieve.

Victa has done that for years, think of all the PT plastic top variations all to make people think it was a new model. The later style catcher was another "new" model innovation, which was a bigger catcher, but then they cheaped out on those with a rubbish screen that is of poor quality, similar to the Rover catchers

G'day everyone,

That SPFC looks pretty original there Mowerfreak, the deck doesn't look that bad in the photo, probably just surface rust.

Hey it's great to see your Commando aswell Tyler, yet none of us has an original surviving "Commando" decal from one of these to be able to reproduce..lol Oh well something might turn up one day.

With the starting on first pull, I don't even bother using the primer bulb anymore, It usually starts after a couple of attempts.

Cheers!

I went mower hunting last night on another council kerbside collection, and found an all plastic small electric mower that looked like an import with Victa stamped on it and found a red Rover with the vertical pull B & S motor. The rear wheels had been pulled off, as well as the starter and carburettor. A shame as the base was in excellent condition and motor very good cosmetically. Even the decals looked near pristine. I noticed the flimsy catcher mesh NormK had mentioned.

Wish I was a bit closer MF I have so much of that Rover stuff that will eventually go to the tip one day.

Just thought of something I could do with it and when I went back, it was gone. The catcher and handles remained.

I always grab it, worst case is I take it up to the scrap metal bin at the tip

I finally got around to having a play. First the SPFC, I discovered it had water in the cylinder when I pulled the spark plug off. After I tipped it sideways and gave it a few sprays of WD40 and a few more pulls with the rope, in went the plug and I tried again.
After some hesitation it ran but with a large concerning plume of blue smoke drifting down the street. I was starting to think I'd get complaints. After a few more test starts, it improved. It starts first pull but has hopeless throttle control. Either medium high or high.
Weird thing is it stops at either end of the t-bar throttle.
Champion mower all the same, ready for 30 years happy mowing.
As for the PT, it wouldn't so much as make a pop despite having spark. When I pulled the primer cap off, the float was sticky, as though someone put solvent on there. Same with the bottom of the float chamber. There was a strange smell like old cooking oil coming from the rag that caught the fluid dripping out as I undid the cap. Cap o ring didn't look the best either. This will need further investigation.

These things are just so tough, all sorts of abuse and they just come back for more. With the F/C just do the carby mod and it will be a fantastic mower for another 30 years as you say. With the PT, nothing unusual about what the fuel,looked like/smelt like. If you want a quick check pull the carb off the F/C and give that a go and then quickly you have an idea what is going on

I was chuffed to see a motor with water in it only a few minutes prior, respond to a dose of water dispersing spray and fire back to life. I ran it a few times so it would heat up and hopefully flush out all the water.
Maybe I should have taken it for some recreational mowing up the street where there is a patch of nature strip that would make for a good proving ground.

After swapping out the carby, snorkel, throttle control and handlebars as one unit with another I had on hand, the powertorque started right up. Another one ready for work once it's rear flap gets reattached.