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81
British Bikes / Re: Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by cardan on September 16, 2025, 08:03:49 AM »
I'm only slow because I'm spending too much time in the shed doing a 50-year service on my recent acquisition... the clue is that it has more grease points that any bike I've ever encountered.

Leon
82
British Bikes / Villiers headlamp switch
« Last post by R on September 16, 2025, 07:20:59 AM »
Bit slow here, need something to git thungs movin agin ?

Anyone care to explain the Villiers headlamp switch ?
Waratah/Excelsior 125cc circa 1945

I thought it was a Miller, but new/replacement has a chrome ring around it.
And would be (slightly) too big to fit ??
What retains it - a large wire circlip ?

DIM/OFF/FULL
https://britcycle.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Miller-Headlamp-Switch.jpg






83
British Bikes / Re: Villiers centre piece carb MKII: internal dimension?
« Last post by R on August 13, 2025, 11:22:46 PM »
Villiers Services in the UK is the goto place for Villiers bits.
No idea if they have these particular parts.

https://villiersservices.co.uk/
84
British Bikes / Re: Villiers centre piece carb MKII: internal dimension?
« Last post by Albion EJ on August 13, 2025, 08:54:47 PM »
Thanks all clear.

Any tips on an address to buy new centre pieces?
In Europe they seems to be not available.
85
British Bikes / Re: Whatsit?
« Last post by ramwing7 on August 12, 2025, 05:56:26 PM »
Is it blue is a VERY good question.  It was blue, but appeared to be painted with something resembling latex  house paint  and maybe even with a brush.  Darned tough stuff to get off!   Like bubble gum.
Some of it was whitish under the blue.  Only thing that looked even remotely like factory paint was the inside of the dynamo cover which was blue.  It will remain a mystery.
The above piece is heading for a nail on the wall
Thanks all.
86
British Bikes / Re: AJS 16M 1951
« Last post by Rex on August 12, 2025, 03:37:47 PM »
True enough. Both books and  even better still,  find on-line forums for more real world 70 years on solutions.
87
British Bikes / Re: AJS 16M 1951
« Last post by 33d6 on August 12, 2025, 02:50:10 PM »
Buy both! You can’t have too much info.
88
British Bikes / Re: AJS 16M 1951
« Last post by Rex on August 12, 2025, 11:53:22 AM »
Far better, in my experience, is the little Pitmans manuals for most makes, in this case written by the AMC service manager FW Neill.
Usually these books are on Ebay for a tenner at most.
89
British Bikes / Re: AJS 16M 1951
« Last post by 33d6 on August 12, 2025, 05:33:42 AM »
As you know, your AJS is essentially a re-badged Matchless. By far the best owners workshop guide for you is the “MotorCycling” Maintenance Series covering Matchless 350 & 500 cc Heavyweight Singles 1939-1955.
Republished by Bruce Main-Smith Ltd in 1976 and as they say “intended for Matchless but good for AJS too.”

It contains every bit of technical information you’ll ever want to know plus all the technical differences from year to year and lots of clear illustrations. You’ll love it.

A4 landscape size, published by Bruce Main-Smith Ltd and edited by Reg Hide. Get a copy.
90
British Bikes / Re: Villiers centre piece carb MKII: internal dimension?
« Last post by 33d6 on August 12, 2025, 05:09:39 AM »
I have never seen any information on the internals of the Villiers centrepiece published anywhere….ever. Further to that, as the centrepiece is made in two parts and very tightly assembled, they went to great pains to tell people NOT to disassemble them so as to look at the internals. There is nothing to gain from doing so and every chance of creating problems for yourself if you do.

Over a long period the top hole of the centrepiece may be worn out of true by the working action of the taper needle. Slight wear may be compensated for by a change of needle but for the effort and time wasted to do this and get it right it is far easier to just simply fit a new centrepiece and be done with it.

Villiers may have altered the internal arrangements of the centrepiece several times over its lifetime. We don’t know, we have no way of finding out and does it really matter? Regardless of the internal arrangements the MW carb on your Mk XIIC still runs best with a number 2 centrepiece. That is all we need to know for successful operation.
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