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21
Identify these bikes! / Re: Strange JAP cylinder
« Last post by cardan on December 13, 2025, 08:57:08 AM »
Hi Ralf,

JAP made a lot of engines, and as Rex points out not all of them went into motorcycles. By 1927, when your engine was built, there weren't many makers using the 500/550/600cc side valve singles. Possibly your engine came from a continental maker, rather than the UK.

Anyway, I don't really understand LY/I as a JAP prefix. The L is OK (85.7 bore) but Clew says that Y means twin port head, in which case I'd expect Y to be always accompanied by O (eg LOY) meaning ohv. Not to worry. LY probably means 550 sv. I after the / is unambiguously 1927.

Here are some sv engines form the 1927 JAP catalogue. Do either of them look like yours? Your photos don't show this side...

Cheers

Leon
22
Identify these bikes! / Re: Strange JAP cylinder
« Last post by R on December 12, 2025, 09:46:04 PM »
Ditto.

Rob Saward has written a little booklet about dating JAP engines,
additional to all the pneumatic palava, as research into aussie built versions.
He'd be the chap to ask, although his health may not assist here.
23
Identify these bikes! / Re: Strange JAP cylinder
« Last post by Rex on December 07, 2025, 12:58:56 PM »
I nothing less than nothing about JAP engines other than they made many more industrial and stationary engines than bike engines, so maybe it's off something like that?
24
Identify these bikes! / Strange JAP cylinder
« Last post by Ralf89 on December 07, 2025, 07:16:51 AM »
Hi,
Has anyone every seen such a Roadster cylinder with seperate sparkplug hole like the SV sports engines K and U?
Furthermore this cylinder has very tiny but many cooling fins.
This cylinder was mounted on a 550cc Roadster engine from 1927 ( LY/I ). It has the original bore of 85,7mm and a stroke of 95mm, so it is a real 550 roadster barrel. But I haven't ever seen a roadster barrel with seperate sparkplug hole and such tiny fins.
In the pictures you can see this cylinder compared to a 500 roadster KY/W
Thanks
Regards
Ralf
25
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on December 03, 2025, 10:00:40 PM »
Yes, I would regard a working (and visible) brake light in particular as essential in modern traffic.

Funny you should mention replica lamps. I've just taken delivery of several, and apart from no Lucas logos
or numbering they seem almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Sure beats an empty space, at least ...
Even the paintwork has improved lately ? 
We will see if they still work in 70+ years ?!
26
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by Vreagh on December 02, 2025, 10:53:32 AM »
He may of fitted a cheap chinese reg/rectifier, and that headlight looks like an indian Lucas with a LED bulb to be that bright. I've done similar with my 1929 FB with no lighting coils. I fitted a 45 watt dynamo and made a 12v regulator for it, coupled with 12v bulbs all round, even a brake light. Not concours or to spec but very rideable.
27
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on December 02, 2025, 09:10:15 AM »
So where does this wee beastie get all the juice to power that big headlamp.
Not knowing lil RE's in the slightest ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146989249719

Edit. Specs say it has Villiers direct (AC) lighting
And were new for 1933 ?


28
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on November 28, 2025, 03:36:40 AM »
Miller dip switches - as a genuine copy - are fiercely expensive.
So I improvised - a coat of black (left) on a knockoff pattern.
And it has a horn press.

https://i.postimg.cc/QMQZcQxx/Miller-copy.jpg


Might work on the lighthouse 3-d molding for the top....

If only they made the supplied wires a shade longer.
29
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on November 23, 2025, 02:11:32 AM »
Quote from: R on November 22, 2025, 02:06:27 AM
Hmmm, the Owners Manual for a later model refers to a 30w generator.

A wiring diagram for such a FB shows still no voltage  control.
But a large resistance wire - centre to the top - connected to the light switch.
To soak up unneeded power ?
When the lights are not in use ??

https://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/francis-barnett-falcon-87/images/Francis-Barnett-1965c-Falcon-87-Wiring-Diagram.jpg

Be more sensible (these days) to have a lamp there as a running light. ?
Curious and curiouser ...

30
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on November 22, 2025, 02:06:27 AM »
Hmmm, the Owners Manual for a later model refers to a 30w generator.
Must be with more lighting coils than this has ...
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