OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary Vi-cat Rotary Mower - A Total Mystery!

Has anyone seen or heard of a Vi-cat mower, picked this up recently and have been unable to find anything about it, even the briggs and Stratton motor on it is a mystery and has no serial number or anything on it, and even stranger has a belt/strap starter on it.
Any help much appreciated
Cheers Sir Bat.

Hello Sir Bat

The quick answer is NO.
This is an exciting new find though, and I have some clues.

The mower base fender-styling suggests USA origin.
The single-point height adjuster is rudimentary, and quite unusual
in that height is adjusted from the front.
[Correction: it has a two-point system. See below]

I know of only one mower that used this styling in Australia.
It's the Austral Villiers Hercules -

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=61587
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=68456

My best guess at this time is that - if original - this is a privately imported
mower of American origin.

Hope this helps.
-------------------------
Jack

It actually has double height adjustment, front and back, hopefully this shows a clearer picture of the back adjustment. The motor is unusual in the respect it has inlet and exhaust on the same side, I have never seen this on smaller briggs vertical shafts.

Cheers Sir Bat.

Hmmm, I wonder. This could be the real "Chonda" or actually a "Vicna" or "Chicta":

VI-CAT is an anagram of VICTA (minus the hyphen of course).

G'day Patrick

Yep, I've thought of that.

The logo is strikingly problematic and provocative.
The handle bar design and angular brackets seem odd too.
Are they Turner wheels?

I feel this may be our first case of deliberate deception.
That would be a pity for vintage mower history.

Let's wait and see.
-------------------------
Jack

Wow! What an interesting mower, can't wait to see what we can find about it.

Sirbat nice looking thingamy. the welds look interesting, if not well done. from the pics i can see 5 different nuts/bolts, both metric and imperial. that bns motor and that muffler tops it off. i feel i need a muffler like that. nice starter.
How would you start it
wish i could make something like that
now i dont have 20cents left
sean

The more I look, the cruder the engineering (sorry SirBat):

• Those metal-on-metal height adjustment knobs are bound to work loose under running vibration. Everything else seems to use either a geared mechanism or spring-loaded pin mechanism for that reason.
• Curved handles at single bolt attachment point. Great weak/pressure/lever point for breaking. Wonder if original handles were different and matched the clamps better.
• The exhaust is right next to the fuel tank AND ejects at the operator!
• The fuel tank cap seems a crude design.
• The oil filler cap is definitely a crude design compared to the usual B&S. Without the 2 posts standing up, how do you get your fingers around the rim to take it off?
• Base looks very small, small cutting diameter.
• Possibly a real B&S (post-fit) air filter housing?
• Everything's metal, no plastic so I'm guessing a look inside the carby would be really telling.
• Can't see a throttle mechanism but could be the lever type.

All points to a very crude manufacturing capability and a lack of safety (or sensibilty), which is often what you get with copycat work.

With no serial numbers or B&S markings I'm guessing the engine is a copy as well.

As a result it's actually highly interesting. Does it run? What's the underneath look like?

Just my 2� worth...which of course rounds down nowadays to $0.00!

G'day Patrick and Sean

Quite right to observe those things.

This is an A-V chassis but with modification.
I would like to put the engine issue to the side as it has been clearly
modified too. The starter would have been B&S's unique trip-release.

I would like to see close-ups; particularly of the Vi-cat logo and
the front and rear, and underneath.

---------------------------
Jack

Hello ODK members

This is the most extra-ordinary of mowers presented here at ODK.
I spoke with Sir Bat recently and he was most generous in supplying
the back story here. It is highly likely we will never know much about this
machine. We should get better photos shortly.

All contributors have recognised something unusual or something
�not quite right� in what they see. For me this is an interesting machine
because of its unusual features.

To do this logically, I would like to discuss the Briggs motor.
The question I address is this: does the motor match other features of
the mower? That answer is not an easy one.

This is an 8 Series Briggs & Stratton engine, a Kool Bore (Aluminium) design
first produced from the mid-1950s. Local folks will probably not recognise
that this series was made in horizontal and vertical variants, with different
carby and fuel tank configurations. The horizontal shaft 8 Series would see
service for many decades, powering AUS machines like the Scott Bonnar 45.

As pointed out by Sir Bat, its unusual feature (for small vert. shaft Briggs)
is to have the carby and exhaust on the same side. Later Briggs� designs would
run the intake manifold across the cylinder so as to separate fuel tank from
exhaust. That was a good idea�

That would not be possible with this engine. It is an 8 Series with the carby
mounted above the fuel tank � it�s an early Briggs & Stratton Pulsa-Jet! Note
the bare side of the block in the second picture �




So ... is this engine original to this chassis?
To be continued ...

I'm a little bit lost that model B&S engine was fitted to number of USA mowers in the mid 1950s not uncommon at all BUT maybe here in Aus but not in the USA
Ian

Does anybody have this book (picture) of USA mowers
The best picture of the engine on a Excello
Different air cleaner to Jacks picture
Ian

Very interesting looking mower!

Thanks for that Ian.
I wish I had that book but it is out of print.
Note in the top photo that the engine has a flo-jet carby; the one in the
bottom picture has a pulsa-jet like the Vi-Cut.

To continue the question I set above:
does the Briggs engine match other features on the mower? The answer must be No!

Turner rightfully (in my view) claims to have introduced the 4-stroke to
Australian rotaries in late 1959. During 1960 everyone wanted to jump on
the 4-stroke bandwagon. Kirby�s locally made Tecumseh engines would
dominate the 1960s, but Villiers Lightweigh 4-strokes would also appear.

Briggs at this time was the underdog, but found a loyal friend in
Queensland�s Rover. The earliest advertising I have for a Briggs on an
AUS rotary dates from late 1960. HG Palmer�s Standard and Deluxe Utility
mowers offered them. Here are two ads from 1961 and 1963. Note the 8 Series
in the second ad has the Vacu-jet carby.




The 8 Series offered four types of starting: rope, rewind, wind-up and even
electric. In Australia, I have only found the wind-up starter on early 1960s
engines.



The Briggs engine on the Vi-Cat belongs to the early to mid 1960s. It cannot
belong to the 1950s if fitted to an Australian lawnmower. The muffler is home-made
and there is clear evidence that it was a wind-up version.

So, is the chassis from the 1950s or 1960s? To be continued ...

The Hercules was introduced in Spring 1959 and it was initially fitted with
a Villiers 7F 2-stroke. It is clear that A-V added 4-stroke versions after that -
in the early 1960s. On these forums we have seen both LAV30 and the earlier
GEB Kirby engines (see links above). It is therefore not impossible that a
Briggs version would have been offered.

The trouble is that - if the Vi-Cat chassis was original - it would have to
come from the late 1950s. The reason for this is that by 1960 the issue of
height adjuster design was all but settled.

There was experimentation with a number of different designs from about 1955.
The main designs were via a single point lever (championed by Minter); the
other was via the single point rotary knob (championed by Victa).

All manufacturers agreed that a single point on the mower for adjusting all
four wheels was the goal. By 1960 the odds were in favour of the lever and
segment - it was simple (few parts) and cheaper to manufacture. Out of the big
players, only Pope would persevere with levers on each wheel (American style),
albeit with accurate multiple height settings. Pope would succumb to the
superior lever and segment design within a few years.

There are only two cases I know of a two-point system. A version of Austral
Villiers Adaptomatic used a rotary knob at front-centre and rear-centre.
The last version would have just the rear-centre knob (single-point) to
adjust all four wheels.

The Scott Bonnar Model 31 had an even more bizarre version of the two-point.
It had rotary knobs on each side - each controlling one side of the mower!
The great Model 35 would correct that 'What was he thinking?' moment.

The Vi-Cat presents as having a two-point system, via levers mounted at
front and back. The levers, that appear to be made of spring steel, look
straight-off a Victa from the early sixties. Have a close look at those
plastic handles.

The levers operate against alloy brackets that have been clearly welded to
the alloy frame. Adjustment is achieved by loosening the locking knobs and
moving the levers. It is a very awkward process and the levers at each end
look like something one might see at a railroad siding. For me, total
fabrication! (pun intended)

Conclusion
My best guess is that this intriguing mower started life as a Austral
Villiers Hurcules from the early 1960s. It may well have been fitted with
the Briggs 8 Series as these were being used on AUS lawnmowers of the time.
Clearly the base was designed to take a 4-stroke, regardless of make.

I have argued that the unusual two-point height adjuster on the Vi-Cat
cannot date from the 1960s, but only from that period of experimentation
in the mid-to-late 1950s. This suggests, not that the engine is not original,
but that the chassis base has been seriously modified at a later point in time
(perhaps decades). I believe this lawnmower to have once been a 1960s Austral
Villiers Hercules that has been modified by someone with great competency, but for
unknown reasons.

I am hoping Sir Bat will give us clearer pictures of this machine; engine and
chassis. Numbers should still be found on the cowling, and I am perplexed that
Sir Bat has said there are no serial numbers on the Briggs. Perhaps that dark
paint conceals vital information?

Hi Jack et al,

Just wondering if the Vi-cat is actually the same size as the supposedly cloned A-V?

The reason I ask is the B&S motor is 'hanging over the edge', at least on one side. I realise my engine's carby mounting position is different but my 92502 is approx 11" square (inc the spark plug too) and goes nowhere near the edges of the mower. Ditto Eric with a 10x13" Kirby/Lauson. Both are 18" cut.

The A-V claimed 20"? Do you think it is that, or 18" or perhaps less?

I'm also still a bit leery of the rubber handles on the height adjusters, I think they are add-ons.

Happy to be proven wrong!

Hi Patrick

Sir Bat has said to me that the width is about 19 inches.
Width claims do vary - from blade tip to tip; and from inner base diameter.
Generally, manufacturers chose the larger number.

If the Vi-Cat is cast into the base then this is a cloned copy with modification.
Sir Bat says the logo is cast as part of the base ...

The rubber handles are, I believe, hard plastic.
They are certainly add-ons to the A-V design. I think they
originate with Victa - but I am not sure.

It's an interesting case isn't it?

--------------------
Jack

As promised here are a few more images, the cut is 19 inch exactly from blade tip to blade tip. If there is anything in particular you want a picture of let me know and I will get to it, limited access to a computer means it may take time.
Cheers Jason.

The biggest thing with this mower is to ignore the paint job, the previous owner was a member of the old machinery club over here and had a tendency to go mad with dulux rebuilds.
I have chased its ownership history and the only things that are not original are the handle bars and exhaust on motor. combined ownership history goes back 40 odd years with the first owner I tracked down also claiming it was acquired second hand from someone else.
Cheers Sir Bat.

Ah the old Dulux restoration and not very well executed at that

Hi Jason/Sir Bat,

yes the previous owner did go a bit overboard wit the paintbrush on the logo didn't he :-)

It's great that you now have a 'provenance' (? I suppose?) or at least history for it, you should record all those details before they slip form your memory (and our history)- people, places, dates, times, anecdotes.

I knew I had seen that type of exhaust somewhere else a long time ago, just can't remember where. Maybe an old Lister motor...?

I don't think there's fluting to the blades, can't see an 'fan blades' on the blade carrier, jsut those holes... would the grass ejection have worked OK?

Just to play Devil's Advocate: except for the dodgy Victa anagram name, are we sure the Vi-Cat came after the A-V: how do we know that A-V didn't copy the Vi-Cat design???

Cheers,

Hello Patrick & Sir Bat

Patrick, Canberra is the home of the Machiavellian.
The Vi-Cat must be post-Hercules for reasons I gave above. The Hercules
was introduced in late 1959 and was fitted with their favoured Villiers.
The Vi-Cat - real or imagined - is unmistakably 1960's 4-stroke.

Still speaking in the spirit of Machiavelli, I feel the extra photos confirm
the cleverness of the deception. This is a fantastic lawnmower - perhaps a
work of art - and this topic is now part of its provenance.

The base does not so much reveal the inadequacies of a Dulux penchant,
but the characteristics of sand casting. I will have to defer to the
experts, but it appears to me the base is a one-off sand casting. The
surface is not production quality at all. It may well be that the 20" A-V
base acted as the outer mould for this re-constructed base.

The Vi-Cat logo is decidedly oddly placed above the discharge chute.
I am struggling to think of any other vintage rotary with that style.
The Hercules side-catcher would have covered it! The logical place for
rotary badging has always been the base front.

The cast Vi-Cat logo is compromised by the gaping square hole on the 'V',
something a production machine would never have. It's a sort of insult.
I guess it may have been part of the casting process...

The Hercules was Austral-Villiers' first rotary to take a side catcher.
As such, I guess it would have taken fluted blades of some sort.
In the Victa style, perhaps flat cutting blades, and optional
fluted blades for the optional catcher.



This is a clever and collectible mower, and Patrick's advice to
record all information about it is important. I hope Sir Bat will
explore the engine numbers that should still be on the cowling, perhaps
covered by a thick layer of Dulux ...

All very interesting.
---------------------------
Jack

Well some good news and some bad. I have stripped the paint from the engine cover and there is no sign of engine numbers, the inside was not painted and still shows no signs of indents from numbers being marked into it. The good news is a family friend has reminded me that there used to be an aluminium foundry locally, and there is some suspicion the original owner might have been involved in some odd projects from time to time, nothing confirmed and upon looking at some of his work it is not to the usual standard (apparently a perfectionist). The person I bought the mower off is adamant that is Australian but can not remember where he got the information from, had written on a plate to put on mower when taking it to shows. Sadly may never find out the full story as people involved in the foundry are long gone, and previous owners are old and probably not much longer for this world,but a great conversation piece.

Hi Sir Bat and Jack,

You've covered off on a couple of thoughts I hadn't actually expressed...

Yes Sir Bat it's definitely a conversation piece. I think you've done well and it needs mounting!

And whilst I first suspected it was a possibly overseas copy I did also wonder whether someone had cast their own copy-cat version and I think that's what it probably is. Especially if Sir Bat knows of a possible local foundry and possible sand casting.

Also like Jack I had wondered about the rough-n-ready design and flaws- the finish, crude height adjustment with copied parts and the funny square indent cutting the strangely placed logo which does somewhat resemble one of Victa's later logo styles.

And Jack, sorry, I went back and reread your post above about A-V mowers and timelines. Sorry it was all a bit much for me earlier, I knew I'd missed something. The learning continues...

Hi Patrick and Sir Bat

This has been a great story.

I feel the possible link to a local foundry is telling.
I wonder whether we ill ever find out more about this most deceptive
of lawnmowers?

All very interesting.
----------------------------
Jack

Jack back then Australia was a country where people saw something and they thought I can make that, mowers in particular were expensive so they were worth giving it a go and that is why for probably 10 years so many small manufacturers decided to give it a go. Sadly these innovative days are long gone

Yes Norm

Well said mate.
The 1950s was an exciting time - when the 'little guy' could have a go.
I'm hoping to draw attention to the 1930s as well. There is a key
difference though: the Australian lawnmower industry started with big
players (not small guys). There is good reason for this ...

Cheers
-----------------
Jack

Well bit of a breakthrough, tried a few things and have finally found the numbers on the motor, sadly don't show up on a photo but the numbers are as follows- 80906 945090 6101100

cheers Sir Bat.

I think that means it is 01/01/1961, I think

Hello Sir Bat, Patrick, Kye and all,

The numbers are no surprise then.
They fit in nicely with my reasoning. Close Kye - 10/01/1961.
And yes, it did have a wind-up starter.

Spare Parts Manual here:-
https://www.m-and-d.com/pdfs/briggs/80900-ms4216-0188.pdf

You can now sleep in peace Sir Bat.
Perhaps new info will come to light at a later date.

p.s. Would you have a full view photo of the machine from the front?
[including the handle]

Thanks for the update.
--------------------------------
Jack

Here's a couple more pictures
cheers Sir Bat

I was so close! oh well I will get it next time!

Well that put paid to my theory about copy-cat B&S motors...

Thanks for that Sir Bat.
I think they complete the picture of this most unique lawnmower.

--------------------
Jack