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22-10-2018, 10:34 PM | #1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Location: St Marys Tasmania
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Oops , but glad your better half will be looking at a freshly cut spread . Got to stay in the good books ..REALLY IMPORTANT...
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22-10-2018, 10:33 PM | #2 | ||
Kinetic FG X XR8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Hobart TAS
Posts: 452
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Love a good mower! Great thread Rod.
Got a collection of reel mowers. A couple of Scott bonnar 45's, a Qualcast and a Rover 45 which is the daily driver or every 2nd day driver at the moment. Also have 2 Honda rotary mowers which are previously used commercially and still go strong on the odd occasion they are used. Very fond memories of mum and dads Victa. It was a tiger I think? I just remember it having orange highlights. Also remember my uncles Rover Barron. Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
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22-10-2018, 10:38 PM | #3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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My regular mower is a Victa Commando, 94 model. Installed a new carby kit last year, still runs like new. Must say though, it uses heaps more fuel than the older 71 Cortina but feels like it has heaps more hp
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22-10-2018, 10:45 PM | #4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Oh yes , the Commando ..They were a popular Victa if ever there was ..
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22-10-2018, 10:41 PM | #5 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Location: St Marys Tasmania
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Quote:
My Rover only has the nylon bush wheels , is 23 years old or so and is pretty good in that regard . Mine is a base model ..Better ones had ballrace wheels even then . She's 50 to 1 fuel mix too . Does smoke a bit now but still cuts like the 4 stroke won't in heavy wet going . Four strokes are okay though .. |
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23-10-2018, 09:59 PM | #6 | ||
Kicking back
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Western sydney
Posts: 8,368
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Why is the family dog investigating a toaster?
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22-10-2018, 11:58 PM | #7 | ||
T3/Sprint8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 15,999
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Good thread !
I love my lawns and used to do them for the ol man loved it. Must be motors. Had a victa commando for around 25yrs, rippa ol girl but it did finally die. I do like 2strokes as well but I always did admire Briggsys. So I finally got one about 2yrs ago. Starts first pull, is a beast and does cut through long grass as good as 2's imo. Trouble though GUD Holding sold out Victa long ago and Briggs is on any chassis nowadays. I don't rate the Victas as they once were. Hondas, top shelf product imo today for surburbia I'm talking. They ask good coin for them thats for sure. Fed the lawns about 3 1/2 wks ago, that Sydney rain was perfect timing, my lawn is brilliant right now and gave it first spring cut Saturday.
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22-10-2018, 11:58 PM | #8 | ||
Kicking back
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Western sydney
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Battery powered no. Electric, sort of. My dad bought an electric in the 2000s and it was crap. Trailing a lead around creates its own issues. But battery power is not what it was back then. Brushless motors and stuff from my experience with the power tools i have is worlds ahead of what it was. I took the advice from my grandpa on mowers when i bought mine in 2010. I dont remember what chassis his was, it wasnt a victa but it was powered by a Briggs and stratton. The advice from my father in law was a bit sketchy. He had 2 victa v60s and neither would start first attempt. He'd waste an hour on 1, flood that, waste an hour on the other, flood that then the first would start. So i went 4 stroke on my grandpas advice and the 158cc briggs powered victa vantage i still have starts first pull. 3 pumps of the primer bulb and give it a minute to get into its happy place and shes apples. So the argument they dont make em like they used to is kind of false.
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23-10-2018, 12:45 AM | #9 | ||
T3/Sprint8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 15,999
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Bro inlaw bought whatever mega electric brand with back up batteries as you would and whippa and blowa.
Loves it - I'd seen the mower running has mega powa and the blower really strong.
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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17-03-2020, 02:24 PM | #10 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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Posts: 803
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Quote:
Once my Masport dies, I will switch to a Battery operated mower as I only have about 230sqm of lawn. |
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23-10-2018, 07:34 AM | #11 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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I’ve gone with an electric blower. Doesn’t perform as well as the old two-stroke, but that could be down the the different noxxle design.
The two stroke was getting to be a b to start, and keep running. I don’t like “small engine” work, so off loaded it. 144 is the smallest I’ll go ;-)
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23-10-2018, 09:52 AM | #12 | ||
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23-10-2018, 06:28 PM | #13 | |||
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Quote:
Still need a hand mower for fiddly bits. So got myself a Victa "easy walker" Powered wheels ftw. If there's an easier way I'll find it.
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23-10-2018, 06:41 PM | #14 | ||
Donating Member
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Posts: 11,758
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Behold Hercules. Three speeds of self-propelled mulching power.
In top gear, be prepared to run! No emptying the catcher with this bad boy. Can also side discharge if needed.
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23-10-2018, 06:57 PM | #15 | ||
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G'day all again ..Loving the thoughts on all things mowing . What a classic is the VC Mustang DFB , she's a beaut . What's taking over big ride on's these days or lawn tractors as they used to be called is the Zero turn ones .
we have a Toro at work , I don't use it much but it's bloody fun when I do . The groundsman who hogs it like nobody's business can make it talk . Me , not so much yet . Been brush cutting/trimming today with a Stihl FS 80 , an old bugger but it's just been done up as the back up brushcutter and it's now got a new fangled self feeding head on it. Pretty nice . From a while back when Australian owned (rarity these days) Cox were getting into zero turn ride on's ..Pretty tough too. Got an idea they use Honda powerplants now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTCLB-ODdWI... |
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23-10-2018, 10:48 AM | #16 | ||
T3/Sprint8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 15,999
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Ride on waste of time in surburbia unless your on acreage.
My bro is on 5acres, its lovely but you know what, as much as I enjoy working in my gardens/lawns feck that being a slave to the land.
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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23-10-2018, 10:54 AM | #17 | |||
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Quote:
With the ride-on I can mow in less than an hour, edges included.
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23-10-2018, 10:59 AM | #18 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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I'm banning batteries from my life but what I'm using now is Ozito 240V mains powered lawnmower, edger and whipper snipper on a Buffalo lawn.
So far so good after 12 Months, nice and quiet, very light and no hassles with the lead at all. Also got a ryobi 240V blower that packs a lot of punch. |
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23-10-2018, 06:26 PM | #19 | ||
Donating Member
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Here is Grandpa's mighty VC Mustang.
Go the Zoom 25! She is very well used and, to be honest, I wouldn't feel very safe using it these days. Like most of his generation, Old Pa would mend everything rather than throw it away. Hence the patched up catcher. And the little primer button would always lubricate your finger for a cold start.
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23-10-2018, 07:31 PM | #20 | ||
Call me dirt... Joe Dirt
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Back in Perth for good
Posts: 5,302
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Are the little Victor 16" Ultralite mowers you get from Bunnings (exclusive to Bunnings only I think) any good?
I want one as I only have a small lawn. They have a US made B&S motor... is that good?
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23-10-2018, 07:37 PM | #21 | ||
VFII SS UTE
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Central Coast
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B&S motors are still brilliant, just get one on a good chassis..
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23-10-2018, 07:46 PM | #22 | |||
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Quote:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/victa-cl...mower_p3380770 It's an 18'' Victa deck but these are still very light. And it has a bigger 140cc engine (the Ultralite is only 125cc) Those Ultralite's are not really a true Victa deck and were introduced to give Bunnings something to sell at a lower price point. Nothing wrong with Briggs and Stratton engines, but the 125cc is pretty small for a mower.
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PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten Last edited by DFB FGXR6; 23-10-2018 at 07:51 PM. |
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23-10-2018, 08:01 PM | #23 | ||
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And I'm not a mower salesman by the way although I get the feeling I missed my calling
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23-10-2018, 08:13 PM | #24 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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And a collector of some extremely nice Fords and other quality cars too may I say .
Last edited by roddy1960; 23-10-2018 at 08:20 PM. |
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23-10-2018, 09:35 PM | #25 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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circa 03 victa 'quattro' big block mower - its had a set of blades and an oil top up
newish echo 2 stroke snipper + blower #mylyfe |
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23-10-2018, 08:10 PM | #26 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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The Briggs and Stratton I/C engines are bloody good and do a power of work. Even the home use Briggsy's are pretty good nowadays . Wouldn't hesitate buying a B&S powered mower.. No issues I've ever had with my own or the ones I used as a greenkeeper for eight and a half years or so .
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24-10-2018, 05:25 PM | #27 | ||
T3/Sprint8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 15,999
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Hey PB, great lawn and cut.
Whilst on lawns what are peoples fav spring grass feed ? I was a Victa owner for some 25yrs but I always admired Briggsy's and bought one as quoted earlier post. I do love 4stroke simpleness. DFB XR6, re Hondas sorry I can't agree. More and more councils are buying them I notice over the years, Lawn Mowing Service guys are buying them. My brother is a Honda motorcross devotee for 30 odd years on 5acres, obviously Johhny Deer ride on but Honda mowers. My neighbours have sworn by them from years ago - I don't see any of them stopping unblocking the shute ever. Quality product and damn reliable - I'm just a tight **** not to spend that much but I wish. On another thing mowers, how does everyone like these full plastic rim/wheels ?
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24-10-2018, 06:44 PM | #28 | |||
RS The Faster Fords
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Westralia
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Quote:
Blocked chute comes from the wing tips on the blades being worn out. RE feeding, what do you want to do, make it grow or just green it up? General lawn feed to make it grow and give a little colour, apply a little at regular intervals is best. If you just want to green it up use 1 part manganese, 2 parts iron. We use this to colour fairways without the growth spurt. Just be sparing, black comes after green on the colour spectrum, lol.
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24-10-2018, 11:33 PM | #29 | |||
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Ideal pH for grass is slightly acidic 6 to 6.5 so anybody keen on maintaining a healthy lawn it's not a bad idea to buy a soil analysis kit or a decent quality pH reader from a garden shop or hardware store just to take the guesswork out of it a bit . A tip for Ammonia based fertilizers too . Best time to do it is when it's raining or when rain is imminent . Otherwise ensure you give it a quick watering via hose or sprinkler because left dry the ammonia will leave burn marks . Even a quick wash in will prevent that . Normally the deep colour change and boost of growth is extremely quick indeed. Last edited by roddy1960; 24-10-2018 at 11:41 PM. |
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24-10-2018, 11:56 PM | #30 | ||
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The Great Honda Debate ..
Never yet owned one ..but I've used a couple over the years . Engines especially seem pretty good but as stated through the thread they do have issues . Found this interesting .. http://www.mowersgalore.com.au/lawnm...a-lawn-mowers/ . |
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