Villiers V Engine

After putting a cheeky bid on, I've now got a Villiers V engine

I picked it up yesterday and the chap selling it knew nothing about stationary engines, but when I told him it was probably built during WW2 he said that makes sense as he'd acquired it in a job lot of stuff many years ago from a guy clearing a barn of stuff bought post war including Lancaster and Spitfire parts!







I've not seen this type of carb before...




Stuart.

Hi Stuart,

Check the tinware (tank and cowl) and you may well find a little lozenge stamp with AJS and year of manufacture.

Thanks for the pic of the carb, looks like I'm missing an elbow and air filter or is it a one piece unit? and I'm hoping careful cleaning of the data plates will reveal the Mk and date.




I don't think I'll be able to do much with it for a while due to the cold weather and as soon as it warms up I want to finish the A1 and build 2 trolleys.

Stuart.

Hi Stuart.

These people might be able to help with carb.

http://amalcarb.co.uk/other-amal-carbs.html

I've seen that type of air filter pop up on fleabay occasionally and 'Yes' elbow is separate.

Thanks for the link, I recognised the address, "Spitfire House", they used to be Burlen fuel systems when I used to get parts for SU carbs in my Mini tuning days

Once I get the carb cleaned and measured , hopefully they can identify the model.

Stuart.

I think it is on that page.

Managed a bit of time on the data plates starting with a nylon brush and WD40 followed by fine wirewool and WD40, a bright light at the right angle now just about reveals "The V Engine" and "Mk25" on the lower plate, but the upper plate only shows traces/shadows of some numbers. I think the next stage will be a stiff Brass brush, but not sure how aggressive to get? .

I have found some patches of the original paint (it's never been overpainted, just surface rusting) and it's green so I assume WW2 Olive drab?, if I paint it I think deep Bronze green will be a good substitute for it.

Stuart.

Found a pic of what the data plates may look like if I can clean them up, may be one of @woodsman engine?




Stuart.

Hi Stuart,

The picture shows an Air Ministry reference - so that engine maybe made it into 'service'
Mine has a steel, rather than brass, plate riveted on and no AM plate so I guess it was never issued to the military and went into civilian duties after the war

The sun was out so I dragged the engine out to have a look over it.

Looks like I have a "civvy spec" engine as the top plate has "Villiers" embossed in it.

A question for @woodsman, does your engine have some form of mountings for the bottom of the fan cowl?, I seem to have 2 tabs floating at the moment.







Also I seem to have an oil filler at both ends??







Stuart.

I was surprised to find the fuel tank has a nice cast mounting bracket instead of a metal plate, also found some more numbers stamped in the block.

I should know better than to take a pic with low bright sun shining across the lens




Stuart.

Robotstar5 wrote:

A question for @woodsman, does your engine have some form of mountings for the bottom of the fan cowl?, I seem to have 2 tabs floating at the moment.
Stuart.

You should have two 1/4 inch studs - in typical Villiers style BSW in the casting end and BSF for the nut. I don't suppose having BSW both ends would make any difference.



I also have nice bronze tank bracket  




Check tinware for date stamp.




And finally, all the Villiers that have passed through my hands have had two oil fillers - suppose it means you can always get to one of them.

Mystery solved, someone has put the sump on the wrong way, the 2 cast stubs are on the other side

Now I know where to look, I've found the date stamp - 1944

Stuart.

I've just had an answer from Burlen fuel systems and they do not believe it is an Amal carb and they're the experts!

Villiers always listed this carb as the "V" carb.

blue cat wrote:Villiers always listed this carb as the "V" carb.

I've found someone with one for sale, it's identical but has JAP cast into the body, I wonder if JAP made them without markings during the war?.

I really need to give mine a a good scrub to see if there are any markings as it's quite corroded.

Stuart.

blue cat wrote:Villiers always listed this carb as the "V" carb.

Not so sure? According to one spare parts list I have MK7 through to MK40HS petrol engines used one of three carburettors:

Villiers V (which has a rounded rather than flat bottomed float chamber and a cap nut)
Villiers B10
Zenith 24-T2

Variants for P/VO options

Marks 10 and 12 - Villiers V with pilot jet or B10
Marks 20, 25 and 40 - Villiers V with pilot jet or Zenith C.1624

So far as I know all of these carburettors were/are 'side fill' via banjo bolt and nut rather than 'top fill'.

Villiers V carb is "top fill"

blue cat wrote:Villiers V carb is "top fill"

I should have said horizontal rather than vertical - apologies for confusion.




Just noticed - your fan ring is on 'inside out'

Woodsman wrote:

blue cat wrote:Villiers V carb is "top fill"

I should have said horizontal rather than vertical - apologies for confusion.




Just noticed - your fan ring is on 'inside out'

So mine is definitely not a "V type" as the air inlet is at the bottom and has a side mounted float bowl.

The fan ring has already been pointed out on FB it explains why the mag dust cover fixing screw heads are worn away, but along with the sump being on backwards it makes me concerned what I will find when I strip it.

Stuart.

My MK10 V carb (note to self get that rusty float bowl sorted !!  )

Yet another..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-villiers-1942-V-engine/401706360001

Woodsman wrote:Yet another..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-villiers-1942-V-engine/401706360001

Screened HT lead, must have been for a radio generator set?

Stuart.

There is a clear difference between the type "V" carburettor as seen on Stuart's and Paul's early type V engines and the type illustrated above from page 27 of some publication. The latter is a type "V10" carburettor, more commonly known as a CM358 which is cast into the body. This was then followed at a later date by the B10 carburettor.

blue cat wrote:
....illustrated above from page 27 of some publication.

Villiers MK10 & MK12 Operating Instructions and Spare parts list.

Blue Cat - do you have any documentation on the earlier carb that you can share?