Vintage Horticultural and Garden Machinery Club

Grahame , one more question , and it may sound off topic , when you removed the flywheel , was the large thick felt seal present around the stator plate.

Andy.

H7 h6 or js6 , forgive my ignorance , but what exactly does that mean.

Andy.

Grahame , it would concern me when you said the pulley came of by hand , I can’t help but think all’s not right somewhere and would lead to flywheel/key/ crankshaft failure.All the 2As I’ve worked on the pulley tightens right up , and requires the impact gun to undo.
The points gap is usually stamped into the points inspection cover , I would…[Read more]

David , I’m not at all savvy with PCs , and haven’t yet fathomed how to blow-up photos , but the rollpin in his pics appears to me to be on the opposite end to the threaded part , but of course I could well be mistaken on that. Grahame states that he knocked the rollpin out , which to me would suggest that it went through the crankshaft ,…[Read more]

Grahame , I never said or meant you were complicating your ignition ideas , I admire you for having a go , and I really do hope it works , It appears to me a sound idea , if the situation happens whereby the original components are not available. Whilst parts are still readily available I tend to go down that route.
I have a large ammount of…[Read more]

Grahame , you do seem to have made a most simple task complicated , 2As are one of , if not THE simplest engines to work on , as you have now seen , no awkward taper flywheels , keyed timing. Every 2A that I’ve done have always had a head gasket.
I can’t see from your pics , but did the rollpin actually go through the crankshaft , or just through…[Read more]

Grahame , the starter pulley(the alloy part) and the steel inner(with the slot) are as such one unit , and upon undoing will come off as a complete unit , it’s then a simple task of drawing the flywheel off its staight shaft , in my experience they are very easy to remove.
Very recently I did a 2A on a Bulldog for a collector friend of mine ,…[Read more]

Grahame , every 2A I’ve ever worked on the flywheel is only held on by the starter pulley , you should see a large slot in the steel embossed inner part , I have a nut welded on a piece of steel that fits snugly into that slot and use an impact gun , it’s normal righthand thread, very often the flywheel will come of with a VERY SLIGHT tap from…[Read more]

A photo of your machine will help , AC made loads of different machines.

Andy.

Yes , Im all for the increase to keep this wonderful club afloat. I’ve also long thought that there should be a forsale section on here , but for CLUB MEMBERS ONLY , even more so if we have fewer magazines , perhaps we could have a membership vote on this??

Andy.

OK David , but I can assure you the first 2As were fitted with the JAP carb , the Zenith came much later.

Andy.

David , the groove you refer to was an idea/design that JAP toyed with for a short period , it was also used on 4/3 , 5 models , but was quickly dropped. So in it’s original format that engine would have been fitted with a carb with the JAP logo cast into the fuel bowl , it was a very similar looking carb to the Zenith13. Traces of yellow paint on…[Read more]

David/Grahame , it may be worth getting in touch with Panks in Norwich , they used to be Alcon agents , pumps of all types was their speciality. My Father bought a brand new Villiers/Alcon unit from them when I was a youngster.
I know neither of you will agree , but the Alcon type pumps are not meant to be used for pressure applications , my…[Read more]

The person Grahame refers to does not have a clue about 700s , his speciality is the 300 series and a few Gem parts , if you want my advice it would be to steer well clear. I run and use a pair of 700s , and they are by some considerable ditance my favourite machine to use , machine parts , along with most engine spares are long obsolete , over…[Read more]

Ah , I read in your previous post that you said it had sheared the steel key , if it were a MK12 , which was the most common Villiers fitted to Alcon and like type pumps , it would have taper lock timing , if it were an F15 or F17 , then yes it would have keyed ignition timing.

Andy.

Grahame , if you don’t mind me asking , which model Villiers was the one with your sheared key problem , I’m guessing F series ???.

Andy.

David , there are a couple of firms that bought alot of old Ransomes stuff , and not a million miles from you. Try Stennets of Swilland , and and another chap by the name of Denison , not certain where he’s from , I think Saxmundham/Wickham Market area.

Andy.

David , the man was corredt , the firm I worked for were Ransomes main agents , amongst many others , cutting out worn/damaged spirals and welding in new , and the final grind was a common occurence. As to whether they’re still available I don’t know.

Andy.

That sounds like a good result , the new diaphragm should cure the issues you mention , above all , be sure to run it on E5 fuel , E10 will ruin the diaphragm in very little time.
The reduction box I mentioned on your engine “MAY” be OK , I see from the pics that it has a fairly large pulley on it , so depending on what the box ratio is it could…[Read more]

The later type wheels will not fit , hence I suggested the cambelt approach, Those little Briggs engines are very reliable and easy to work on , first thing is sort the spark out , and move on to the carb , give it a thorough clean ,along with the tank, and most importantly fit a new GENUINE diaphragm. Any problems , then report back.

Andy.