Villiers MK20

Woodsman wrote:Re Bakelite ferule: I had a similar problem, some numpty has use Loctite on the threads.
Once you have the backplate off try acetone or superglue solvent from the inside. Soak overnight then some gentle heat - Rinse and repeat.

If there is no evidence of Loctite then substitute Plus Gas for solvent. With patience it should come out eventually.  

If you bust it you may get a kit
HERE
but check diameter first.

Too late...

I think it was just corrosion of the the ali backplate with mine

Not good sitting with the exhaust valve open, hopefully it will clean up OK.


All in bits now, the clean up can begin.

That's seen a bit of moisture!

Cleaned the valve and seat up, valve is U/S and I'm not sure if the seat would re-cut. (if I had a suitable cutter of course)

Looks to me like valve is beyond repair - by the time you have cleaned it up the edge will be paper thin. Try L&S.
Valve seats should be OK if you can find a suitable cutter.
I dropped on a Sykes Pickavant set after much trawling of 'tinterweb

New valve shouldn't be a problem.

I've been looking at seat cutter sets on ebay/Amazon, the cheaper one all seem to come from India and the reviews are shall we say 'mixed'...

New valve here for £4.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Villiers-MK20-Mk25-Exhaust-Valve-Genuine-Original-Villiers-Part-EM393/124230075570?hash=item1cecb084b2:g:cjgAAOSw5KBckWuA

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Villiers-MK20-Mk25-Inlet-Valve-Genuine-Original-Villiers-Part-EM116/124230075729?hash=item1cecb08551:g:cjgAAOSw5KBckWuA

Thanks to a suggestion on another forum I called a mower repair shop and if the chap can lay hands on his old imperial cutters he recons he can sort it out so hopefully the project can continue.

If he finds them - make him an offer!
You could also look for local vintage car/motorbike restorer.

Well the guy said he would ring me if he found his cutters, not heard from him yet... I will probably just buy a set anyway. In the meantime it's just been a case of cleaning parts up.

Great work, cleaning up well. Rugged little engines, I'm working on a 25hs at the moment- I think they are the same other than the bore?
I found the cowling the worst part to clean up, good luck with yours.

Alan

My £20 Indian valve seat cutters arrived earlier this week...




...and made short work of the pitted exhaust valve seat. I also gave the inlet seat a light cut and ground the valve in. I will now order a new exhaust
valve.



Other than that, I have just cleaned the mag backplate up and made a start cleaning up the head.

Great bit of kit, doesn't look like you had to take too much out, at least you know you will have a decent deal.
How do they make it for £20! unbelievable, you could hire it out!

Alan

Alanengine wrote:Great bit of kit, doesn't look like you had to take too much out, at least you know you will have a decent deal.
How do they make it for £20! unbelievable, you could hire it out!

Alan

They are actually listed on ebay for £24.99 IIRC but with 'make an offer' so I possibly could have got it even cheaper. It was very well packed, but the tin is comically crude. Looks like it was hand made, and it has the thumbprint of the bloke who painted it (with a brush) inside the lid.

But I'm not complaining!

mattblack wrote:They are actually listed on ebay for £24.99 IIRC but with 'make an offer' so I possibly could have got it even cheaper. It was very well packed, but the tin is comically crude. Looks like it was hand made, and it has the thumbprint of the bloke who painted it (with a brush) inside the lid.

But I'm not complaining!

Do you have a link or item number please.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VALVE-SEAT-CUTTER-SET-5-CUTTER-CARBON-STEEL-SET-FOR-VINTAGE-CAR-BIKES/293139180170?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Done a bit more...

New exhaust valve ground in, cylinder cleaned up and painted.




Magneto reassembled.


Head cleaned up.


Pretty much ready to get the main bits reassembled now, then on to tackle the carb.

Incidentally, does anyone know the reason why Villers decided to earth the moving contact of the points rather than the fixed one? That's the opposite to all the car points I've ever come across.

Coming on nicely! Have you honed the bore, looks fresh?

Alan

Alanengine wrote:Coming on nicely! Have you honed the bore, looks fresh?

Alan

Kind of, I haven't got a honing tool so as advised on another forum I run an 80 grit flap wheel quickly up and down the bore to de-glaze it.

Had quite a productive weekend on this. Magneto and new sump on:



Flywheel/fan cleaned up:





The rather battered cover, it's made of very thin ali but I managed to get the worst of the dents out, I'm calling rest patina...  



Flywheel back on, points and timing set (twice, as the first time I set it 3/16" after TDC...) rigged up an HT lead and WE HAVE SPARKS!



So head on and that's where we're at. Carb next.

Looking good

Weren't you tempted even a little bit to squirt some fuel down the plug hole and give it a pull?

Robotstar5 wrote:Looking good

Weren't you tempted even a little bit to squirt some fuel down the plug hole and give it a pull?

It honestly never occurred to me... it would have set next door's dogs off a treat though.

Started on the carb today.




Biggest problem was the throttle spindle. It was seized and when I thought I had freed it off it was in fact still seized in one side so it twisted. I then did what I should have done from the start and applied some heat and it came out.


I have straightened it out but I will look for a replacement.

Float bowl needs a good clean out.


Stripped and cleaned up.


Carb body after a tickle with the whizzy wheel.

Now that's looking better!

Alan

I am getting like the owner. Can't wait to hear it run again.
Many Thanks
Andrew