ENGINE STRIP DOWN & INSPECTION OF 1939 EXCELSIOR UNIVERSAL WITH THE VILLIERS 9D 125 ENGINE..

COME WITH ME ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY TO SEE THE TOLL 84 YEARS HAS TAKEN ON MY 1939 EXCELSIOR UNIVERSAL AS I FULLY DISASSEMBLE ITS VILLIERS 9D TWIN PORT 2 STROKE ( TEMPO ) ENGINE, IS IT SALVAGEABLE?

[@kenphillips5221]

Love the homage to The Fast Show 😁

[@TweedsGarage]

Glad you spotted it Ken, Mrs Tweed was convinced nobody would get it 👍

[@08Maxwell1]

Outstanding video. Thank you so much. About 10 years ago I purchased what I believe is a 1946 James motorcycle in original condition. It appears to have this exact (or very close) Villiers engine. Mine is a MK.9D, magneto number 539/351 6P. Since purchase, various projects have kept me from tearing it down to get it running. However, your video has inspired me to give it a go in the near future. I appreciated that you took time to include the address of a parts supplier. Since I live in the U.S. where Villiers are rather rare I'm unaware of any suppliers in this country. Your video was very methodical, with good thought and discussion as to each part. I wish there was a local mechanic I could turn this over to and get it back next week. But since that is not possible, videos like yours with good sound advice and overview will have to do. By the way, that small mystery pin almost looks to be about the size of the missing ring retention pin in your piston? If it is, I don't know how it could have dropped into the lower part of the engine except perhaps by a previous mechanic while taking it apart? Thank you again for taking time to post it.

[@TweedsGarage]

Glad to have inspired you, the MK 9 D's are pretty thin on the ground over here too surprisingly, the piece of rod turned out to be a bit of clutch pushrod, some butchery had gone on in its lifetime, all is explained in further videos, here's the playlist for you kzbin.info/aero/PLyBa-OlxfN3O0yMoIH6EpObMCLLkGXwAO&si=h3DueCSsle0ZOear

[@billdyke9745]

Most enjoyable. It's amazing that so many parts are still available.. 👍

[@TweedsGarage]

It is indeed Bill, thank god for eccentric Englishmen and their passion for old vehicles

[@shedbythetracks]

Very enjoyable and I was sad when it ended. Now I can't wait for the next episode. I love how all this old stuff was made to be taken apart and mended. I'm starting to feel my life is incomplete without a motor bike to tinker with. Cheers from the shed (where I'll be living if I drag home an old motor bike)

[@TweedsGarage]

Try the " what this old thing " Randy, and if that doesn't work spring is just around the corner so it wont be to cold living in the workshop 😁

[@glenmiller3783]

Great video, the engine is in remarkably good condition.

[@TweedsGarage]

Thanks Glen, yes apparently the barrels can be in a really bad way so to have it within tolerance was a relief.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

That was a giant leap forward! Nice to see your bench is as full of essential bits as mine is. It is good the the main bearings are in usable condition, I too have a great deal of mistrust of bearing with no makers name on them, these small machines are very handy when you come to a rebuild, no lifting gear or huge load bearing benches are required. Chris B.

[@TweedsGarage]

I do try to tidy it up Chris but usually get distracted so it soon ends up back in chaos , i did think it would be a nice easy project to do in the workshop on the bench whilst it was too cold to be rolling around under cars at the moment.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

@@TweedsGarage I have the same problem down here in the South! The gauge tells me it is 4 degs, but it feels much colder, probably due to the 80% humidity, so the Defender stands outside waiting for the new brakes to be bled! The problem I find when I tidy up is that I can never find anything. Stay safe! Chris B.

[@colinwellman9480]

Nice video and explanation of the strip down. It sounds as though even after 80+years spares are still available. Rather different to more modern Japanese bikes. I follow Allen Millyard's channel and in his rebuild of his Honda ST 1100 he mentions parts not being available. They are so reliable I suppose there was never a demand. That Jenkins chap needs house training. Looking forward to the re-assembly and clouds of two stroke smoke. Thanks for sharing.

[@TweedsGarage]

cheers Colin, yes the spares back up is good for the Villiers engines. I did see the ST 1100 rebuild and it was surprising the scarcity of parts especially as Honda used to boast that they held parts for all the models they had made, I think they let this policy slide a few years back.

[@teamjdb]

Excellent!

[@TweedsGarage]

My pleasure 👍

[@andrewplumb6544]

Well this takes me back. Had a Greeves with an 8E 197 Villiers. From memory the primary case oil is SAE 180. At 4 centigrade you'd need to shovel it out. Re-corkedmy clutch. Used to replace the crankshaft oil seals monthly because the crankshaft was so worn where they bore. Could never getthe timing right. Either easy start on the kickstart and gutless or bump start only but plenty of power. Remember the brass flywheel too but had no lighting coils. Great times. I think I donated it to the local ATC for spannner and general fettling. practice.

[@TweedsGarage]

An interesting trip down memory lane Andrew, they did like thick oil in gearboxes and chain cases back then ( probably an attempt to stop it falling out ) , the Ariel NG i had had a grease filled gearbox.....which was fun doing an oil change on.

[@andrewplumb6544]

@@TweedsGarage long since left road going stuff behind. Found grassroots flying. Have a plane to restore, which I've had since 1986. Here's a tip for you. Light aero Spares can supply aircraft quality BA nuts and bolts. Love the Riley.

[@StuartsShed]

This video makes me want to actually start the rebuild of my 650 Matchless.

[@TweedsGarage]

Yeah do it 👍

[@asciimation]

Oh, and I saw your Reilang oil can in the background. Best oil cans ever! I think mine will live in the Riley.

[@TweedsGarage]

After many rubbish Chinese oil cans i took the plunge and bought one, it is brilliant having the pressure and accuracy to oil the ball oilers on the machines and works at any angle.

[@gbentley8176]

Excellent strip down. Looking forward to receiving parts is always the exciting bit for me until one is the wrong size!. Best wishes.

[@TweedsGarage]

We call it Daddy Christmas in our house when parcels of delight arrive, size wise things are looking good Mr B.

[@StuartsShed]

Baaaaaahaha! Loved Jesses Diets! Thanks for the larf. 😂

[@TweedsGarage]

It was a classic Stuart, especially the raspberry pop tart one 😄

[@chrislee7817]

Think the mystery part in the oil is part of the clutch pushrod system. Is there a ball-bearing in the push rod stack too?

[@TweedsGarage]

Hi Chris, you are quite right, it's part of a bodge to get round a problem that i wasn't aware of until the engine was reassembled, it was part of the pushrod stack which then got replaced with a couple of ball bearings to circumvent a problem. The clutch system on these units uses 3 pushrods with a ball end on the clutch lever . All is revealed in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/noG1dJaLjsqkppI

[@chrislee7817]

@@TweedsGarage similar to my ducati. Has a load of rollers and balls to reduce rotational force on the pushrod.

[@philliprussell5090]

Hi Allan what is the cc of the engine please. Great video keep them coming 👍

[@TweedsGarage]

It is a 125cc unit Phillip

[@georgemaher5129]

Hi there. Where can one view the completion ( re - assembly ) of the project ? Many thanks. John.

[@TweedsGarage]

Here you go John kzbin.info/aero/PLyBa-OlxfN3O0yMoIH6EpObMCLLkGXwAO

[@davids8449]

I was just wondering how much piston ring movement is too much ( not piston ring gaping ). But up and down movement of ring in piston slot.......looks like I am one year late in asking question... engine I have is 1F

[@TweedsGarage]

Hi David, apologies for the late reponse but i was checking a few bits of info first, Villiers don't specify a minimum thickness for rings for the 9F, but do specify a maximum ring gap of 0.030" before replacing and a minimum gap for new rings of 0.007 " . The major British manufacturers of the time specify a vertical ring clearance of between 0.002/0.003 " but this is for four strokes so you could probably allow 0.004 " which BSA recommend for competition tuning. If you need a new set try villiersservices.co.uk/ Give them a ring as they stock a load of parts for the older engines but don't list them all on the web site. The rings on the Bantam were worn to nearly half their thickness but the piston grooves were fine!

[@nazdagg2027]

stinky 2 strokes? try some Castrol R (bean oil), leaves a pleasant smell in the neighborhood.

[@TweedsGarage]

Oh we all love Castrol R......if only they made it in an aftershave

[@whalesong999]

But, dreadful to clean!!

[@reaganfernandes9060]

Hi ! Mr tweed can u plz fix my engine on 98 cc thanks

[@TweedsGarage]

What problems do you have with it?

[@reaganfernandes9060]

@@TweedsGarage engine

[@asciimation]

You're confirming what I am finding, old bikes are much easier and faster to rebuild than old cars! That little pin you found in the gearbox isn't a lost dowel pin from the two crankcase halves was it?

[@TweedsGarage]

that is still in position and interestingly they use the same roller bearing for the locating dowel as used in the big end bearing, it's slightly rounded at one end so suspect it might be a bit of broken clutch push rod.....I will measure it at some time to confirm .

[@TweedsGarage]

On closer inspection and measuring it appears to be a short bit of clutch push rod ( maybe ab old one that had worn down)

[@jorobinson2729]

Mr tweed. Its just not done fix that back speed sprocket thing. Your adoring public hold you to a higher standard!

[@TweedsGarage]

Yes Dear......

[@billdoodson4232]

Blimey; the dyno coils look like they were wound by a blind one handed clown on a pogo stick.

[@TweedsGarage]

indeed.......the saving grace is they'll be hidden beneath a nice brass flywheel