[vhgmcbuddy]

The carburettor used on this engine spec was the Villiers “Lightweight” and used a round “oil bath” type air cleaner.I have a complete Clifford MK1 rotavator with a seized engine which I have kept for spares for my other example.I would be happy to sell it though if you are interested ??.BTW the tyres are no good.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thanks Stuart, that is a surprise. I may be able to get the carb as it is misplaced by previous owner.
I would like to get this m/c up and running but need the tyres for an Auto Culto Junior Mk 3 that I am sorting. Thanks again

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thank you Andy one of the members has manufactured a new Jet holder for me but would still like to get my hands on a spare carb and anything related to the J.A.P engine .

[vhgmcbuddy]

Thank’s Neil see you Wednesday .

[vhgmcbuddy]

I don’t know why but the photos are coming out in a ramdon order if you look at them in number order that’s the right way.

[vhgmcbuddy]

The engine was next in line for attention. These early gems left the factory with jap’s, as this was still the original one I decided to try and save it. For some reason this was sized solid yet when stripped down I could see no reason as to why. A lot of elbow grease followed, and the only major component that I changed was the cylinder and piston.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

It’s well on its way to being finished, Charlie, I will upload the story over the next few days as I’ve got a slow internet connection so photos take a long time. They aren’t coming out on quite the right order but hopefully people can work it out.
Once the gearbox was back together my attention turned to sorting out the thrust bearing. The problem was the book didn’t show what it looked like or give any sizes so it all had to be machined from scratch. The operating arms were badly worn, again g367 came to rescue with a better set. I also fitted a new clutch plate as the original was very past it. The final job was to file down some oversize key steel to take up a bit of damage on the clutch locating key ways.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Look forward to hearing further progress, Charlie, its a grand job you’re doing, GOOD LUCK! Peter

[vhgmcbuddy]

Once dismantled I could see that every bearing was shot. The bill for the bearings came to over £300 as all bar one were imperial. The odd one though had an imperial centre,and width yet a metric outer?!? A collar had to be machine to over come this problem. Due to a cobbled up thrust bearing having of been fitted at some point in its life, the main shaft was badly worn, here G 367 came in useful donating it’s shaft.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Here’s a couple more

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[vhgmcbuddy]

See if this works.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

Heres some photos of the strip down.
[URL=https://s882.photobucket.com/user/garethsgemS/media/image_zpsvz7a6irq.jpeg.html][IMG]https://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/garethsgemS/image_zpsvz7a6irq.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=https://s882.photobucket.com/user/garethsgemS/media/image_zpsgpdkmort.jpeg.html][IMG]https://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/garethsgemS/image_zpsgpdkmort.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=https://s882.photobucket.com/user/garethsgemS/media/image_zps2afnktks.jpeg.html][IMG]https://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/garethsgemS/image_zps2afnktks.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=https://s882.photobucket.com/user/garethsgemS/media/image_zpsife5l8tg.jpeg.html][IMG]https://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/garethsgemS/image_zpsife5l8tg.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=https://s882.photobucket.com/user/garethsgemS/media/image_zpspfnmdfkn.jpeg.html][IMG]https://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/garethsgemS/image_zpspfnmdfkn.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=https://s882.photobucket.com/user/garethsgemS/media/image_zps8kn270of.jpeg.html][IMG]https://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/garethsgemS/image_zps8kn270of.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=https://s882.photobucket.com/user/garethsgemS/media/image_zps3phm8vz6.jpeg.html][IMG]https://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/garethsgemS/image_zps3phm8vz6.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=https://s882.photobucket.com/user/garethsgemS/media/image_zpscdbngnfw.jpeg.html][IMG]https://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/garethsgemS/image_zpscdbngnfw.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[vhgmcbuddy]

When it arrived back at the unit I uncovered the serial number and to my pleasant surprise it was G206, production started at G101 making this the 106th Gem ever produced.
I’ve been researching Gems for years and prior to this one the lowest number that I’d ever seen was G 357 so this at present is the earliest known surviving Gem.
Having the factory records checked it was revealed that it was one of a pair dispatched along with G207 on 15/12/1941 via LMS goods rail to Trewartha Gregory &Dolge led in Cornwall. They were both built on 10/12/1941. As an aside this company is still trading today.
An initial assessment revealed that it was missing it’s Magneto, Exhaust, Chain cover and had the wrong wheels fitted.
Luckily I also own the remains of G367 ( pictured below) so can use this for some of the missing parts.

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[vhgmcbuddy]

It looks like the actual rotavator is a Cliffold MK1 from the 1950,s in which case the engine is a 147cc Villiers MK25C 2-stroke.

[vhgmcbuddy]

Chris, I lied. I have checked very closely, there IS overspray so she’s been painted at some time, but probably a long time ago.

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