Vintage Horticultural and Garden Machinery Club

Hi and thanks for the reply.

The machine is not complete so I will be making collars etc to carry the cylinder i have to sharpen. Also any guides etc that might be needed.

I’m hoping to find a copy of the instructions or at least a scan of them so I can set it up correctly.

Does the cylinder turn against an indexing stop which is fitted at the…[Read more]

OK the faults I suspected were borne out by replacing the carb, replacing the warped air filter housing and straightening the throttle bracket.
These actions cured the problems and I now have an engine that runs beautifully.
The carb had been messed with and the pilot screw anti tamper cap had been forced off, most advice was to replace the…[Read more]

The governor seems to be functioning ok. But the engine will only run on full choke, not idle or run setting.
The air inlet system for the pilot jet looks pretty critical and the seat face of the plastic air filter housing is warped so I suspect its letting in excess air. New housing on order.
Also the metal throttle/choke mounting is bent all out…[Read more]

Thanks for the information Wristpin.
I’m not sure what is happening. Starts on choke and runs well but as soon as I drop the throttle lever to the Hare run position it runs poorly, very little difference between that and the Tortoise idle setting.
Maybe just a carb clean is in order.
I will do that and then look at the governor as I can’t see…[Read more]

Good news, my V5 came through today.
In total it was about 4 months from first refused application, but the second upgraded application took 5 weeks which is just about pre covid timescale.
As I said, year of manufacture is critical and the NOVA declaration.
I put a really comprehensive information bundle together covering all the bases and…[Read more]

Just applied for registration of a Wheelhorse tractor. Covid has put the brakes on everything and I’ve been waiting since April with no way of finding out whats going on.

Biggest issue is date of manufacture, they are really pedantic about that.

Also if it is an imported machine you will have to get a NOVA notification regarding VAT. Whether…[Read more]

Hi all.

What is the correct amount of SAE 30 oil to put in 5 litres of petrol for this engine?
The manual is not clear as it shows a l- pint as a measure for 1 gallon of petrol.

This is mine running today after the timing reset.

Many thanks to those who posted advice on how to proceed, I know it wasnt my thread but I think we should both arrive at the same place.
If the OP needs any help from my travails just give me a shout.

I have cracked it I think. I know it doesn’t sound as good as eureka but it’s the same feeling.
I took the whole fan casing, fan and flywheel off this morning. Cleaned the points and set them to 14 thou.
I used a depth gauge I made to measure from the plug hole to the piston crown, added 5/32 and that came to 20.63mm
I then used that gauge to…[Read more]

This is a you tube video of her running.

I set my timing by measuring the piston 5/32 of an inch BTDC. I take it that’s right? I simply measured it using a caliper gauge, what is the best way to be accurate? Make a L shaped probe with the bottom part machined to 5/32?
There were arrows and Mark’s on the alloy fan casing and flywheel but as I wasnt sure about them i didnt use…[Read more]

Curiously I bought a Denso version of the plug that was in when I got it. And that might well be wrong as it was a garden ornament not a runner.
I swapped back to the old plug and it runs, bit of popping back through the carb but it recovers and runs ok.
Shakes like a tin outhouse which I guess is the cutter head, i took off the spring drive bar…[Read more]

Hi all.
I seem to be having similar problems with my machine.
It will start after 4 or five pulls from cold. It runs for a few minutes then dies and will not run till it cools down.
Been playing with the carb but that doesn’t seem to make much difference.
How would I get the coil tested?
Villiers parts show it as a £75 part which is a bit much…[Read more]

Thanks gents, some very positive points there, I will await a reply from the people in Wales and report back to you.
Going to fit a pair of mirrors a d a amber beacon as a just in case.
I supplied just a out everything I could think of so we will see how it goes.
Best regards Mick

Hi Wristpin.

I contacted the DVSA to check about type approval and they confirmed what I thought, that it does not need type approval. So that’s a major pain in the neck avoided.

I went through the form V55/5 which deals with registering an old vehicle.

Lots and lots of information I couldn’t provide as there is no paperwork for the tractor.…[Read more]

I have a wheelhorse C-125 tractor which I want to use on public land and cross over roads to access that land.

Does anyone have any view on the possibility of registering the vehicle with the DVLA?

I dont need folk to say just wing it or plead ignorance of you’re stopped. I want to do things properly as I will be working on a project which would…[Read more]

Hi all.

Fir some reason no text appeared when I posted this thread, I will re write it.