Villiers MK20

mattblack wrote:
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...  

Ah, what you need is the Woodsman patent Dust Cover Straightening Mandrel.  

Brilliant!

Dragon's Den awaits...

I like that! Must show
it to wife she has a wood lath.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/villiers-mk-25-engine-exhaust-silencer/333893151075?hash=item4dbd952963:g:BPcAAOSwWDBgFw32

paul,

You could spin a new one with that wooden pattern.

Maryalice

maryalice wrote:paul,
You could spin a new one with that wooden pattern.
Maryalice

Tried a while ago and failed but maybe I'll give it another go.

There are a couple of books on the subject, I've made the ends for my Lister fuel tanks on my lathe using emersion tank copper.

Maryalice

maryalice wrote:There are a couple of books on the subject, I've made the ends for my Lister fuel tanks on my lathe using emersion tank copper.

Maryalice

I've seen them spinning the ends of immersion tanks, looks quite frightening to see a 2 foot copper disc spinning at a few hundred rpm held in place by friction.

Its not that bad, as long as you keep to one side of the chuck, my lathe isnt that big but I can spin a 12" disc, my tool is about a foot long with a radiused end.

Maryalice

maryalice wrote:Its not that bad, as long as you keep to one side of the chuck, my lathe isnt that big but I can spin  a 12" disc, my tool is about a foot long with a radiused end.

Maryalice

I think there are specialist groups/forums for that sort of thing

Nice to see you are coming up to the same level of Appletop, or is it down

Maryalice

[quote="Robotstar5"][quote="maryalice"]Its not that bad, as long as you keep to one side of the chuck, my lathe isnt that big but I can spin  a 12" disc, [b]my tool is about a foot long with a radiused end.[/b]

Maryalice[/quote]

I think there are specialist groups/forums for that sort of thing [/quote]

I'd heard the term but didn't really understand the idea until I saw a bloke spinning a vintage headlight shell on a TV program. Amazing to watch.

Andrew1971 wrote:I am getting like the owner. Can't wait to hear it run again.
Many Thanks
Andrew

No pressure then...!

Just a quick update from the weekend.

Carb back together as far as I can, new throttle spindle and float bowl seal ordered.


Float bowl cleaned up and given a quick coat of Hammerite.


Air filter was bent and the choke was seized so I thought I may as well have a go at splitting it, I managed to bend the folded over edge of the front enough to get it off. I've got a plan to re-assemble it.

I made a bridge piece, welded a captive nut in the middle and soldered it into the air filter body and drilled the cover for a screw.


Had this C12 exhaust, the end was rusted away so I cut the elbow off, made 2 cuts in the remains of the threaded part and collapsed it to remove it.



The new silencer screwed in, although I wonder if being for a Briggs & Stratton it is actually American NPT rather than BSP?


I re-drilled the flange on the original elbow to bring the exhaust vertical.


All cleaned up, painted and fitted.


Turned my attention to the fuel tank, not the best photos but I was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the inside, certainly no worse than the others I've done.



With a bit of heat I was able to save all the tank strap fittings

You've got to be resourceful sometimes! The exhaust looks the part, I'm sure I used one like that on a Suffolk engine.
Coming along nicely.

Alan

Nice work Matt - nearly there!

An interesting piece of re-engineering. Certainly looking good and should produce a fine example when finished, which doesn't look that far away. Hope you have it running soon.

Neil.

Not much to report. Tank brackets cleaned up, primed and painted gloss black. I used Wilcos own brand gloss black aerosol, I used their paint on my MK15 and find it covers well and is cheaper than others. On closer inspection a couple of the screws were past their best, one was bent and one had a dodgy thread. I had a couple of spares from a C12, the heads are shallower (probably cost reduction on the later engines) but they will do the job.

Progress is progress! Your doing a thorough job there, should turn out well!

Alan

Alanengine wrote:Progress is progress!

Alan

True. I'm pacing myself a bit, just doing a bit at weekends. Now the weather is warming up and the evenings are lighter there are things to do in the garden (although that's mainly the O/Hs domain) and of course hopefully we will soon be able to get out and about again. I also seem to have somehow talked myself into a bathroom renovation project...

A (little) more progress...

Bit the bullet and started on the tank, did the usual handful of nuts and bolts and paraffin thing to clean it out then set to with the wire wheel in the drill followed by 80 grit paper.



Then a coat of 'Johnstones' brushing red oxide.



I'm still undecided whether to give it another coat and then flat it, TBH I'm not standing too proud over the finish. I could spend ages with stopper ect getting rid of all the pitting but I think it's part of it's character (that's my excuse anyway... )

Coming along nicely, especially when looking at the pictures above, of the state of the tank before your efforts! I agree with you, a bit of natural character can look so much better on an older engine, than an absolutely pristine finish. You'll soon have it completed and up and running, ready to show. I think you'll beat me to it.

Neil.

Why spend hours making it look like something it wasnt, it would never have left the factory looking pristine, the paint would be adequate and the castings would have been slightly better than rough. The engines were built to do a job not look pretty, even high end cars, if you look closely, have not so near visually perfect engines, they are hidden so dont need it.

Maryalice

I think you have to draw a line when it comes to refinishing. Painted rust pits look like what they are, but lightly disguised, although still apparent can look better and more appropriate than a silky smooth glass like finish.

Alan