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21
British Bikes / Villiers 196 super sports
« Last post by Vreagh on November 06, 2025, 03:20:32 PM »
Hi, I'm trying to identify what this 196 engine might have been fitted to originally, at the moment it's fitted into my built like a bridge frame.  It looks like the standard super sport engine but has no decompressor and no provision for lighting coils or oil feed. Engine no is KZB 179 definitely a B and not an 8. Although it starts and runs well, I'm having trouble kicking it over compression and all the heads I've seen have a drilling between the exhaust ports. I'm thinking of drilling and fitting a Royal Enfield decompressor but don't want to ruin what might be a rare head. Any thoughts please?
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by R on October 26, 2025, 05:41:50 AM »
I'm set !
A Bantam ? tin bracket and later (?) Lucas lamp seem made for the job.
And that aforementioned small 6v battery.

Have a few bicycle ones. Decided there was no mileage in them = dry cell batteries again.
A better quality of rechargeables might work, but have proved elusive.
And look notably modern.

I'd still be curious what the model of this light switch is ??
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by 33d6 on October 26, 2025, 05:14:57 AM »
We're going around in circles here. I think the best solution is that of Jferg also occasional forum visitor. When necessary he uses a clip on LED bicycle rear lamp that he has slightly modified to come on with the usual m'cycle stop light switch. This can be easily removed or changed from bike to bike with minimal mucking about. That's an idea worth exploring further. Go and have a look in your local sweatwheel shop, R. You might come away much happier.
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by Rex on October 24, 2025, 10:01:34 AM »
Quote from: 33d6 on October 23, 2025, 10:48:57 AM
they originally gave but wangling a replacement in and out of that headlight clip every month or so would drive me nuts.

You and everyone else, so after the one BSA supplied (if they ever did) went up the swanee doubtless they were never replaced. Just park off-road or where a copper isn't going to visit.
If someone was poor enough to be riding a little two-stroke in the 1950s, wasting money on dry-cells would have been well down the list of necessary expenditures.
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by R on October 23, 2025, 11:59:49 AM »
Quote from: 33d6 on October 23, 2025, 10:48:57 AM
I also like to have a brake/stop light fitted.

I VERY much agree with this.
Almost entirely the reason for this exercise.
From previous experience, batteries can go for months without needing a recharge if this is their sole purpose in life.
With led varieties, the voltage can go even lower before they cease to show a brake light.

Quote from: 33d6 on October 23, 2025, 10:48:57 AM
I smiled at the 4.5v battery chatter. They can be sheer frustration. I don’t know exactly when they went off the market and I have mucked around making them up from two ‘D’ cells but eventually I got fed up and stopped bothering. I don’t know how many hours light they originally gave but wangling a replacement in and out of that headlight clip every month or so would drive me nuts.

This thought had crossed my mind.
From the totally pristine battery carrier, I suspect the original battery was removed and never replaced. ?
I looked into these batteries, and they are still available. 
https://au.rs-online.com/web/p/speciality-size-batteries/7904697

Just powering it off the small 6v battery, with suitable bulb, would be simpler.
Opportunities for requiring a parking light are few and far between these days ?
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by 33d6 on October 23, 2025, 10:48:57 AM »
I understand your lack of concern over lighting. Who does expect to go riding one of these beastliest at night anyway BUT, (there’s always a but) you do occasionally get caught out. Country town rides and rallies have caught me out a few times, somehow you end up at a local riders home or a different pub and bingo, it’s got dark quicker than you expected. I also like to have a brake/stop light fitted. I have little faith in the road users    following behind. Many only react to brake lights and never think beyond them.
You can fit a battery powered total loss system but then you’re always faffing around charging up batteries. Fit a basic direct lighting set up and you always have no hassle lighting but the brake light set up is iffy. There’s never an easy and simple 100% satisfactory solution is there.

I smiled at the 4.5v battery chatter. They can be sheer frustration. I don’t know exactly when they went off the market and I have mucked around making them up from two ‘D’ cells but eventually I got fed up and stopped bothering. I don’t know how many hours light they originally gave but wangling a replacement in and out of that headlight clip every month or so would drive me nuts.
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by R on October 22, 2025, 10:56:19 PM »
Having visited and strolled through a few quaint little English villages, can see why those odd parking regs might apply.
Barrelling through there at night in the 1930s and 40s, with wall-to-wall black cars must have been half a nightmare !
Hence all the lit lamps, to steer traffic away.

LED lamps would have been a best seller back then, thats fer sure.
Low wattage bulbs equally so.

Wonder how many nights the flatpack 4.5v dry cells would last.
I guess a few pub nights was all that was required...
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by Rex on October 22, 2025, 09:28:11 AM »
Those little dry cell parking arrangements were no more than "work-arounds" for the odd parking regs in force in some parts of the UK. Some used to hang red and white parking lamps and even oil lamps on their car door handles at night.

I find this site the easiest of any to get on. No passwords needed. Click and go.
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by R on October 21, 2025, 10:48:31 PM »
It didn't come with any sort of tail lamp - it was a farm bike all its working life, and that could have been 'dispensed with' long ago.

I've been gathering bits to give it a very basic 6v system.  Fed constant-loss type from a little 6v battery.
Will see how that goes,  if not completely original   Its very unlikely to do too many miles at night ?

30
British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by 33d6 on October 20, 2025, 11:12:53 AM »
Still driving me nuts getting in. Won’t accept my ‘forever’ login and makes me sign in twice but at least I’m here.
Given that the electrics of the 9D changed over its production run and that a specified rear tail lamp bulb for those electrics wasn’t being made post war and no one knew if it would be again things got a little strange at times. The best advice I’ve found for all these circumstances is in Brownings coverage of the 9D in the early editions of his ‘The Villiers engine’ published by Persons, (definitely not Pitmans).
On top of that you need to consider whether you go for either of the Villiers standard options. Direct lighting that only runs when the engine runs or basic rectified lighting with battery but barely practical nowadays or best of all go for broke with modern electronics. Villiers copes with that surprisingly easy.
Do a little more research before you pile in.
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