I finally got mine to start on first pull doing what you say. Thanks. But, in despair, I bought a new 4 stroke mower I still have to figure out, plus someone gave me a useless but working electric mower that is too weak for the tough Kikuyu grass I need to now. Then I got given a good quality 4 Stroke one, too. So now I have not one but three mowers, but am still dreading the mowing job I must attend to soon. I think I'll stick with mechanical beast I am now more comfortable with, my old Victa 2 Stroke. It seems to be more powerful for such tough grass. Despite being ancient. They were well constructed machines,it seems. Stood the test of time and all the rough handling and abuse, swearing etc I subjected the old Victa 2 stroke to. I feel bad about that now, because it runs like breeze, so easy to start now that you guys have shown me the right way. Another guy had given me wrong advice and I was pumping away at that little rubber thingy, about 6 or so times and cursing it for refusing to start. I began to understand why my brother and father and other men would kick and abuse and swear at machines etc when they wouldn't"t go. But, I was recently in an old boys' tech trades school my late brother attended where there was a sign on the wall in a workshop that reminded the boys that reading the manual before starting to figure out how things work is a wise idea. Most don't. Mainly because they have bad language skills and justdive in and try to "just do it, fix it, whatever". And end up angry and frustrated, like I got with my Victa. Trouble is, I had no manual to read. Normally I do RTFM (read the flaming manual) before I start doing something. Most of what I know about many female skills, even music, I learned alone. By simply reading the manual. But,sadly now, it is virtually impossible to find any technical manuals in paper form, especially mechanical or computer ones I relied heavily on to figure out stuff. The online ones are typically crap, unclear, confusing, too skimpy, unintelligible, too hard to use and u reliable. So I have to resort to hit and miss, stab in the dark methods, trial and error and hope it might work. So frustrating, time consuming, useless. I just give up because it is such a waste of my precious time.
We never got Victa mowers here in the US. The closest we had were Lawn Boys, older Toro commercial push mowers with the Suzuki 2-stroke, and Jacobson commercial push mowers with a 2-stroke Robin engine.
From Thomas James Schmutter the pricing on it earlier today was really good and If you have got any good ideas I can buy at the Mower shop all Bunnings one day all on eBay at a good price to start easily and run easily as well,. This lawn mower is a ripper mate.
They aren't as good as Honda's or Suzuki's, the carby is shit, they rust worse than the titanic and the only difference between the new and the old(70's) it the flywheel shroud is different
From Thomas James Schmutter this mower is is a app-solute Ripper. Good on price for Mowing as well, so I will tell you a good price range as I finish on google.
I've read somewhere that the latest 2 stroke lawn equipment including the Victa 2 stroke lawn mowers run a leaner fuel to oil ratio of 50:1. I saved an old Victa 2 stroke lawn mower from the rubbish tip the other night, it needs at least new crankshaft bearings, blades & the base needs some rust cut out of it as well as a respray. The one in the video appears to be totally smokeless so I'm not sure why there has been a ban on the sale of 2 stroke lawn equipment in California for example. I want to compare it to my 4 stroke Briggs & Stratton lawnmower after I've rebuilt them both as from my experience, the 4 stroke mowers use less fuel.
4 strokes often use a bit less fuel, but do not have the the equivalent power of a 2 stroke. To match a 160cc Victa, you would need a 190cc or preferably larger capacity 4 stroke, and even then I am not convinced they can tackle the same load. My friends Masport with a BnS Quantum 190cc engine choked in knee high grass, while my Victa 2 stroke revved down low and slashed through it. Victa 2 stroke engines were made so that as the load on the blades grows, the carburettor increases the fuel/air mix to output more power. That being said, the BnS engines are very nice, and provided you are not lazy with letting your grass grow too long, or mowing on slopes (2 strokes don't need to worry about sump oil problems on slopes), and you look after it and change the oil regularly, there is nothing wrong with a 4 stroke engine. Not that there is any choice now, apart from second hand mowers.
MotoBruce Bruce what oil do you use? and what ratio? I live in Australia too. I’m running STIHL hp ultra at 25:1 at them moment thinking of going to 40 or 50:1
@@Dronefishha Using a decent oil, you can use 50:1. I use 40:1 due to how hot it gets where I live, as a little insurance policy. And this is on a Victa Corvette from the late seventies, a Victa mustang from the early 80s, and a late model Victa like this; It is the oil that matters, not the age of the machine. All three are running like champs, and the older mowers have been on this ratio for over 15 years now. Use a good quality, semi synthetic- full synthetic air cooled 2 stroke oil.
@Greg Gregson you sir are smart. I have people arguing with me all the time over oil ratios. They think since over here in Canada and the US our lawn boys came with 16:1 and 32:1 ratios that they must stay at those ratios. I use an oil that is a 100:1 oil and have used it on a 16:1 50s lawnboy for 20 years and when I took it apart to change gaskets everything had a nice coat of slippery blue oil on it and it still has great compression for a 65 year old mower that I have never rebuilt. And I have also used this oil in all the other 2 stroke equipment I have used in my lawn business. Never had an oil related failure. Usually I have to retire machines because I can't find parts for them like coils and such anymore not because of wear. If the oil says it's a 50:1 oil that's what it's meant to run at. You just need to tune your mixture for the air to gas ratio. More oil means less fuel and less means more fuel in the mixture. The oil I use is only a semi synthetic but it is rated highest on the iso D rating which is equivalent to a jaso fd rated oil.
I’ve got this exact Victa Mustang 2-stroke mower. The book says 50:1. I personally use 25:1 because I live in a hot climate and have always used 25:1 on the Victa 2-strokes and haven’t had any problems with that. My previous Victa 2-stroke ‘Silver Streak’ lasted 25 years and I only replaced it because the alloy case was cracked and had holes in it.
Mower off first. Why? It’s a 2 stroke, the oil is in with the fuel, by turning off the fuel first, your lowering the lubrication and premature wear occurs, although it mightn’t be much, it adds up overtime.
Let the mower run out of gas. It’s not a dirt bike where you can engine brake the motor dry. Reason you wanna let the mower run the carb dry is because it’s not good to keep 2 stroke fuel in the carb
I'm here to tell you it's a mix of both turn off the fuel and than turn it off after most of the fuel is out of the carby. If you leave fuel in there it will evaporate away leaving oil and any residue clogging up the jets
I turn off tap, then let it run until I hear it starting to raise in revs by itself then shut off immediately. Better just count to ten or so before letting it get to that stage to ensure you don't starve it of oil.
You said two years? I see your two years and raise you 25. My Honda, all you have to do is open the fuel valve put it on choke, briskly pull once, warm the engine up for a few seconds, put it on high/run engine speed and you're ready to mow, plus it's four stroke, thus emissions are much lower. Mine also has a blade brake clutch and rear wheel propulsion on top of it. That's a faster start than a victa, and cleaner to boot! Pretty good for something that's almost 30 years old.
Yup. At the risk of sounding like a smart ar$e, my other 2 stroke Victa was made in the mid 1960's, starts by winding up a lever and it starts first time pretty much all the time. It mows wonderfully and it still has the original steel catcher. Granted, it does belt out a wonderful cloud of smoke when cold but with modern oils, it makes no visible smoke when warmed up. The 2 strokes are just great.
They also are a pain in the ass to rebuild. A brand new victa 2 stroke vs a Honda buffalo series mower. The victa would loose as the plug would get gummed up with oil as the fuel has to be mixed with oil. Where as the Honda buffalo doesn't need oil with the fuel. All you have to do is turn the fuel on then move the the throttle to choke then pull the rewind starter. Although I am only 13 I know all this as I want to be a lawn mower mechanic when I get older.
@@travismcgrath3583 I understand the exact opposite is true. The 2 stroke has a power stroke twice as often as a 4 stroke so at low rpm they just keep on keeping on. Most 4 strokes are dogs at low rpm.
The best of everything is British ! You cant buy a new 2-stroke mower here in the US,,,, and good luck finding a four-cylinder diesel anyting over here, but just about every car in UK is smart strong and reliable, I praise your Monarchy ! Long Live Queen Elizabeth.!!
Got the exact same mower and starts first time every time with heaps of power and a great engine sound! Nothing beats a 2 stroke for mowing enjoyment!
I finally got mine to start on first pull doing what you say. Thanks. But, in despair, I bought a new 4 stroke mower I still have to figure out, plus someone gave me a useless but working electric mower that is too weak for the tough Kikuyu grass I need to now. Then I got given a good quality 4 Stroke one, too. So now I have not one but three mowers, but am still dreading the mowing job I must attend to soon. I think I'll stick with mechanical beast I am now more comfortable with, my old Victa 2 Stroke. It seems to be more powerful for such tough grass. Despite being ancient. They were well constructed machines,it seems. Stood the test of time and all the rough handling and abuse, swearing etc I subjected the old Victa 2 stroke to. I feel bad about that now, because it runs like breeze, so easy to start now that you guys have shown me the right way. Another guy had given me wrong advice and I was pumping away at that little rubber thingy, about 6 or so times and cursing it for refusing to start. I began to understand why my brother and father and other men would kick and abuse and swear at machines etc when they wouldn't"t go. But, I was recently in an old boys' tech trades school my late brother attended where there was a sign on the wall in a workshop that reminded the boys that reading the manual before starting to figure out how things work is a wise idea. Most don't. Mainly because they have bad language skills and justdive in and try to "just do it, fix it, whatever". And end up angry and frustrated, like I got with my Victa. Trouble is, I had no manual to read. Normally I do RTFM (read the flaming manual) before I start doing something. Most of what I know about many female skills, even music, I learned alone. By simply reading the manual. But,sadly now, it is virtually impossible to find any technical manuals in paper form, especially mechanical or computer ones I relied heavily on to figure out stuff. The online ones are typically crap, unclear, confusing, too skimpy, unintelligible, too hard to use and u reliable. So I have to resort to hit and miss, stab in the dark methods, trial and error and hope it might work. So frustrating, time consuming, useless. I just give up because it is such a waste of my precious time.
We never got Victa mowers here in the US. The closest we had were Lawn Boys, older Toro commercial push mowers with the Suzuki 2-stroke, and Jacobson commercial push mowers with a 2-stroke Robin engine.
Have the exact same unit, got it for $60 just had to redo the knot in pull cord. Starts first time, following this procedure. Cant beat 2 stroke!
Love that 2 stroke sound
Legend
Nice mower. I wish you could get them in the US. The 2 stroke mower was discontinued here after 2004.
They have been dis-continued here (Aus) too.
Yeah sadly I have one it runs like a angel
Thanks Bruce!
no more 2 strokes in canada either, I save old lawn boys cause they are going away quickly
From Thomas James Schmutter the pricing on it earlier today was really good and If you have got any good ideas I can buy at the Mower shop all Bunnings one day all on eBay at a good price to start easily and run easily as well,.
This lawn mower is a ripper mate.
I need to get one of these shipped to the USA!
They aren't as good as Honda's or Suzuki's, the carby is shit, they rust worse than the titanic and the only difference between the new and the old(70's) it the flywheel shroud is different
@@dominoespizza1756 I found mine reliable. Hondas are good but boring -make mowing as exciting as washing the dishes.
@@jamesfrench7299 I would like them more if they used a better carby but it's just cheap shit as far as I'm concerned
@@dominoespizza1756 They are not shit.
You don't know what you're talking about import lover.
@@jamesfrench7299 the old ones are good but compared to aluminium carbs any plastic ones are shit but victa ones are the worst in my opinion
I have a 45 year old victa corvette full crank that starts first pull
if engine hot start with throttle between stop and throttle closed
From Thomas James Schmutter this mower is is a app-solute Ripper.
Good on price for Mowing as well, so I will tell you a good price range as I finish on google.
I have and old vitcta from the 1980s same thing starts runs and cuts long grass without stopping unlike many cheap shit 4 strokes out there
I've got a chonda and it starts everytime by the second pull and I don't have to mess around with primers
Damn that's loud!
They're louder than a four stroke but with a decent muffler they're ok and you don't need hearing protection.
I've read somewhere that the latest 2 stroke lawn equipment including the Victa 2 stroke lawn mowers run a leaner fuel to oil ratio of 50:1.
I saved an old Victa 2 stroke lawn mower from the rubbish tip the other night, it needs at least new crankshaft bearings, blades & the base needs some rust cut out of it as well as a respray.
The one in the video appears to be totally smokeless so I'm not sure why there has been a ban on the sale of 2 stroke lawn equipment in California for example.
I want to compare it to my 4 stroke Briggs & Stratton lawnmower after I've rebuilt them both as from my experience, the 4 stroke mowers use less fuel.
4 strokes often use a bit less fuel, but do not have the the equivalent power of a 2 stroke. To match a 160cc Victa, you would need a 190cc or preferably larger capacity 4 stroke, and even then I am not convinced they can tackle the same load. My friends Masport with a BnS Quantum 190cc engine choked in knee high grass, while my Victa 2 stroke revved down low and slashed through it. Victa 2 stroke engines were made so that as the load on the blades grows, the carburettor increases the fuel/air mix to output more power.
That being said, the BnS engines are very nice, and provided you are not lazy with letting your grass grow too long, or mowing on slopes (2 strokes don't need to worry about sump oil problems on slopes), and you look after it and change the oil regularly, there is nothing wrong with a 4 stroke engine. Not that there is any choice now, apart from second hand mowers.
What is the ratio on the newer 2 stroke Victas, 25:1 or 50:1? I am interested in getting one and would like to know.
Fuel ratio is still 25:1 it is said that if you use good quality oil you can safely run at 50:1
MotoBruce Bruce what oil do you use? and what ratio? I live in Australia too. I’m running STIHL hp ultra at 25:1 at them moment thinking of going to 40 or 50:1
@@Dronefishha Using a decent oil, you can use 50:1. I use 40:1 due to how hot it gets where I live, as a little insurance policy. And this is on a Victa Corvette from the late seventies, a Victa mustang from the early 80s, and a late model Victa like this; It is the oil that matters, not the age of the machine. All three are running like champs, and the older mowers have been on this ratio for over 15 years now. Use a good quality, semi synthetic- full synthetic air cooled 2 stroke oil.
@Greg Gregson you sir are smart. I have people arguing with me all the time over oil ratios. They think since over here in Canada and the US our lawn boys came with 16:1 and 32:1 ratios that they must stay at those ratios. I use an oil that is a 100:1 oil and have used it on a 16:1 50s lawnboy for 20 years and when I took it apart to change gaskets everything had a nice coat of slippery blue oil on it and it still has great compression for a 65 year old mower that I have never rebuilt. And I have also used this oil in all the other 2 stroke equipment I have used in my lawn business. Never had an oil related failure. Usually I have to retire machines because I can't find parts for them like coils and such anymore not because of wear. If the oil says it's a 50:1 oil that's what it's meant to run at. You just need to tune your mixture for the air to gas ratio. More oil means less fuel and less means more fuel in the mixture. The oil I use is only a semi synthetic but it is rated highest on the iso D rating which is equivalent to a jaso fd rated oil.
what mix do you use the same for the 2 stroke Trimmer??
I’ve got this exact Victa Mustang 2-stroke mower. The book says 50:1. I personally use 25:1 because I live in a hot climate and have always used 25:1 on the Victa 2-strokes and haven’t had any problems with that. My previous Victa 2-stroke ‘Silver Streak’ lasted 25 years and I only replaced it because the alloy case was cracked and had holes in it.
40 years old and starts first pull
To turn of any 2 stroke would you recommend turning off mower first then fuel or turn fuel off and let the mower die out
Mower off first. Why? It’s a 2 stroke, the oil is in with the fuel, by turning off the fuel first, your lowering the lubrication and premature wear occurs, although it mightn’t be much, it adds up overtime.
Let the mower run out of gas. It’s not a dirt bike where you can engine brake the motor dry. Reason you wanna let the mower run the carb dry is because it’s not good to keep 2 stroke fuel in the carb
I'm here to tell you it's a mix of both turn off the fuel and than turn it off after most of the fuel is out of the carby. If you leave fuel in there it will evaporate away leaving oil and any residue clogging up the jets
I turn off tap, then let it run until I hear it starting to raise in revs by itself then shut off immediately.
Better just count to ten or so before letting it get to that stage to ensure you don't starve it of oil.
My dad made a bet with me if I can turn on the mower he will give me $70 but if I couldn’t I had to mow the lawn so I’m here
I also have a two stroke mower
I have to fill the oil and top up the gas on my mower
HERPY DERPEDY is it a lawn boy? Is the top bulky?
A very good price at $249.00
From Thomas James Schmutter.
when mowing have the throttle on full idle being 2 stroke they all need to rev at full idle
Paul Dixon r/ Ihadastroke.
This seems like a bunch of engine words thrown together randomly
You can still buy these brand new
No. Discontinued 2017.
What usage, time and throw away indoctrination could not kill, the laws did.
Via EPA no more 2 stroke lawn mowers.
You said two years? I see your two years and raise you 25. My Honda, all you have to do is open the fuel valve put it on choke, briskly pull once, warm the engine up for a few seconds, put it on high/run engine speed and you're ready to mow, plus it's four stroke, thus emissions are much lower. Mine also has a blade brake clutch and rear wheel propulsion on top of it. That's a faster start than a victa, and cleaner to boot! Pretty good for something that's almost 30 years old.
Yup. At the risk of sounding like a smart ar$e, my other 2 stroke Victa was made in the mid 1960's, starts by winding up a lever and it starts first time pretty much all the time. It mows wonderfully and it still has the original steel catcher. Granted, it does belt out a wonderful cloud of smoke when cold but with modern oils, it makes no visible smoke when warmed up. The 2 strokes are just great.
They also are a pain in the ass to rebuild. A brand new victa 2 stroke vs a Honda buffalo series mower. The victa would loose as the plug would get gummed up with oil as the fuel has to be mixed with oil. Where as the Honda buffalo doesn't need oil with the fuel. All you have to do is turn the fuel on then move the the throttle to choke then pull the rewind starter. Although I am only 13 I know all this as I want to be a lawn mower mechanic when I get older.
Even my old international type m stationary motor built in 1916 would start quicker than the victa
And to boot the 4strokes have whey more torque at a lower rev so they are better on fuel as well.
@@travismcgrath3583 I understand the exact opposite is true. The 2 stroke has a power stroke twice as often as a 4 stroke so at low rpm they just keep on keeping on. Most 4 strokes are dogs at low rpm.
The best of everything is British ! You cant buy a new 2-stroke mower here in the US,,,, and good luck finding a four-cylinder diesel anyting over here, but just about every car in UK is smart strong and reliable, I praise your Monarchy ! Long Live Queen Elizabeth.!!
This is an Australian mower.
They were exported you Britain too decades.