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21
British Bikes / Re: Waratah on fleabay
« Last post by 33d6 on February 04, 2025, 01:16:37 AM »
Not the first time it’s been on flea bay. Much the same ridiculous price as last time.Needs a LOT of work to finish.
But then again, you only have to find one unwary buyer.
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British Bikes / Waratah on fleabay
« Last post by R on February 03, 2025, 10:52:30 PM »
Hmmmm, quite a hefty price for an unfinished project ?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/135173491874

Been trying to get a sale for quite a while now ...
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers 172cc brooklands engine?
« Last post by Ralf89 on January 17, 2025, 02:29:43 PM »
Hi,
Ok, understood. Thank you very much anyway. You helped me a lot.
Last question:
Does anybody know if there is a possibility to get these oxford style exhaust cans?
Otherwise I try to build it myself.
Many thank's!
Regards
Ralf

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British Bikes / Re: Villiers 172cc brooklands engine?
« Last post by 33d6 on January 17, 2025, 12:41:27 AM »
No one seems to know much about the Brooklands Ralf. There are lots of illustrations, sketches, photos and soon but near zero practical technical information.
Years ago I chased up everything I could about the Villiers engines used in the 1924-25 175cc Ultra Lightweight TT’s and found lots of drawings showing various internals but you never know how accurate they are and they don’t have dimensions anyway. Plus of course they used a hotted up Sport in 1924 and the prototype Super Sport in 1925. It earned its full name, the Super Sport TT the hard way.
The Brooklands appeared in 1925 and seemed intentionally designed for flat out track work without any need for going up and down the mountain as in the Isle of Man.
It’s all now rather a mystery no one seems to know anything.
Finally your piston is obviously an oversize 175 job. Standard bore was 57.15 mm so it would seem the engine has had a rebore at some stage. No surprise there at all. I think I’d be far more surprised if it was still on standard bore.
Sorry this isn’t very helpful.
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers 172cc brooklands engine?
« Last post by Ralf89 on January 16, 2025, 06:26:58 AM »
Hi
maybe you a right and the crankshaft is self made.
Can anybody estimate, how many brooklands engines were produced? Maybe the number of produced pieces was just too small to make a new forging mold?

The actual bore of the cylinder is approx. 57.7mm
Regards
Ralf

26
British Bikes / Re: Villiers 172cc brooklands engine?
« Last post by 33d6 on January 16, 2025, 02:45:39 AM »
Hi again Ralf,
I don’t think it is a Brooklands crankshaft. I can’t see Villiers making a full circle crankshaft in that fashion when they had their own forging shop in house. Forging a full circle crank would make a much sturdier foundation for what they had in mind. Parts 214/219 go down that track. That’s my thoughts anyway.
Your piston is intriguing. I don’t recognise the part number but that’s no surprise, and the 14.22mm gudgeon pin is 9/16”, a fairly common oversize repair on the standard Villiers 1/2” pin. I’ve seen that one on a few old engines.
The 96mm overall height is more or less the standard Super Sport piston dimension while the 46mm compression height is more or less the old plain Sport compression height. Perhaps it is a true Brooklands piston. How frustrating not being able to get original Brooklands data.
Last thing, what is the piston diameter?
I did have thoughts it could be a 196cc Super Sport piston but I think that’s a step too far.
Cheers,
27
British Bikes / Re: Villiers 172cc brooklands engine?
« Last post by Ralf89 on January 14, 2025, 05:45:56 PM »
Hi,
here are some data about the piston of my engine:
diameter of the gudgeon pin: 14.22mm
Overall length of the piston (from bottom end to very top of the deflector): approx. 96mm
distance between center of the gudgeon pin bore and the very end of the deflector: approx. 46mm
The VIIA conrod is approximately 7mm longer than the normal VIIIC conrod used in the standard T engines.
Cheers
Ralf
28
British Bikes / Re: Villiers 172cc brooklands engine?
« Last post by Ralf89 on January 14, 2025, 07:24:10 AM »
My crankshaft it self is not full circle. Both halves are the same as the standard sport crankshaft, but between the crank and the counter weight there is a sheet metal and on this the aluminium padding riveted.
I don't know if this is a original brooklands crankshaft or just a professional modification of a normal crankshaft.
But there are no markings like "villiers sports" as on the normal sports crankshaft stamped on it.
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers 172cc brooklands engine?
« Last post by 33d6 on January 14, 2025, 12:09:26 AM »
As it’s drilled and appears to be full circle behind the padding it can’t really be anything else but a Brooklands crank can it.
The padding appears to be aluminium, can you confirm?
This is my first view of a genuine Brooklands crank. Any chance of a few extra photos?
Your engine is a comfort in many ways. It shows there are still pearls to be found if you look far enough.
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British Bikes / Re: Villiers 172cc brooklands engine?
« Last post by Ralf89 on January 13, 2025, 10:36:07 AM »
Sorry i have forgotten to answer your question. Yes the crankshaft is drilled for lubrication.
Cheers
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