Victa VRX
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Much SRESS – To many problems to record, no trouble with motor though. Show details
Blade only engage if pushing reverse button – Hi, For some reason the blades on my mower do not start when pulling the electric blade engagement, the mower just stops. it only works if I press the reverse buttons, even if i am in gear and moving forward. Any idea on a fix ? Thank you
Briggs and Stratton used to be good...now crap – I've owned 3 mowers with Briggs and Stratton Motors, the first one kept bending push rods, the latest 2 the decompression weigh on the camshaft have failed, one fixed under warranty, failed again. Won't touch a B & S Motor ever again. Show details
Was it worth the purchase? – The 4 points above are all valid. It's a good mower but it seems I also have a lemon. On the second or third mow the cutting belt came off and then burnt through and snapped. Had to take it back to get sorted as putting a new kevlar belt on was a nightmare. Used for one mow, clipped a drink can on the footpath and threw the drive belt. Fixed that… Read more
and got one use out of it and the pin holding the steering wheel on sheared off. How the engineers must laugh amongst themselves when putting these together in such a way that the simple jobs require you to unassemble half the mower.. Am ready to burn it..
Good little unit – Purchased this back in May, 2017 (3 months short of 5 years, as of this review) and the only problem I had was the battery died during the 2nd winter, from discharging completely. After getting a new battery, and replacing the proprietary charge plug with a generic DC socket (the genuine charger is way too expensive, so I got a cheap trickle… Read more
charger), it's been fine.
In the last couple of months, it started throwing the blade belt, which wasn't too much trouble to put back on... and considering I was giving it a bit of a hard time, I don't blame it. My biggest complaint is that the belt area isn't well protected from sticks/rocks/grass (although it's easy to pop open the cover to clean it, once you know), and I dropped the belt a few times because of sticks (which I shouldn't have been running over, I guess... but they weren't that big... just big enough to get caught in the pulley and throw the belt).
I have had to tighten the throttle cable at one point, since it started slipping (so you would randomly not get full revs, or accidentally put the choke on), and tightened the belt tensioner when it started throwing the belt. Other than that, it's only had 2-3 oil changes. Apart from the belts starting to look a bit worn (I guess 5 years is not too bad), it's been a good machine.
The mulching plug (optional extra we got), on the other hand, is rather terrible. It doesn't mount well, and slowly piles up with grass until it dislodges itself, and it's a pain to get back on. It also puts extra strain on the engine/belt, both during regular running, and more so when grass starts to build up where it doesn't seal well). I've recently gone back to the side-throw unit, that's standard, since I'm sick of dealing with the plug.
I guess another bad point is that the tyres don't hold pressure well. Two aren't bad, and the other two drop to almost not pressure after about a month, so I always check the pressure every couple of weeks. Not too much trouble if you have an air compressor, but not great. I did replace the valves, but it made no difference.
The only other complaint I have is the safety switching is too restrictive. The engine will cut out if you get off the seat, regardless of any other factor. This is annoying when you want to step off the remove sticks, hoses etc. I did a small modification (I added a diode between the seat detection and blade switch detection wires), so now you can get off as long as the blades are disengaged, the brake is on, and it's out of gear, and the engine will keep running. If the blades are on, or the brake is off, the engine will cut out as normal. A much better design, and only 1 diode difference :)
If the Victa is blue it WILL be troubles for you! – DO NOT BUY DO NOT OWN,My employer bought one brand new approximately November 2017 by March 2018 the plastic drivebelt pulley had melted and worn in half(then replaced)starter motor was random since day one (as of 8/10/23 the starter motor is now on life support I now do the old screw driver between terminals trick)the metal part/shaft? that holds… Read more
the deck pulley sheered off(using an old socket,bolt and washers as a fix)replaced the 3yo drivebelt pulley again recently and the bolt snapped while tightening then was told the whole bracket is a non replaceable part(got to get one custom made)parts are hard to get no local mower shop can ever help and Bunnings never stocked any parts even though they sold them, only used maybe 25 hours a year and as of 4-7-23 the property where I use this lemon is for sale so I'll never see it again,I was asked if I wanted it ( for free) and I said no way what a piece of junk it falls apart after each mow so it's now the new property owner's.GOOD LUCK
Load of Crap – This is a piece of junk, belt comes off, the steering wheel fell off after about 10 hours use. Made in China, you get what you pay for. Buy Australian Cox or Greenfield Show details
Good mower – Owned mine for 5yrs only just serviced it drives well plenty of pull on hills the battery dies easily if not used frequently used other then that good mower. Only changed a carby after being parked up for 6months and a battery Show details
Belts will slip, engine will disengage, unit will fail regularly. Foreign garbage! – Victa used to be Australian. Now it's junk. This thing is a good example of to save a few bucks they make a thousand dollar plus product completely useless. So many companies produce dirty dishonest products like this now you're stuck buying American if you want something like what Australian build quality. It's a shame that John Deer is more… Read more
'Aussie' than Victa now.
Although to old mate who won one for $50, why not spend the missing $2,000 you didn't pay and replace the entire belt drive with a good German motor and transmission? Get rid of the beastly hydrofloppic belterflipper nonsense?
Spare parts – Bought this mower a few years ago, it goes ok but had to get the belts and an idler changed. even the bloke who is going to fix it was shocked! The price to replace the belts was absolutely outrageous, ridiculous, and any other words you can think of to describe being grossly overcharged. These parts are coming from a victa dealer too. Will not be buying one again, that is for sure. Show details
belt problems – I won this mower in a charity raffle, cost me about $50 in tickets, lucky so and so I thought till I started using it! The belts wont stay on the thing no matter who fits it and they cost $69 to replace! Now the belt tension wire has broke and its only done about 30 hours from new. I'd rather have my $50 back and put it towards a better machine. I do not recommend this mower at all. Show details
Moments of glory, then catastrophic failure – Purchased to mow a predominantly level grassy block of about 5000 sq.m. Had my VRX for four years, it now looks like something from the fury road as I stopped putting parts back on. The Briggs and Stratton engine is great but thats where the good news ends. The guide wheels on the cutting deck just fell off, then whilst driving over undulating… Read more
grass the whole cutting deck FELL OFF. The deck hangar assembly just snapped in half and the deck fell to the ground. The bonnet gradually vibrated loose but the fittings are so weak I just removed the whole thing.
The worst failure was when I once engaged the cutting deck. I stopped cutting whilst driving past the kids then re-engaged it, the deck stopped discharging so I initially assumed the belt came off again. Instead I found the tensioner pulley ripped clean off the deck. The pulley bolt still had the deck attached, but there was a GAPING HOLE IN THE DECK where it was meant to be. Another Bunnings repair and we're still going...
I am afraid to let my wife use it since it is just a matter of time before something else breaks. I curse the day I was talked into buying this steaming pile of excrement.
Bad Vibrations – Mower arrived and I had it mowing my acreage within the hour. After 30 minutes it began vibrating uncontrollably. I felt ill after getting off. Called Bunnings who took the monster away. A least Bunnings was good about it. Show details
Find out how Victa VRX compares to other Ride-On Mowers
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Good mower for the price – I purchased this mower just over 12 months ago. I find it is easy to use, cuts grass well, catches ALL the clippings and empties the catcher very easily. This mower starts every time, fist time and is fairly quiet for a 17.5hp motor. Turning circle is very good and the steering is light. Spare parts not easy to find, eg, I jammed a branch off-cut… Read more · 1
in the cutters and flat spotted the belt, the belt is a AA86 (double-sided vee belt) AA85 & AA90 are standard, but AA86 is a special, but I have sourced a few from the belt manufacturer. All in all I like this mower. 4☆ out of 5☆.
Do not waste your money on endless money waster – A person I know bought this heap of junk for me. These are the problems I have had: Gutless motor Bad drive pulley Bad bearings bad switches Bad belt poor wiring Always fins a way to kill the battery and the set up for the battery is a nightmare I have cut myself so many time I have lost count I can't wait to the piece of junk throw rod. And that's not all the night adjust snape off. Not happy China made =China pride Show details
Here is the list of the trouble i have had 1 deck broke 2 battery hit belt and nearly started a … Read more
A Little Harsh – I mow about. 5.5 acres and not a level lawn, more like paddocks and not flat, some parts slope quite steeply. This 42" ride on does the job and has been doing so for the last 5 years without excessive maintenance. Must admit the small branches and sticks from the gum trees do damage the belt which needs regular replacing and the thicker sticks do… Read more
cause the belt to come off. But replacing the belt or just putting it back on the pulleys is a small 5 or 10 minute job. Only complaint is the parking break which is a bit fiddly and badly designed. The ride is not that comfortable but that is more the result of the uneven terrain. all in all for the price (under $3000) not as bad as the other 2 reviews are suggesting.
What a load of crap – Belt problems from day one. The local repair agents said it had a broken drive mechanism which they replaced under duress after being instructed by Bunnings. The blade belt has come off regularly since and I am now on my 3rd. belt. My first mow for this season the belt came off 3 times in the first hour so I bought and fitted the 3rd. belt which… Read more
again came off after about 30 minutes, put it back on again and 5 minutes later, off again. It now sits in my garage and I have got my 15 year old Cox out of retirement. I want to turn grass into lawn so help me Victa.
The Briggs and Stratton rep. came to my house and replaced the idler pulley to one that was about 10mm wider. He was very attentive to my problems and seems to have fixed them. If the belt stays on I will give them a good review for their service and attention.
not the best machine – THe victa requires an owner with good mechanical aptitude to complete ongoing issues, we cut 2.5 acres n a slope with various issue of broken belts- drive and cutter, broken brackets,poor connection on safety switches,idle pulley and camshaft failure. But overall its no different from other unit in our area -0 all require high maintenance.
Cheap Chineese rubbish best avoided – I am now repairing the 3rd VRX19542H for the same reason, It is cracking up all over the place. From what I can see it looks like a bad copy of a Stiga Tornado which was not a particularly well made mower to start with and not suited to most Australian conditions. The deck shakes from side to side excessively, even after I go the the effort of… Read more
carefully balancing the blades both left right & front back. The two stabilizing bars at the front are not up to the job when mulching and it is interesting to notice the mounting bolts have holes for R clips in them and were then threaded over the top so Briggs & Stratton must have been aware of this problem from the start.
This shaking fatigues the single left hand deck hanger which is obviously not up to the job.
Design wise it is way too thin and manufacturing wise it is badly welded and the weld itself is a poor design.
The brackets that the stabilazer bars bolt into are both cracked which is typical of the repairs I do the these mowers and the frame is also cracked around the same region.
The one and only good thing about this design is the lifting od is a bolt on componant so you can just keep on buying a new one every few years for as long as Briggs & Stratton keep them supplied.
This one is a 2012 / 2013 model from the date of the engine so a very poor mower indeed.
The belt tensioner does not work particularly well and despite being adjusted as tight as possible the belt continually jumps off and generally destroys itself in the process.
The tensioning idler bearing is shot which is disgusting for a 2 to 3 year old mower on a 1/2 acre residential block.
In reality you would be much better off buying a second hand 600 or master cut than one of these.
Still has belt problems! – My VRX was naturally a dealer purchased brand new model. I have used it now for a total of 75 hours, yes, 75 HOURS, and already destroyed 2 blade belts. Am now needing to purchase my third belt! Was conveniently told by the dealer that it was because of rocks and stones first, branches second, that the belts have been destroyed or are repeatedly thrown off the puleys. C'mon Victa, fix these problems once for all, please!
Craptastic- nothing but trouble – Since buying our ride on victa we have had nothing but trouble. Within the first week of purchase the motor blew up and we were not covered by warranty as 'the motor wasn't lubed enough', now again barely 6months later the mower won't start. If you want to spend $1000+ on repairs well this is the mower for you! if you don't want to, spend big in… Read more
the first place and buy something of a higher quality (that is worth the money). I know I WILL NEVER purchase a victa again, nor will I ever reccomend them.
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12/05/25 clutch now not re engaging when motor is warm