Fabulous tutorial thanks!! Was wondering why the grass wasn't going into the catcher, thought it was because it was wet. Then my brother took them off & showed me the wear. Your tutorial shames me as to why mine were blunt 😅😅 many a kerb, brick, bone, rock, bark chunk, stick has made my poor Victa suffer. I just used to wear long pants and eye protection and let the objects fly 😳 The new blades are almost incomparable in shape 😂😂 Thanks for showing me how tight to do it up, wasn't sure on that bit.
All the result of experience. People often ask about my lawn-mower scars. It makes for useful conversation starters. They put a dollar in my cap and move on.
Thank you for this Stephen - this has to be the clearest instructional video I have ever seen! It was the spanner size I was looking for but the complete video is well worth a watch for anyone replacing blades for the first time - simply excellent.
Your video was a life sver! Our 20 year old Victa as you said still going strong.! This is the first time I am changing the blade and your tutorial helped me lot! Thaks a lot for helping dummies like me>>
Victa Lawnkeeper: my victa instructs to replace the blades through the catcher opening. I was able to do this while not turning my mower on its side (apparently for my mower, not good, oil?). The blade replacement instructions said to not tighten the nut so hard to allow the blade to move. I am doing this which will help the blade position itself when the mower is on. I found one of my old blades was tight on and a few degrees off where it was supposed to be pointing out
Thanks for this, the size of the spanner and direction of travel was most helpful. I used a wrecking bar to tap the spanner initially then i used a metal pipe on the allen key to hold it to give me extra leverage. I remember the hullaballoo when my father did this back in the '60s so i have always avoided it.
You have done a fantastic job on this easy to understand comprehensive video.I loved the humor too...It had a great Aussie feel..I was having flashbacks of Ask The Leyland Brothers for some reason...:)
thanks Stephen I don't think I would have succeeded without your tutorial. Thanks very much. Much appreciated. By the way I have a 1997 Victa Vantage as well and albeit a little rough around the edges, still going well.
Loved the credits at the end Stephen. Was amazed that you provided the music with your mate Jon Nourse on drums (of Course). You also Produced and wrote it as well ! Well done !!
Thank you John. That poor old Victa has long gone to the Great Garden Centre in the sky. Jon and I on the other hand are still toiling in the vineyard.
I notice that this was the first comment on your video in nearly ten years. Just goes to show that people still need to learn how to service their old Victas ! Anyway I had a gold medal day by changing the oil as well as changing the blades and the spark plug (no extra points for doing the plug BTW). Hope you and your mate Jon are kciking goals with the vineyard. Cheers John
Great work Stephen! I do think you should emphasise that this is ONLY applicable to 2-stroke models because laying a 4-stroke on its side could lead to a world of pain... or at least a hard-to-start mower.
Thanks, that was a nice Tutorial, but here was nothing wrong with old blades, they were still in perfect condition and had at least another 10 years use left in them! Only joking, I havte the exact same Old Victa Vantage Red beast. She is only used on the bush block every 6 months or so these days but it just keeps running. It has to deal with some pretty long grass too, as you can well imagine, but it handles it with ease. I have a sweet Subaru 4stroke for the home yard but I doubt it will last anywhere near as long as the old Victa has.
thanks for video. The current design has no allen key hole on the flat bolt side. I put the 15mm spanner point toward the centre of disc, just like the video minus the allen key. The bolt is too tight to loose, so I spin the main disc counter clockwise, and the spanner will hit the chassis, and will loosen the bolt after a few bang. No room to swing a hammer. Noted the disc has room for 2 more blades for my 2 stroke Victa. Could 2 more blades be fitted and cut even better?
You're welcome. Several productions are planned, but at present other projects are taking priority. Nonetheless, feedback like yours encourages me to get cracking again ASAP.
NB, re, spark plug tools... there are two sizes common mower plug used, and ergo two possible spark plug tools-3/4", and 13/16". CJ8 Champion spark plug (and it's various NGK/Torch /etc counterparts) these things had traditionally and still usually have, needs 3/4"-19mm plug spanner, not 13/16 size as you say...the later plug RBL19Y?? (or something like that) such as found in Briggs 4-strokes, which also fits Victa 2-stroke,has a larger hex and takes the 13/16-21mm spanner. The particular example tool you pictured, of which I also have one, is cleverly stepped to handle either 3/4 OR 13/16th, either possible plug-size, of course, but most of those Victa cast alloy plug spanners only suit one, or the other. I thought it important to point that out, in case punters go out and buy wrong-sized plug tool and then try to misuse it. 13/16th Automotive plug sockets of the very common type will also suit the later larger 13/16th plugs perfectly , but not the older-school CJ8 3/4 pattern plug.There were not many cars with 3/4 hex plugs in our era. Everything automotive is either 5/8th, or 13/16th size. A lot of whipper-snipper brushcutter 2-strokes currently feature 5/8" hex plugs.
If WD-40 won't loosen the rusty nuts, you'll have to remove the whole bottom plate, to which the blades are attached, and either drill a hole down through the length of each bolt to get it out, or cut the heads off each with an angle-grinder. Good luck!
We had a green Victa Mustang in 1976. The blades on that were supposed to be a bit loose. The centrifugal force keeps them extended in the normal cutting position, and they swing away easy when you hit a tree root or something.
Why, no. Some people whittle for a hobby, or toss cards at an upturned Stetson. I make vids, and the music too. Harmless pastime, methinks. And thank you.
Hi Steph, very helpful video mate! I got a victa mower with a blade holder disc which went loose. replaced square washer, applied loctite, but gets loose after a while. could you help with any suggestion?
No worries. The mower I own was my late grandfather's and my father owned the same model (only Dad's had a cast iron body, I think Pa's is steel). So I use Dad's mower as a spare as Pa's has certainly cut less grass. Dad's sounds like a fighter jet when it starts. Anyways, last February, Dad and Mum were staying with us in Albury, NSW, and I mentioned that I'd like to service the mower with him, so I could make sure it was in good shape and potentially learn a bunch more off him. It was a hot day in the shed, but I loved every minute working beside him. Previously, he often offered mower advice over the phone to me when I had trouble, so it was great to do it in person. We pulled it apart and put it together again and it sounded fresher than ever. It was only while we were back in the air-con with a beer that we realised that we forget to check the blades. Not to worry, said Dad. He and Mum would visit again soon and we'd check the blades then. Two months later Dad's dormant cancer flared up and by the end of April he was gone. We never got to check the blades together but watching your video did bring back some wonderful memories and filled the gap in my knowledge that Dad never got to school me on. That always upset him -- he even mentioned it to me the day before he died. So thank you very much for everything. Know that my thumbs up on this vid certainly means a lot! Ben
And now I owe you one, Ben. Never before have I had such a response my work. And I'm the author of 70+ books... Your Dad lives on, in your heart. Because, after all, that's where he first won his place in your life.
@@ClipontheEar as to why, you are calm and composed. The information is delivered systematically and an easy to follow manner, yet not overly formal. Music is apt and not overpowering. The moment you said to finish with a cuppa I am hooked :)- well done.
yea if your replacing brand new,why would you?? If it's old we may not be able to just undo all the rusted seized bolts with our fingers if we can reach them anyway. Try it in reality
Why not. It is a 2 stroke motor. If you tip it backwards, the fuel will leak out of the fuel cap. Turning it on it's side with the fuel cap on the highest point, no fuel will leak out.
I find that I need both, the mower tilted, and working through catcher opening... With such as Briggs 4-strokes, you're right that there is a risk with tilting of oil running up into carb and then into cylinder, therefor, lift Briggs engines up from CARB side, not from oil filler plug side...in this way, a 45-90deg tilt does not cause this problem. If oil IS suspected of having flowed into carb and into upper cylinder, never attempt to start in this condition. Remove plug, turn over engine on starter to expel this oil through plug hole, as this oil if it is enough of it, CAN cause an incompressible obstacle for piston and rod if starting if attempted....as well as a temporary but scary bunch of blue smoke if it actually does start...
Fabulous tutorial thanks!! Was wondering why the grass wasn't going into the catcher, thought it was because it was wet. Then my brother took them off & showed me the wear. Your tutorial shames me as to why mine were blunt 😅😅 many a kerb, brick, bone, rock, bark chunk, stick has made my poor Victa suffer. I just used to wear long pants and eye protection and let the objects fly 😳 The new blades are almost incomparable in shape 😂😂
Thanks for showing me how tight to do it up, wasn't sure on that bit.
@@jenanddakota You are welcome, kind sir.
I love the add ons😂 plasters, antiseptic cream, etc, so thorough
All the result of experience. People often ask about my lawn-mower scars. It makes for useful conversation starters.
They put a dollar in my cap and move on.
Thanks Stephen - very helpful. Spanner size and direction of turning was what I needed. Your editing and production work is very good too.
Thank you for this Stephen - this has to be the clearest instructional video I have ever seen! It was the spanner size I was looking for but the complete video is well worth a watch for anyone replacing blades for the first time - simply excellent.
Wow ! you're a very good "video teacher" with good editing , story telling .
I enjoy the video very much .
Good blade change Stephen, i always change my Victa Corvette mower blades every 2 years due to metal fatique, and personal safety 👍
Changing Dad's 1981 Victa lawn mower Blades.. still going strong!
Its older than me
Your video was a life sver! Our 20 year old Victa as you said still going strong.! This is the first time I am changing the blade and your tutorial helped me lot! Thaks a lot for helping dummies like me>>
+Jose Kaduthodil You're very welcome, my friend. Keep on cuttin'.
Victa Lawnkeeper: my victa instructs to replace the blades through the catcher opening. I was able to do this while not turning my mower on its side (apparently for my mower, not good, oil?). The blade replacement instructions said to not tighten the nut so hard to allow the blade to move. I am doing this which will help the blade position itself when the mower is on. I found one of my old blades was tight on and a few degrees off where it was supposed to be pointing out
Thanks for this, the size of the spanner and direction of travel was most helpful. I used a wrecking bar to tap the spanner initially then i used a metal pipe on the allen key to hold it to give me extra leverage. I remember the hullaballoo when my father did this back in the '60s so i have always avoided it.
You have done a fantastic job on this easy to understand comprehensive video.I loved the humor too...It had a great Aussie feel..I was having flashbacks of Ask The Leyland Brothers for some reason...:)
thanks Stephen I don't think I would have succeeded without your tutorial. Thanks very much. Much appreciated. By the way I have a 1997 Victa Vantage as well and albeit a little rough around the edges, still going well.
Loved the credits at the end Stephen. Was amazed that you provided the music with your mate Jon Nourse on drums (of Course). You also Produced and wrote it as well ! Well done !!
Thank you John. That poor old Victa has long gone to the Great Garden Centre in the sky. Jon and I on the other hand are still toiling in the vineyard.
I notice that this was the first comment on your video in nearly ten years. Just goes to show that people still need to learn how to service their old Victas ! Anyway I had a gold medal day by changing the oil as well as changing the blades and the spark plug (no extra points for doing the plug BTW). Hope you and your mate Jon are kciking goals with the vineyard. Cheers John
Great work Stephen!
I do think you should emphasise that this is ONLY applicable to 2-stroke models because laying a 4-stroke on its side could lead to a world of pain... or at least a hard-to-start mower.
Yup great video, i wanted to specifically know which way to orientate the tension washer. This video has that info, concave down on the disk 👍🏻
Thank you, glad to be of service. That mower has now gone to the Great Paspalum Patch in the sky. R.I.P.
Thanks, that was a nice Tutorial, but here was nothing wrong with old blades, they were still in perfect condition and had at least another 10 years use left in them!
Only joking, I havte the exact same Old Victa Vantage Red beast. She is only used on the bush block every 6 months or so these days but it just keeps running. It has to deal with some pretty long grass too, as you can well imagine, but it handles it with ease.
I have a sweet Subaru 4stroke for the home yard but I doubt it will last anywhere near as long as the old Victa has.
You should have been in our army instructions video how to throw a stick at a emu ! So we don’t have too eat bullets ….. LoL
Excellent instruction video Steven, you’ve missed your calling mate. Well done and take care good sir.
You are welcome, and also a gentleman, Glen.
thanks for video. The current design has no allen key hole on the flat bolt side. I put the 15mm spanner point toward the centre of disc, just like the video minus the allen key. The bolt is too tight to loose, so I spin the main disc counter clockwise, and the spanner will hit the chassis, and will loosen the bolt after a few bang. No room to swing a hammer.
Noted the disc has room for 2 more blades for my 2 stroke Victa. Could 2 more blades be fitted and cut even better?
I don't know about modern machines. I suspect that two more blades might throw the cutting disc out of balance.
Simple to understand tutorial. The best, thanks!
Thank you, it was my intention.
Cheers Boss, just checking I was spinning the spanner the right direction, now sorted 👊👊
mamboth Glad to be of service.
Excellent video mate. Top notch editing
Only a gentleman would notice, and then say so. Ta.
You're welcome. Several productions are planned, but at present other projects are taking priority. Nonetheless, feedback like yours encourages me to get cracking again ASAP.
Thank you. Am working on another production about servicing the carburettor.
Great video, very helpful. And yes as many have said, awesome editing job.
A tip of the hat to you, sir.
Excellent presentation ! 👍👍👍
Michele Pippen An excellent comment! A pippin, if I might put it that way.
Great video. Especially liked the dramatic reenactment. :D
Thank you. Out-takes on DVD later this year.
NB, re, spark plug tools...
there are two sizes common mower plug used, and ergo two possible spark plug tools-3/4", and 13/16".
CJ8 Champion spark plug (and it's various NGK/Torch /etc counterparts) these things had traditionally and still usually have, needs 3/4"-19mm plug spanner, not 13/16 size as you say...the later plug RBL19Y?? (or something like that) such as found in Briggs 4-strokes, which also fits Victa 2-stroke,has a larger hex and takes the 13/16-21mm spanner.
The particular example tool you pictured, of which I also have one, is cleverly stepped to handle either 3/4 OR 13/16th, either possible plug-size, of course, but most of those Victa cast alloy plug spanners only suit one, or the other.
I thought it important to point that out, in case punters go out and buy wrong-sized plug tool and then try to misuse it. 13/16th Automotive plug sockets of the very common type will also suit the later larger 13/16th plugs perfectly , but not the older-school CJ8 3/4 pattern plug.There were not many cars with 3/4 hex plugs in our era. Everything automotive is either 5/8th, or 13/16th size.
A lot of whipper-snipper brushcutter 2-strokes currently feature 5/8" hex plugs.
Great video, thanks mate. Just out of curiosity, do you think we can sharpen the blades while they are still attached?
thank you for posting this , very helpful
If WD-40 won't loosen the rusty nuts, you'll have to remove the whole bottom plate, to which the blades are attached, and either drill a hole down through the length of each bolt to get it out, or cut the heads off each with an angle-grinder. Good luck!
Excellent video, Thank you!
very interesting video
Could use a video on replacing the whole Blade and Blade Plate as well ??? :-)
Yes you can
Also allow at least 10 ml clearance between the tip of the blades and the lawn mower body.
We had a green Victa Mustang in 1976. The blades on that were supposed to be a bit loose. The centrifugal force keeps them extended in the normal cutting position, and they swing away easy when you hit a tree root or something.
hi steven how loose should the blades be
Hand tight. This is not the kind with blades that swing.
Lol 😂- Well done. Made it fun to watch.
You are welcome.
Good work 👍 thank u
You are welcome.
Great helpful video.
You're welcome, sir.
thanks for sharing
You’re welcome. Happy turning-grass-into-lawn.
Nice video!!
Thanks so much for this. Very helpful!
Love the 50 frame soft fade from an empty mug to the Dilmah tag and water. Not your first rodeo is it?
Why, no. Some people whittle for a hobby, or toss cards at an upturned Stetson. I make vids, and the music too. Harmless pastime, methinks. And thank you.
@@ClipontheEar You make the music too? Wow, you're a Renaissance Man ;) Nice music. Thx. And my Victa has new blades now so x2.
thanks mate, very helpful
82Novica You're more than welcome.
Nice music . Great help also.
Hi Steph, very helpful video mate! I got a victa mower with a blade holder disc which went loose. replaced square washer, applied loctite, but gets loose after a while. could you help with any suggestion?
I'm afraid I don't know, and any suggestion I make might be misleading or dangerously wrong.
Perhaps replace the main bolt as it could be because the inner nylon bush at the top, which locks the nut could be disintegrated??
You are very welcome.
Are the blades meant to move slightly
Yes, just hand-tighten them.
14-19 NM torque as per manual.
Great video. Thankyou. :) Owe you one!
You're welcome, Ben. Thanks are payment enough.
No worries. The mower I own was my late grandfather's and my father owned the same model (only Dad's had a cast iron body, I think Pa's is steel). So I use Dad's mower as a spare as Pa's has certainly cut less grass. Dad's sounds like a fighter jet when it starts.
Anyways, last February, Dad and Mum were staying with us in Albury, NSW, and I mentioned that I'd like to service the mower with him, so I could make sure it was in good shape and potentially learn a bunch more off him. It was a hot day in the shed, but I loved every minute working beside him. Previously, he often offered mower advice over the phone to me when I had trouble, so it was great to do it in person. We pulled it apart and put it together again and it sounded fresher than ever. It was only while we were back in the air-con with a beer that we realised that we forget to check the blades. Not to worry, said Dad. He and Mum would visit again soon and we'd check the blades then.
Two months later Dad's dormant cancer flared up and by the end of April he was gone. We never got to check the blades together but watching your video did bring back some wonderful memories and filled the gap in my knowledge that Dad never got to school me on. That always upset him -- he even mentioned it to me the day before he died.
So thank you very much for everything. Know that my thumbs up on this vid certainly means a lot!
Ben
And now I owe you one, Ben. Never before have I had such a response my work. And I'm the author of 70+ books... Your Dad lives on, in your heart. Because, after all, that's where he first won his place in your life.
You lied, it wasnt a straightforward operation and I did loose my temper as well as some skin.
Mate I lost my fingers
Thanks Stephen :)
Very helpful thank you sir =)
You are very welcome, sir.
brilliant!
ligongl Why, thank you, and good luck to you.
@@ClipontheEar as to why, you are calm and composed. The information is delivered systematically and an easy to follow manner, yet not overly formal. Music is apt and not overpowering. The moment you said to finish with a cuppa I am hooked :)- well done.
ligongl I am grateful for your considered, eloquent and observant response. Genuflection in your direction.
Thank you, kind sir.
thanks!
+Chenming Zhang You're welcome.
Dermatologists hate him - LMFAO!!
Top Music too
Thank you, sir. A small thing, but mine own.
I'm curious what sort of operation you are running if you have .... dog bones in your yard hmm
The bones of a sheep or cow, part of the diet of the family dog. But yes, perhaps poorly expressed by myself.
@@TheBlueDaweStudioThirlmere hehe figured that much just made me giggle the way it was said ;)
Good tutorial but the blades need to be sharpened prior to installation otherwise they are blunt.
so rough bush mechanics use a rattle gun and pull the disc off and then do blades with rattle gun. this way is dangerous and rough
yea if your replacing brand new,why would you?? If it's old we may not be able to just undo all the rusted seized bolts with our fingers if we can reach them anyway. Try it in reality
Tipping a lawn mower on its side is not a good idea people....tip it back
Why not. It is a 2 stroke motor. If you tip it backwards, the fuel will leak out of the fuel cap. Turning it on it's side with the fuel cap on the highest point, no fuel will leak out.
Umm.. the nut goes the other way, that's why the self-locking material is at the other end...
Nope. Stephen's advice about the nut orientation is correct. The flat face against the washer.
your not meant to turn your mower on its side because it the oil and petrol could mix
This model has a two-stroke engine.
what you do is put the mower on a table and do it through the back where the catcher goes
I find that I need both, the mower tilted, and working through catcher opening...
With such as Briggs 4-strokes, you're right that there is a risk with tilting of oil running up into carb and then into cylinder, therefor, lift Briggs engines up from CARB side, not from oil filler plug side...in this way, a 45-90deg tilt does not cause this problem.
If oil IS suspected of having flowed into carb and into upper cylinder, never attempt to start in this condition.
Remove plug, turn over engine on starter to expel this oil through plug hole, as this oil if it is enough of it, CAN cause an incompressible obstacle for piston and rod if starting if attempted....as well as a temporary but scary bunch of blue smoke if it actually does start...
Wouldn't matter anyway. I have a four stroke and turning it on it's side does not affect it.
s.t.h.s.?
Manners Makyth Man
what will the public think of all this secret coding?
They can go Boomalacka themselves.
Music is terrible
Doesn't cut it? Is it really Soh terrible?