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Post by buttybach1932 on Jul 24, 2023 10:04:55 GMT
Hi Norton John I also took photographs of the James ML rear wheel spacers and wheel adjusters, as you were asking questions about them a while back. The rear wheel brake side appears to have a round spacer. The rear wheel sprocket side has a deep nut. Sorry but I could not get any usable dimensions with the measuring kit that I had with me. Also sorry that my ugly mug is in the photographs, but using a tablet in sunny conditions is a bit of a nightmare because you cannot see the screen properly. Regards Butty Bach    |
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Post by nortonjohn on Aug 8, 2023 21:51:28 GMT
Butty Bach,
Thank you for the great pictures. They did answer my questions. I didn't see an ugly mug, just a kind friend who has gone out of his was to help a stranger.
I'm off to Davenport Iowa in 3 weeks for the annual show and swap meet. I'm not holding my breath on finding any parts, but I have to look which is a lot of the fun in going to these events. It has been a very hot summer here in North Texas (103f) which makes it difficult to get out to the workshop. Such is life here in Texas.
Again, thank you for your help.
Norton John
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Post by buttybach1932 on Aug 10, 2023 15:00:42 GMT
Hi Norton John I saw your advertisement in the July/August 2023 edition of The Independent for a tank mounted gearchange. I have been searching the Autojumbles for something very similar for my 1930 Rex Acme Villiers for the last three years without any luck. However a few weeks ago at VMCC Founders Day there was a 'Built Like a Bridge' Francis Barnett on the Francis Barnett Club stand. It had a replica Albion gearchange gate and lever that were very similar to the one that I needed for my Rex Acme. The bikes owner kindly sent me the drawings that it was manufactured too. I have adjusted his drawings to suit the Rex Acme, based on a photograph of a original Albion gearchange lever fitted to a Rex Acme that is virtually identical to mine. The ML gearchange looks very similar to mine but does not have the oval shaped outer cover plate. If it would help you I can get the drawings scanned and send them to you. They are A3 size and I only have an A4 scanner at home. Regards Butty Bach    |
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Post by nortonjohn on Aug 11, 2023 21:22:45 GMT
A friend sent me a link to wdmotorcyclespares.co.uk. The website shows that he has the shifter gate for the ML James, along with the rear fender stays. The website is set up for pictures of his products but there is nothing there. There isn't an order form or a way to calculate shipping costs.
Has anyone done business with them and are they reliable and are the parts of good quality?
Thanks in advance for your help.
John
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Post by buttybach1932 on Aug 12, 2023 10:16:06 GMT
Hi Norton John I have never come across wdmotorcyclespares.co.uk but looking online I note that they use a couple of other names 'Metal Magic' and 'Heritage Motor Works'. All three names are at the same address: Busta Farm Brickhouse Hill Eversley Hampshire RG27 0PY I note that there are several items on historic vehicle forums about their products and none of the comments are adverse. Attached is a comment from the 'Historic Military Vehicle' forum regarding the Flying Flea parts that they manufacture. Regards Butty Bach  |
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Post by nortonjohn on Sept 3, 2023 15:47:37 GMT
Yet another friend whom I have never met sent me drawings of the shifter gate. Simple enough to make one. And having a friend with a mill and a welder helps too. Got back from Iowa on Saturday. My friend's wife was ill, and he needed to get back to Albuquerque. Good thing that their kids and grandkids were there to look after her. We drove 800 miles back to OKC where his truck was parked at the airport. Another 500 miles and he was home, I only had 200 more to go. His wife is doing better which is good. Did find a treasure at the swap meet. Another ML125 James that was more complete. Going to clean the tank and see if I can make it go bang. I also made friends with yet another James ML owner while I was there. And I found out that is yet another one in NM. I did a part trade of my Mobylette and some cash for the James. Regards Norton John   |
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Post by buttybach1932 on Sept 5, 2023 10:59:09 GMT
Hi John
I did not realise that there were so many British lightweight motorcycles in the US. After the Second World War we had the 'export or die' initiative and it was difficult to buy a new motorcycle in the UK as most of them were exported. In 1952 when my dad purchased a new James Captain he really wanted a Francis Barnett Falcon because it had the new swinging arm frame, but he could not get one anywhere.
Now that you have all the correct parts it should make your ML restoration a lot more straightforward. Most of the cycle parts are fairly simple to repair or to re-produce replica parts.
I do not fancy the length of journeys that you have in the US. The only journey of comparable length that I have undertaken was a drive to the South of France, which was about 1000 miles and it took two days with an overnight stop. The estate car that I had at the time only had 57½ bhp so it was working hard at cruising speed on Autoroute Sud. No aircon, no cruise control and it was really hot. I was knackered when we arrived at our destination and it took a couple of days to fully recover. But we had a great two weeks holiday so it was worth it. Now my longest journey is 300 miles down to the bottom of Cornwall which takes 5½ hours if the roads are clear.
Keep us posted with the progress of your restorations and if you need any advise or information please ask.
Regards
Butty Bach
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Post by nortonjohn on Sept 5, 2023 12:08:26 GMT
Quick question, how do you identify Villiers Carburetors? I haven't seen and markings on my first James and I haven't gotten the tank off of my newest one to look for any markings. I hope to get the tank off later today and then the carb. Report to follow.
Regards
John
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Post by buttybach1932 on Sept 5, 2023 13:59:18 GMT
Hi John There are two different Villiers carburettors used on the Villiers 9D engine the Midget and the Lightweight. The earlier Villiers carburettors do not appear to have any identification markings, all they have is 'THE VILLIERS CARBURETTER' cast into the top locking ring. The only way to identify the carburettors is by their physical appearance. Just to complicate matters there are two different versions of the Lightweight carburettor. As you can see from the attached sectional drawings the Midget carburettor has a one piece screw on top and the Lightweight has a two piece top with a screwed locking ring. One version of the Lightweight carburettor has an external adjuster that allows the throttle needle height to be adjusted. On the other type the needle height is adjusted by an internal screw as shown on the attached drawing. From the photograph that you posted of your latest ML the carburettor appears to be a Lightweight but I cannot see the carburettor top in the photograph. Regards Butty Bach    |
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Post by nortonjohn on Sept 8, 2023 15:24:00 GMT
Well progress is being made on the 46 ML James. Cleaned the carb and I'm soaking the petcock in carb cleaner and have replacements for the original corks on order. Just took the twist grip apart to see how it was made. It is a screw type of twist grip with the cable coming in through the bars and into the twistgrip. Just need to measure the outer cover of the cable to make sure I have enough free length to the slide. Next I will remove the intake "swansneck" and the exhaust ports to clean them and remove and clean the head. For some reason it was turned 90 degrees.
Cheers
John
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Post by buttybach1932 on Sept 8, 2023 16:53:16 GMT
Hi John
Thanks for your update. I make new petrol tap corks from whisky bottle corks. They are usually made from nice close grained cork and you do not need to use a corkscrew to remove them, so they are not damaged. Also it gives me a good excuse to buy a nice bottle of malt whisky. Fortunately the wife does not realise that I have a bag of old corks in my garage.
When you clean the carburettor make sure that the two compensating tubes ( Part No 25 on the exploded drawing ) are clear. They provide the emulsion air to the fuel jet and if they are restricted or blocked the mixture will be very rich. If they are missing the mixture will be weak.
Very strange why a previous owner would fit the cylinder head with the fins in that direction because its not very good for engine cooling. Is it something to do with the length of the HT lead ?
Best of luck
Butty Bach
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Post by nortonjohn on Sept 8, 2023 20:01:37 GMT
Hi John Thanks for your update. I make new petrol tap corks from whisky bottle corks. They are usually made from nice close grained cork and you do not need to use a corkscrew to remove them, so they are not damaged. Also it gives me a good excuse to buy a nice bottle of malt whisky. Fortunately the wife does not realise that I have a bag of old corks in my garage. When you clean the carburettor make sure that the two compensating tubes ( Part No 25 on the exploded drawing ) are clear. They provide the emulsion air to the fuel jet and if they are restricted or blocked the mixture will be very rich. If they are missing the mixture will be weak. Very strange why a previous owner would fit the cylinder head with the fins in that direction because its not very good for engine cooling. Is it something to do with the length of the HT lead ? Best of luck Butty Bach The HT lead is plenty long, so I have no idea why the head is turned that way. I have a soda blaster and will use that on the head to clean it up. I have mixed up a batch of muriatic acid and water to clean the inside of the gas tank. Thanks for the tip on compensating tubes. I will double check them on Sunday. Regards John |
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Post by nortonjohn on Sept 13, 2023 16:16:59 GMT
Well things keep getting more and more interesting. The 1/2" square "stud" that holds both the foot pegs and the brackets that the center stand pivots on was twisted to the point that it couldn't be removed. So, with the help of my Dremel tool I cut it off. I have now ordered some 1/2" cold rolled stock to make a new part. Next is to straighten the center stand brackets. The stand on the 46 ML is a bit twisted so I will take the one off the 47 and use it as a pattern to repair it. Then turn up new pivot bushings for the stands.
As to Butty's question about the HT lead. It is simple, the HT coil had been removed. Fortunately, I had already purchased a new one and the attaching screws.
Regards
John
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Post by nortonjohn on Sept 13, 2023 16:19:04 GMT
Forgot to ask. Does anyone know the length of the center stand springs?
Again, thanks to all for your help with this project.
John
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Post by buttybach1932 on Sept 14, 2023 9:57:33 GMT
Hi Norton John. I would have been surprised if the square footrest bar was straight and you could get it out easily. Bikes have normally been dropped several times in their life and its the first thing to get bent. Fortunately its a straightforward and fairly cheep repair. With regard to the centre stand springs I do not have any idea about the length and coil diameter but attached are a couple of pictures of the 2023 Founders Day bike that might help you. Sorry about the sun glare but we are not used to it in England. Regards Butty Bach   |
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