ATCO - Villiers Midget two stroke engine 98cc -1955-

Hi all,
This is my latest aquisition, collected this morning. It is an old Atco - Villiers 98cc engine. It runs on the two stroke transfer port principle,
These little engines were used, as in this case, on Atco lawn mower between the 1930's and 1950's and produce about 1hp. It was started from cold in this video and it was the very first time I have started it!
I don't know alot about this yet as I havn't had it very long so any technical information is welcomed.
Hope you enjoyed the video!!!!

[@whorayful]

Sounds sweet to me, just like Sunday mornings in the 1970's with all the neighbours cutting their grass with old two stroke mowers. Bliss.

[@peteacher52]

In my youth, Saturday mornings resounded to the 2-stroke cry of Villiers and Johnson as people mowed their lawns before lunch!

[@stuhazskill4217]

Thank you so much for this entertainment, much appreciated

[@chestnut01111]

Got a complete mower in the shed with one of these on. 1953

[@poulanpiper5148]

nice engine sounds great!

[@cetGT3]

Love it music to my ears man that slow revs Harley Davidson eat your heart out. ❤️ ❤️❤️❤️

[@Bidone1967]

Congratulation to your new engine! Runs very good - i can smell the two stroke cloud! 5*!

[@nizardaniez9487]

Wakeup It's already 2021

[@richardortiz8704]

Of that motor we should have it I love that motor

[@richardortiz8704]

I need parts for my billiards thank you help me

[@dietznutz1]

@@nizardaniez9487 go away

[@steamwally]

Yes they are really nice engine, so simple yet such sweet runner!

[@Gleny135]

Nice little set up,and good runner

[@steamwally]

many thanks! yes, it's a loveley little engine. I had the cylinder barel off a couple of days ago for cleaning and discovered a cracked piston. I should be getting a replacement in a couple of weeks time! For now I will keep the revs down! All the best, Phillip.

[@steamwally]

Thanks! They are loveley and this one is so easy to start, it's practicaly "on the button." They are also very cheap if you can find one. This cost me £25 as it is here, with tank etc... All the best,, Phill.

[@caerleon87]

Lovely little engine!! i like that, it runs really well!!!

[@mountfields]

That sound brought memories, we ha 2 Atcos in the 50s, 12" and a 24" ... both kick starts.... 👍👌

[@caerleon87]

Oooeerr!!!! I would not run it at all if i were you!! If the piston breaks up it will quite possibly jam the crank and bend the conrod or wreck the crankcase and twist the crank too!!

[@TheTorkerman]

@steamwally No Worries!! I would love to graft 2 of these on a custom crank case.. 196cc Villiers V Twin!! Awesome.

[@___aaron.m7930]

It sounds so good

[@jetsareCool2]

A classic 2 stroke awesome

[@steamwally]

Many thanks! It has a nice smell indeed : )

[@steamwally]

Many thanks!

[@angamoos]

Great aquisition you have there Phill. I would quite like a small 2 stroke like that one day. Sounds great.

[@oldiron96]

I love that sound

[@bingfu8441]

haha things back then used to last so much longer

[@steamwally]

Thanks! These are so simple, they only have about four moving parts! It won't take long to get yours running : )

[@steamwally]

Yes, I think I did say that. I disslike them running at rallys all day long at maximim revs. However, they do run nice and slow as well like this one. This is really the only small air cooled I like. You are indeed right, they are the best British aircooled. best regards, Phill.

[@steamwally]

They made one called the WXII which was a stationary engine in the true sense and used on farms to power a wide range of machines, like water pumps and corn mills. I don't think they were ever used on gen sets though. There was the 147cc 2 stroker which was used on the atco standard mower and some bikes as well as the mk25C. Quite a few more but those were the main ones. Even made a couple of diesel 2 strokes, one being the D270.

[@steamwally]

I thought about using it to drive a compressor which in turn would blow air on the engine cooling it! I could still put my hand on the cylinder after 20 minuits running and it wasn't really hot. Cheers, Phill.

[@steamwally]

Thats great, I look foward to seeing that : )

[@OBARRVAGOS]

Sounds intimidating but good as well interesting 🤔😎😎

[@goldie103103]

I havn't seen him about the mower yet. Ive seen him brethly walking around school but not after school for about 2 weeks.

[@goldie103103]

Nice machine there mate

[@steamwally]

Hi there, it certainly can be used as a prime mover, I have had it running my water pump and dynamo (see other video's.) Thanks, Phill.

[@steamwally]

Many thanks, glad you like it : )

[@goldie103103]

oh right, il have too look next time. hardly seen any mowers at rallys this year. Its a 4 stoke atco aswell, i just relised that. mpmac has this on a mower that he found in the tip.

[@steamwally]

I should have the new piston soon. I started it yesterday and had it running at about 250rpm for ten minuits and listened carefully, it was fine and I susspect it has had a small fracture in the piston for years. No matter, it will be interesting trying to fit the new piston!

[@user-xe5jh2dg8e]

Good engine!

[@steamwally]

It's only a small fracture and I don't think it's all the way through, I think I will take your advice and wait till I have the new piston though

[@angamoos]

Wow! thats good. if i had one i would probably try and make some sort of fan set up on the other side of the engine. that way i could run it all day! Angus

[@steamwally]

Thats right, with a little gear on the shaft. Some had a pull start like this one.

[@___aaron.m7930]

Very cool

[@lolMyke]

Very cool! 5/5

[@05clenharth]

i recall you saying that viiliers were horid thrashing away at 3000 rpm and then u brought one.. oh well at least you have seen sence and got one in my opinion they are the best british air cooled engine

[@steamwally]

Cheers, glad you like it : )

[@steamwally]

Thats right, he got another the other day!

[@steamwally]

Thanks, I can get it a little slower now I have re set the ignition timing.

[@merv1908]

runs well, I have a simmilar one that I should get going.

[@MidBrunswickGreen]

I've got a Midget engine on an old Ransomes lawn mower but of a different appearance to yours. I've found the engine is keen to stall if run slowly so have to keep the revs up, which means a very brisk pace behind the mower :)

[@goldie103103]

Oh right, I might ask about that atco 4 stroke if I see him after school, I sometimes don't see him as hes in 6th form.

[@steamwally]

Cheers!

[@steamwally]

Thats the one! Thank you.

[@TheTorkerman]

@steamwally they were indeed. Villiers had a production factory in Ballarat, Victoria. :)

[@anthacdc]

just got a mower with the same engine, making a video on will be uploaded later today.

[@douro20]

They also made larger 2-stroke engines, mainly for power generation.

[@ludeboukema4111]

perfect

[@gabrielleone5834]

buenísimo

[@steamwally]

Yeah they do have a habit of doing that if the plug blacks a bit!

[@steamwally]

Have you checked the plug isn't shorting?

[@codsixrules]

It has a nice low idle

[@steamwally]

Actualy, I put "two stroke transfer port principle" for a reason, there are other types of two stroke engines that work in different ways. The Petter universal oil engine is a point in case, the fuel is not sent to the crankcase. The Petter Harmonic is another example, it uses the crankcase but uses the air pulse from the exhaust to scavange the crankcase, so you see....there are quite a few types of two stroke!

[@GreenerHill]

Beautiful!

[@robinhooodvsyou]

Lovely engine ;)

[@steamwally]

Yes, but my point is, It's an old engine so I'm going by the old system.

[@twirlywhirly555]

Very Nice : D , What mix do you run on the petrol / oil ?

[@steamwally]

Yes, it's a two stroke so they do hit n' miss a bit.

[@steamwally]

Thanks, no this is a Mk1 midget, they were a new design, the Mk8C was part of an older range made by Villiers.

[@ludeboukema4111]

runs 100 %

[@steamwally]

Cheers : )

[@iw3ioj]

nice engine!

[@steamwally]

oh, and I found out what shows I'm doing now: Lower Dicker Garden centre Feb, white mill May, K&ES railway June, 10th aniversary July, Autorama August, Kingsfold Sep and Milbrook Garden centre Oct. Plus hopefully the amberly one and two local displays!

[@bev1806]

I've got one of those on a atco 14" cylinder mower but it dont want to start. I am lost i ve tried everything to get it running still no luck.

[@goldie103103]

cool

[@steamwally]

There is a spark plug..... and a magneto to!

[@user-bc3mi9jo6m]

good engine!

[@steamwally]

Ha ha, glad you like it! I think they made these in Australia too. Prehaps put an advert on one of the engine forums?

[@steamwally]

I'm using a 16/1 petrol/oil ratio. cheers : )

[@Naturepheonix]

@steamwally Thanks Phil I'll check them out :D

[@gregluff1149]

Sweet moter man

[@homotorsports]

Cool!!!

[@steamwally]

These engines are not like modern two strokes, they require a load to two stroke propperly. I've played with lots of these Villiers two stroke engines since then, many run better than this one but they all need a load to settle down and work efficiently.

[@steamwally]

You'l be coughing if you get anywhere near this.....

[@goldie103103]

They userly have a kick start don't they?

[@utericers5281]

Hey mate, how do you pop the red clutch housing off the crank shaft?

[@steamwally]

Ah right.

[@steamwally]

I have a video of one of them on here somewhere.

[@steamwally]

Ha Ha! Glad you like it : )

[@RCASSIN]

Great motor...i have a similar one on my motorcycle, a Sun Hornet...Please tell me how to remove the flywheel...the nut that holds it on the outside, does it come off clockwise??? or counterclockwise????Thanks, Rob

[@steamwally]

I can't comment on your exact engine - Villiers has so many design variations it would be impossible to guess 100%. But.... on engines like the one in the video, the flywheel nuts turns anticlockwise to remove. It will need some force to get it moving, it will then make around 1 complete turn before going tight again - keep going and nut will pull the flywheel off the taper for you. Phill.

[@marianoujevich3115]

beatifull sound , it's a MARK VIII C ? villier model

[@OBARRVAGOS]

How fast does it go ? 🤔

[@imthesteve]

I just bought a similar engine, not in going condition. i cannot find any infomation on it. does anybody have a website with a forum that might be able to help?

[@steamwally]

I beleive it was the same engine, with a few modifications. He would have to have been going down hill in a 20 zone I reckon! Cheers, Phill.

[@1953PE]

I have a similar villiers 98cc engine on a french motorcycle (monet goyon M10) and I cant find where to fill the crank case oil, there is a plug on exhaust side at the bottom which I think is a drain. Any ideas

[@steamwally]

The drain is correct, but assuming your engine is a two stroke, you don't fill the crank case in the same way as a regular four stroke engine. You mix the oil with the fuel before filling the tank, with modern oils a 25:1 petrol to oil ratio will be fine for one of these little Villiers engines. If it's oiling the plug, lean the mix out a little more. Back in the day, they oils were not so good and they usually ran a 16:1 mix - very smokey!

[@1953PE]

Thanks very much

[@MaTt-xd6fu]

niiiice

[@NarcisMateescu]

How is it cooled?

[@marioncobretti2407]

narc1s m. air

[@Naturepheonix]

can it be used?

[@BikerDaddy22RideorDie]

That sure doesn’t sound like any two stroke you hear today!!!!!

[@mountfields]

That sound broy

[@steamwally]

Also, when this engine was built the old formula was used, all the sales bumpf for these engines rates it as 1hp and so thats what the engine is. I don't buy the idea of the new rating, the old one was based on the theoretical power of 1 horse, this engine is a feeble little thing and no way would I call it 4hp, what ever the "EU" have decided the rating should be.....

[@MrMoterKid]

Put! Put! Put! XD Is it meant to run like that?

[@blinginlike3p0]

sounds like its four stroking or even 6 stroking. lean your mixture

[@theonewhoknows2]

No your just fucking stupid. It's a low rpm 2 stroke.

[@OBARRVAGOS]

How much u want for it ?? Lmk yo bro hey 👋

[@apple_with_a_human_butt]

ferrari f1 engine 2017