Well I finally managed to get the old Victa VC160 up and running, this mower had been sitting for around 10 years. it still had some old fuel in the tank, when I emptied the old fuel it just looked like black liquid. I also had to patch up the lower snorkel and I used a hose clamp on the end. I ended up changing the points and condensor a few days ago but I think it ended up being a bit of corrosion in the end of the spark plug lead as to why it had no spark.
When I first got it started it took a while for it to settle down and run smoothly, I started to mow the backyard with it and after a few minutes it started to run more smoothly. Not bad for something that's been sitting for 10 years. I recorded some footage of the beast now that I got it up and running after so many years.
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay, another trash picked Victa, hip hip Hooray!
One mans rubbish is another mans treasure, if you could only get good catchers for those they would be still being able to be used in another 50 years, if we have fuel to run them then
South Australia is a hotbed for 1970s high arch models everybody wants. I have a decent collection all things considered, and many more I wish I never parted with.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
My interest with the F/C's is only about the motors and what I can use them on. After using a 600 slasher with a PT on it I believe the F/C's on these are a better motor for some reason. I pull the G3 carby off and fit an LM and they are a great machine
A F/C has much better bearing support for the sideways tension they are put under. Even they are known to have issues with it, so imagine a half crank subjected to it.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Thanks for that this is the first mower I ever found sitting on the kerb and it's what probably started me off to start collecting mowers. I have the original catcher in the shed it's in good condition but I know if I start using it for regular mowing it will crack and lose peices in the front lip area and these aren't easy to find like the later 80's black plastic catchers which are everywhere.
I do think this sort of mower probably needs the catcher on the back when mowing, I was getting a bit sprayed with grass clippings and debris coming out around the rear flap. Anyway it was just a little run to see how it goes and it's a great machine.
Cheers!
Last edited by Converse; 23/05/1912:12 PM.
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay, another trash picked Victa, hip hip Hooray!
If there were a way of getting all of the following,
2 of Twins, 5 of VC Sports, 6 of Mustang (Green), 15 of VC160's and about 2 dozen other early Victa models that use Full Cranks if not more to the east coast cost effective then I'd ship them all over in one consignment as here in South Australia they are worth bugger all and are slowly lowering themselves back into the earth. There's even a Victa unused chassis prior to painting in this same place but inside with no corrosion whatsoever. Engines ? there would be around 3 container fulls there. I just can't believe this is all going to ruin with bugger all interest.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
I have lots of interest here BB, it is just the logistics of moving it all as it sounds like I wouldn't get much in a 6x4 trailer and the cost of fuel for the return trip would be around $250
I had to pick up 40 mowers a few years ago from Frankston, can't remember how many trips that took, must have been at least 4 trips because I was getting about 10 at a time on the 6x4. MF I believe the rental on a semi would make a big dent in my cost neutral hobby
BB, the problem would be that everything would need to be on pallets and shrink wrapped and then you need a forklift and it all gets just too hard and very quickly you start asking yourself, why did I get involved in this because the cost will quickly outweigh the value
You got that right. That's why I've said to the bloke that's got all these that eventually when he passes that the beneficiary will just organise a few of those massively huge skips and it'll all just get tossed into scrap metal and crushed.
The cost of logistics in this country now is just ridiculously expensive.
Cheers, BB.
PS. I'll probably end up cherry picking the best out of it and load it on my Hilux tray top and bring it home.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
I spotted a couple of catchers on a nature strip down the road today and one was for a Victa which looked in good condition so I grabbed it straight away, there was also this other funny looking catcher next to it which I wasn't going to grab at first but I thought it looks in good condition and it also has the rear flap with it. I thought why not a catcher doesn't take up much space and who knows, one day I might find a mower that might use it.
The Victa catcher is in great condition with no cracks or bits missing along the front lip. Going by the date stamp it was made in 1997.
Now for the other funny looking catcher, I don't know what this thing is off but I am assuming it's from one of those cheaper sort of 4 stroke mowers. The only thing I can go by is the date stamp on the plastic which says it was made in 2003. I have added some photo's of this other catcher and the rear flap to see if anyone knows what mower it might be from.
Cheers!
Last edited by Converse; 29/05/1906:26 PM.
Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay, another trash picked Victa, hip hip Hooray!
