Recent Posts

Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 10
31
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.
32
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...
33
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.
34
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 ?

35
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.
36
Autojumble / AJS 16 MS 1958
« Last post by dynamic on October 20, 2025, 09:54:48 AM »
WANTED WANTED WANTED  looking for competition fuel tank trial/ scrambles for AJS MS 16 1958 dents scrapes no problem

what do you have ?
37
British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by R on October 19, 2025, 06:21:03 AM »
Yes I guess I was hoping for half a miracle - someone with a Miller catalog who could identify that switch.
I have found though a (Villiers) wiring diagram which seems to cover it.
Inc the 4.5v flat pack dry cell inside the headlamp that powers the park light.
Now how often would anyone have used one of those recently, we ask ??
And do I need to keep that functionality ...

Aye, computers are becoming the black magic product, it would seem.
A while back, I was tasked with investigating a 'puter that 'installed itself' - in the Thai language. !!
Now that was not a howling success, we concluded.
Although for Thai customers it (probably) all made perfect sense.
Perhaps the "English or Thai choice/option" should have been clearer ?



38
British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by 33d6 on October 18, 2025, 06:16:54 AM »
This is just to say I'm finding it near impossible to get on to this site. I thought it was my old computer which was having various painful bothers but I now have a new computer and if anything things are worse. I've had a real dance around to get on and much emphasis from my new electronic friend about the lack of security involved in getting on.
Does anyone know if Nigel is still supporting it? From the lack of traffic I don't think so.

As for your Villiers switch R I think expecting anything straightforward from any bike produced in the 1945-46 immediate post war period is being very hopeful. As far as I can make out bikes were built up with whatever material manufacturers could get their hands on. The Vic State engine number records show the early post war Excelsior all to be fitted with ex-WD engines. The post war engine numbers start several months later, presumably from a later shipment of bikes. What type of engine number is on your Waratah. Ex-WD AAA****A vertically on the back of the gearbox or post war style on the R/H side gearbox cover? And yes, Villiers seemed to have close links with Miller as they did with Albion but I don't know how formal these were. I've never managed to pin these associations down. Villiers, Miller and Albion have never been treated kindly by the British motorcycle fan base. They seem to find it hard to get beyond the Boring Big Three. C'est la vie.
39
British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by R on October 14, 2025, 10:04:06 PM »
So super reliable.
Or never used at night.

The latter I think - those are the remains of the original rubber coated wiring loom.
And it was still running when I bought it off the original owner, so electrics were not of much concern.
Flywheel powered lighting no battery model ....
40
British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by Rex on October 14, 2025, 09:09:15 PM »
That old and no chewed screw heads. Can't have seen much use.
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 10