I picked up this mower for my Victa collection as it’s the first steel base rear catcher mower that Victa released. Not in a happy state but it came with what was left of its catcher but minus starter, air filter and fitted with the incorrect blade plate and boss.
I have made a start by stripping it down and will now clean and repair as I go.
Stripped down to the bare base and some panel beating done on the front, engine will get a clean and will be stripped down to see what condition it’s in.
Made for the 62/63 season and not big in numbers I believe. There was also the four stroke model called the Ambassador. Not sure if the four stroke also came out on the steel base.
I couldn’t let this one slip away Jack, engine has been cleaned up and it is the original which is great. Very wet up here at the moment so not much more progress.
G-day Paul_c, CyberJack, It looks as though a FC 160 from the 60s and 70s will go on here. It would make for an interesting, if not original spec combo.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF business is business steel costs money, the thinner the steel the better the profit margin, do you think for one reason a manufacturer would care less about the fact their bases rust out in 5/10 years. Making something that will last these days is bad for business
With me it all about how much if any original paint is left on the machine, this one had no original paint anywhere and was in quite a sad state all around. The once chrome bars are very rusty and overpainted with one of the locking bars rusted clean through, the base was dented in badly at the front and repainted plain green with a not so matching orange cowl.
If the machine has good decals but poor paint I will just cosmetically tidy it up and do the mechanical side of things to bring it back to running condition. The ones I love to get are the ones that just need a wash and a service.
Your the man to ask on this Paul. I have a steel deck early 90s Victa with a sound deck but with small surface bubbles covering the deck under the original paint, like a rash. I took to part of it with a wire brush but was not able to eliminate all the bumps under the paint. Would you just do the best possible and put up with an imperfect but improved surface and mask off what you can, or go to the trouble of stripping the deck of components so it can be done thoroughly, including a wire brush attachment with an angle grinder and phosphoric acid (rust converter) before paint? I already have a pressure pack can of Indian red to go on.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I just repainted a deck with about the same rust as your pic,used a poly strip disc,it removed the paint and rust no problem but if you have a lot of rust you will end up with pitted metal so a spray putty may be needed to fill the pits.
Nice Viceroy Paul_c , I don't think a lot survived because of rust . Have seen one steel base the same on a Ambassador. Cheers Max.
Hey Paul & Max, your suggestions have been an enormous help in deciding what to do. I have ordered a poly disc from EBay. Love the pics of the brand new four stroke version, particularly nose cone with the car like grill! Can't wait to see the new paint. Well done getting an early example of a Victa steel deck. Makes me appreciate the modern ones more.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Did some painting this afternoon and I’m quite pleased with the result, there is some rain coming and it’s getting cooler so I got the deck painted while the weather was nice. Went to see a mate this morning and came home with a new old stock rear cover plate, what a great find!
