I have one Honda SP that has no problem in reverse Norm.
The gearbox durability went down on the VC auto drive and later Victa SP mowers compared with the 1960s Victa Self Propelled mowers but inferior parts can make more profit in spare parts sales.
A mower mechanic told me the old Rover SP mowers lasted a lot longer than the Victa SP mower when mower contractors used them day in day out.
MW, is there any way to make the standard catcher work on my gelded Auto Drive. One problem I encountered is an extra "axle" sticking out at the bottom of the rear flap and the other is an elaborate plastic cover that appears to plug a hole for the drive belt just inside the flap on the left. If I remove that, it will allow clippings to shoot out over the deck where the pulley used to be. The previous owner fitted slasher blades and used it without a catcher.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi Mf, It doesn't look like you can modify a standard catcher to fit the Auto Drive VC, I don't have a standard VC catcher here at the moment but the red arrow shows how much the standard catcher would need to be modified to clear the axle and gearbox.
I have seen a lot of the standard VC mowers for $10 or less,got one for $1 a few weeks back,you could strip the axles out of the standard VC and fit them to the Auto Drive after removing the auto drive axles then fit the standard catcher.
Oh yeah, it looks like more trouble than it's worth MW. I need an auto drive catcher. I think I'd have more luck just finding a standard VC -160/125 to fit my catcher!! Thanks for that.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Yes better off if you can find a Auto drive catcher or buy a cheap Auto drive mower with the catcher Mf.
If your after a complete VC with the impulse starter don't buy one that is missing the green plastic cover that fits over the starter otherwise you will be buying another mower just for the cover, the covers are rare these days .
I don't like the mark one for it's 7" rear wheels, and the mark two for it's height adjuster that can jump and leave crop circles on the lawn. Mark three with the first plastic height adjuster teeth is the one I'd only consider. They sold tonnes of that version, so I'm in with a chance and if it comes with it's own catcher, all the better to have a spare.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!