[andyfrost]

Very best for your restoration , what engine are your machines fitted with…JAP4/3 , or Villiers 25A.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

From your description , it sounds like a compression problem. Check the piston/cylinder for damage. In good running condition you would not be able to spin the Sachs 500 with a drill , they simply have far to much compression.
Parts are still available on the continent , so all is far from lost , they don’t come cheap , but IMO the Sachs was by some distance the best power unit ever fitted on the Gem.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

Champion CJ8

Andy.

[andyfrost]

Lo and behold , there’s a fully working one just a few miles from yours for auction.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

Peter , they’re probably Britains most common magneto , are your bearings OK ?? . if so I would go down the secondhand route , it shouldn’t be difficult at all to source a used working one and simlpy change the internals over…job done , and you’ll save a packet.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

That’s VERY sound advice from Charlie , I too , never rely on timing marks , machines of our era have more than likely had various parts swapped during their working life , none more so than Villiers ignition plates.
Your 25c may appear to have ample “suction” , but is your crankcase compression being lost through the main seals.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

“IF” you,re absolutely certain the timing is correct , as it has been mentioned previously , it is vital on Villiers twostrokes.
You have now got to investigate both the crankshaft seals , and cylinder bore/piston rings , unless it’s a very late 25c , the crank seals will be the gland bush type.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

Just another twist , there was an identical machine passed through the well known auction site very recently.

Andy

[andyfrost]

Charlie , Peter is now the very proud owner of my 56 with plough

Andy.

[andyfrost]

Very nice Peter , I was tempted to have a bid myself , glad it’s gone to a good home.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

Don’t try to start it how you have it at present , unless you need a broken wrist, I’m a bit miffed how you have arrived at 1″ down the bore , that is miles too far advanced , 1/4″ sounds about right , re-set it to this and give it a go , once you have got a spark.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

I’m fairly certain the Aspera (LAV 35) was fitted with a decompressor , which would account for feeling lack of compression. That model was fitted with both the Briggs and Aspera from new.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

Peter , they’re a bit like Marmite , you either love them or hate them , and I’m a great lover of them.
Personally I prefer the petrol version , delivers more power than the diesel model ,albeit on the thirsty side, and if timed and tuned correctly are a VERY easy starter. A far more versatile machine than the Gem , infact better in every way IMO.
When I worked on Howards , I was reliably informed that production costs priced them out of the market , much the same as the 800.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

Gents , I had one of those senior moments , I didn’t notice it was from 2016 , which would mean it was NOT the Simar that Peter now owns.
When I originally purchased it from Tom , he had two at the time , the one that is in Chris’s pic is the other one.

Andy.

[andyfrost]

Peter , I can’t be certain , but I think that pic is Toms other Simar , I’m sure he could confirm.

Andy.

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