[vhgmcbuddy]

An update about the 2a ET conversion. I did a thorough overhaul of the engine, it included replacing the condenser with a capacitor. Which I do as a matter of course now when working on a magneto that does not achieve my default pass level of a 6mm spark in air. I was very pleasantly surprised that the Wico Pacy flywheel magneto got up to an 8mm spark. This is massive and way beyond what is required for such an engine. I therefore decided I was going to leave well alone, it probably could not be improved with an ET conversion.

I also have a Villiers 25c, a Mk10 and an F15. The 25c had a new coil from Villiersparts. George Shead supplied some instructions of how to fit it as it was not the same as the original. It is shorter and the poles are smaller. I fitted it, the engine ran OK, but still not ideal, starting was not straightforward. I fitted a capacitor, it started much more easily and ran better, but the spark is only 4.5mm, sub-optimal. I overhauled the Mk10 years ago, it has not done too much work since. It probably has the original coil and condenser, as it has been stood I cleaned the points, the spark is only 3.5mm. The secondary resistance was 4.8KΩ, so fine. The F15 has an open circuit on the secondary, so duff. I am going to do the ET conversion on the F15 in the first instance. I also have a spare Wico Series A that had a duff condenser, did a hone of the points, fitted a capacitor and with a flick of the impulse the spark was 7.5mm.

I am confident the ET conversion will successfully improve the spark on the Villiers flywheel magnetos and if so. After the F15 will do it to the Mk10 and then the Wico A. It will then be an option for those who do not want to fork out for a new coil if there’s has failed. Or in the worst case scenario, a rewind. Will leave the 25c be for now. I am going to write a report with pictures of how to do it, with test figures of the original system and the ET conversion. I will be making it available for free to assist others if they wish to do the same. The job should take a couple of hours work and the parts cost less than £25. I hope to get the report done in the spring, but I am not renewing my membership to the VHGMC, so will not be able to give it to members through the club’s website. But it will be available through a couple of Facebook group’s ‘Files’ sections. So if a member wants to see it, search for “Grahame Aldington” and “Magneto Energy Transfer System” and something should pop up.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thank-you for this.
Interesting… somewhere along the lines I got the idea that the seal was leather. From the looks of the one photo, you have a somewhat loose fitting neoprene(?) washer. I’d guess that that is not the original.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Sorry Charlie here is the photo. Two seals. One on the pump that is a large O ring. The other is a flat rubber washer inside the cylinder of the pump.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Brian,
Sorry, it may be me but I can’t see the photos.

tbh, after the response from Sheen, I put this as another “project” on the to do pile and only started looking into it again when FiL asked if I had something for the weeds at his new place (tho, given that that is a timber construction home, I’m a little uneasy but that’s another story).
As to the X300/x500 no, only the Flamewand which was found on fb Marketplace for £10. Another “bargain” 🙂 Folks used to have one back in the mid-80s but it got left behind in a house move.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Photos as requested

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Charlie. I assume you mean the seal in the pump because of course there are seals also in the stop valve that control the flow of paraffin to the coil. I’ll go and take some photos and forward to you. Have you managed to dismantle the wand at all ? Still unsure how you get a replacement wick in one of these.

PS do you own a Sheen X300/X500 weedburner by any chance? I actually think that despite these being more bulky they are more effective. I am a big fan of clearing weeds that come up between patio slabs with one of these.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Brian, Thanks for your reply and good to hear you got yours working.
“does it hold pressure when pumped up with paraffin in it?” – No, because the seal has not only perished but is completely missing. Any chance of picture of what it should look like please? Thanks.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Charlie. Well I picked up my flamewand a couple of months ago and have managed to get it working. So I’m sure you know to pump the wand to build pressure ; check that you have pressure by briefly opening the flow valve to check liquid paraffin spurts out of the burner jet before closing. This also primes the vaporising coil with fuel. Then poor a bit of paraffin on to the wick and ignite. Now wait several minutes for the paraffin in the coil to boil and vaporise. Then slowly turn the flow valve back on just enough to create a roaring flame.

The key things to note (1) does it hold pressure when pumped up with paraffin in it ?: seals may have perished either on the pump itself or the paraffin flow valve (2) have you checked the jet nozzle isn’t blocked ? (3) is there still enough of the wick left to ignite when soaked in paraffin ? I found it very hard to get acess to the jet nozzle without a long reach socket of the appropriate size and I still haven’t worked out how to dismantle the burner part to replace the wick.

[vhgmcbuddy]

I too have a Sheen Flame Wand which is in need of some TLC. I contacted Sheen in 2021 and received the following response,
“… unfortunately we no longer support the flamewand. Sadly it is obsolete having not been made for over 35 Years.”

If anyone has a link to where spares and the operating instructions can be found, please let me know.
Roy

[vhgmcbuddy]

Forget about my first question, went on google and see that they are agricultural engineers anyway, easy enough to get in touch with! I’ll send my big brother on a mission

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thanks for getting back to me! It’s good to know that she found a good home, my brother lives in Nottingham so if there’s any way to get Tom’s address I would really appreciate it.
I suspect it was the same tractor in the photograph. The hire boats were stored in the winter about 100 yards from where you collected the tractor from. I couldn’t remember where my dad had got it from but that would make sense, unfortunately both my parents have passed away so can’t ask for any information from them.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi By chance I know the company well in Louth, as over the years they stock some real weird garden equipment. FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW they supply parts for WOLF TOOLS that WOLF CANNOT SUPPLY!
your strimmer the cassette should twist off anti clockwise, you should be able to remove the white plate to get to the cord which should be only 1.5mm which you can buy in small lengths, hope this helps you.
Andrew

[vhgmcbuddy]

I did a search and found some taper adaptors, but none fitted. I need 22.5mm ID for the largest hole, going down a 1:5 taper over 23mm. The easiest solution is to get something turned. Am not going to get into a ding dong battle over taper adaptor suppliers. I believe this forum is for constructive comments only.

[vhgmcbuddy]

I was given a fingerbar mower with a Lombardini IM 250 on it. Something had broken in the gearbox, it would have required expensive machining to fix it, so I took off the parts I wanted and scrapped the rest. The engine ran beautifully, I still have it and at 6.5hp I may fit it to another machine one day. The only downside is the drive shaft is tapered, I cannot find a pulley with a taper bore. So am going to have to get something turned to fit on it to convert it to a parallel shaft. I have downloaded the engine manual, but it’s all in Italian. If there is something you need to know, you can get selected text translated online. If someone wants a copy of the manual, please message me.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Hi Alan

thanks for the help. Yes it is in my Spanish home (may bring it back to Uk) It does say Bronco but i cannot see anything on the Troy_bilt website and the logo doesn’t show anywhere. The plate is completely bleached except a serial number (3213050). The tyres have pirelli TM40 6-12 on them and the casting shows J.S. 450 D – i addume the D is for diesel.
since the post i have come to the conclusion that the word above BRONCO on the trailer may be MOTOAZADA – which is Spanish for MOTOR HOE.

there is also a tiller attachment that i have to pick up but i havent got that yet

Any help?

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