a description of British Seagull Little Forty models and the differences with later Seagulls and the problem with parts.

Little Forty.

This page is dedicated to the Little Forty models.

In it I include the (F), FV, FVP, LM, and LS (The 'F' here is not to be confused with the 'F' of the later Featherweight. To date we have not found an original 'F', they only appear on the engine numbers sheet for the first year, 1949.) March 2007! Mike Williams in Australia has sent me some mobile phone pictures of a 1951 model 'F'!!! They did exist! Better pictures to follow we hope. Now, 2014, we have several and I have one at SOS!

All These models had radically different engine to drive shaft attachment, they were clamped, so should be easy to distinguish apart from the later motors. Sadly virtually none of the major parts are still available, so cannibalizing dead British Seagulls is often the only way to keep these running. When I say running, I do think it worth saying that these motors have now gone beyond there 'Use by' date and I would suggest they are mostly curios now. After all if you break it out there, you are not easily going to be able to repair it!

October 2017. Some hard to get parts are available!

Steel head and base plates, newly made in the correct thickness, limited number available £15.00 a set.

Little Forty thrust bobbins, newly made limited number available. £10.00 a pair.

The following table has been compiled by Jeremy Prince my thanks to him for this.

If you have a Little Forty and wish to add information to the register,

please contact Jeremy using the contact form. Please click the button below (opens a new tab)

Model			Serial Number	Carburettor		Tiller		Tank/Fuel Pipe						Magneto (Flywheel)					Propellor	Transom Bracket	Misc		Last Known Location/Date
Letter prefix			No.	Amal or Villiers. (No) Throttle Stop. (No) Hole in Choke Shutter. (No) Hole in Bowl		Stub or Tilting Length (inch). Dover Grip 3 long + 6 short Grooves. Grip 6S for later grip with 6 long grooves		Small Round/ Canted Oval. Looped or ‘U’ metal Fuel Pipe. Plastic Fuel Pipe (Black/Clear). Fuel cap:- Short/Tall Ears Narrow/ Wide Slot For LS:-Early 3/4" or late 7/16” rad ends.						Plain or In or For the World Cover. (Half) Rimless Baseplate Flywheel Date. 3453 Mag					3 blade 4 blade Clover-leaf For LS gearbox: Number of inlet Holes	4” depth Plated or Unplated. 5.4” depth Security Bar on Port side.	Original Decal. For F, FV&FVP:-1 or 2 piece Champion Plug Cap. OESL – Original Engine Support Lug. NESL – New Engine Support Lug. CBPH – Clamp Bolt Pump Housing.
F			100	From documents rescued from BS by John Williams, this would appear to have been the first engine of this series and was produced in 1949.
F			201	Amal*		S 5 DG3+6			SR SENS						P RB 10/48 3453 mag				3C	4”P ‘inside’	Small block- 40cc. 2pc Champion PC. ‘3453’ Mag		Gloucestershire
F			341	Amal		S 5			SR						P RB				3C	4”P*’inside	Small block- 40cc		Holland
The 40cc engines have a bore of approx 38mm with a stroke of approx 35mm. Up to S/No 1080 they have a small block with ¼” studs. Thereafter the F, FV and FVP have bigger blocks with 5/16” studs and a larger bore of 45mm. They retain the same stroke of approx 35mm to give a capacity of approx 55cc.
VF			1065	V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5 NS				SR LFP					P RB 10/49				3C	Later	Large Block		Uxbridge
F			1082	Amal		S 5 DG3+6				SR SENS					P RB 3453 mag				3C	4”P ‘inside’	Large Block Original decal Non webbed crankcase		Poole
FV			1146	V		S 5 DG 3+6				SR SENS					P RB 1/50				3C	4”P	Large Block Original decal Non webbed crankcase		Guildford
FV			1166	V 1/2TS		S 5				SR					P				3C		OD-Seagull		Dorset
F			1207	Amal		S 5 DG3+6				SR SENS					P RB 1/49 3453 mag				3C	4”P*	Large Block OD-Seagull. 2pc Champion PC. Non-webbed crankcase.		Gloucestershire
VF1325 was the last to be produced in 1949. F1326 was the first to be produced in 1950.													The first and last serial numbers for each year are my interpretation of the data in the BS documents which John Williams has placed on the SOS site.
FV	1528			V		S				SR													On e bay 4/14
FV	1580			V7/16NTS NHC NHB		S 5 NS Grip				SR LFP						P RB 1/50			3C	4”P	Non-webbed crankcase 2 pc Champion PC		Australia
FV	1585																				Scrap crankcase assy. Non webbed		Cirencester
FV	1623T																						On e bay 4/16
FV	1740																						Walton on the Naze
FV	1782			V		S				SR						LFP			3C	later			Glasgow
FV	1786			V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5 DG3+6				SR LFP SENS						P RB 12/49			3C	4”P	OD-Seagull 1 pc Champion PC. Non webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV	1823																						On e bay 6/18
FV	1867T			V 7/16TS NHC NHB		T 10 DG3+6				SR* LFP* SENS						P RB 12/49			3C	4”P	Webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV	1884T					T Stub m/c off				SR LFP*											Powerhead. Non webbed crankcase. T font is different		Bristol
FV	1958			-		S				-						-			-	-	Non webbed crankcase only - scrapped		Gloucestershire
FV	2091			V ½ NHC HB		S G 6S				SR LFP SEWS						In* RB			3*	?	Non webbed crankcase		New York
FV	2168			V 7/16		S										P RB 3/50					Corroded crankcase assy Non webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV	2247																						On e bay 6/18
FV	2265T			V 1/2TS		T 10				SR						P			3C	?	ODSeagull		Dorset
FV	2306			V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5				SR LFP SENS						P RB 3/50			3C	4”P	Non webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV	2380			V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5				SR LFP SENS						P RB 5/50			3C	4”P	Non webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV	2405T																						Suffolk
FV	2461			V		S NS				SR LFP						P RB			3C	4”
FV	2549			V		S Long				Later PFP						F/In ?			4 Later	Later			Italy
FV	2682			V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5 DG3+6				SR LFP SENS						P RB 7/50			3C	4”P*	Non webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV	2700T			V ½ TS NHC NHB		T 10				CO						P RB 7/50			3C	4” P	OD 1 pc Champion PC		Flintshire
FV	2723			V		S				SR LFP						P RB			3C	4”	Dismantled		Ashford
FV	2802T					T				CO													On e bay Oct 2013
FV	2821			V 7/16TS NHC NHB		T 10* DG3+6				SR LFP SENS						P RB 7/50			3C	4”P*	ODSeagull Webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV	2844			V NHC		S NS				SR NSFP						P RB			3C	4” P	NSESL Non webbed crankcase		W. Australia
FV	2886			V		S c10				SR LFP						P			3C	4”P			On SOS site
FV	2923			V		S NS				CO										4”P	Non webbed crankcase		Fife
FV	3048			V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5 DG3+6				SR						P RB 7/50			3C	4”P	Non webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV	3302			V 7/16 TS NHC HB		SENS				SR LFP SENS						P RB 8/50			3C	4” P	Non webbed crankcase		W. Australia
FV	3364			V NHC		S 5 DG3+6				SR LFP						P RB			3C	4” P	2pc Champion PC. Webbed crankcase		Tasmania
FV	3481			V 1/2 TS		S Long				SR PFP						P RB			3C	4”P	Non webbed crankcase Previously Champion PC		Australia
FV	4105			V		S				SR LFP									3C	4”P			New Zealand
FV	4123T			V		T				CO LFP						P			3		Webbed crankcase		New Zealand
FV	4163			V		S 5 DG3+6				SR LFP SENS						P HRB 11/50			3C				New Zealand
FV4342 was the last to be produced in 1950. FV4343 was the first to be produced in 1951.
The FVP was introduced at about this point, FVP5090 being the first one to date, recorded on this list. The FVP was identical to the FV, except that it had the bigger 10:35 ratio gearbox with bigger prop, and longer drive and exhaust tubes. Also, probably about this time, the top crankcase was modified by the addition of a web above the cast aluminium tiller stub – no doubt to stiffen and thus enhance the crankcase sealing in that area.
FV		4520																			Non webbed crankcase		Australia
FV		4807																					UK
FV		5090		V 7/16TS		S 5					SR				P				3C	4”P	OD –Seagull		Holland
FVP		5131				S					SR				P								Holland
FV		5141		V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5 DG3+6					SR* LFP				P RB 2/51				3C	4”P	Webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FVP		5215T		V NHB		T					CO								3C		Webbed crankcase		UK
FVP		5425		V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5					-				P RB				3C	4”			Holland
FVP		5428		V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5									P RB				3C	4”	Stripped-not complete		Holland
FVP		5560		V 7/16TS NHB NHC		S 5*					SR LFP				P RB				3C	P 4”	Webbed crankcase		Hertfordshire
FVP		5608		V 7/16TS NHB		S 5*					SR LFP				P RB				3C	P 4”	Webbed crankcase		Hertfordshire
FVP		5750		V 7/16TS NHC NHB		S 5 No G					SR LFP SEWS				P RB 5/51				3C	4”P	Non webbed crankcase		Australia
FVP		5778		V 1/2		T NS					SR TEWS				P RB 1/51					Later	Been restamped EVR Webbed crankcase		Bristol
FVP		5813																			Webbed crankcase		Australia
FVP		5846				S									P						OD		W. Australia
FVP		5942		V NHC		NS T					SR SENS				For RB				3C		Webbed crankcase		Belfast
FV		5950		-		S					-				-				-	-	Webbed crankcase, Chromed crankcase support lug surface		Gloucestershire
FVP		5959		V TS		S Long					SR				P						Webbed crankcase. LS internals		Skye
FVP		5964				S					SR										Chromed crankcase support lug surface		On ebay 2/18
FVP		6046		V NHC		S 5					CO LFP				P RB				3C	Later			Maldon
FVP		6152		V NHC		T					CO				RB				3C	Later	Webbed crankcase		Fife
FVP		6189		V NHC HB		S					SR LFP				P RB				3C	4”P	Webbed crankcase Stripped and bits sold		Kent
FVP		6222		V		S & T					CO LFP									Later	Clutch gearbox		Australia
FVP		6284		Later V		S NS					NS Tank				P RB				NS 2H	Later	On e bay March 2017		Goole
FVP		6296				S					SR LFP SENS				P RB				3C 2H	4” P			Brisbane
FVP		6304		V TS NHC HB		S NS					SR LFP SENS				P RB				3C 2H				Yorkshire
FVP		6317		V TS		S5					SR PEP SENS				P RB				3C	4”P			Ripponden
FVP		6343		V ½ HB HC		S long G 6S					CO LFP TEWS				P 6/51				3C	4”P			New York
FV		6347		V		S Long					SR				RB				4C	Later?			On the web
FV		6353		V 7/16TS* NHC NHB		S 5* NS Grip					SR UFP				P* RB 6/51				3C*	4”P*	Webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV		6400		V 7/16TS		S 5					SR				P				3C		ODSeagull		Dorset
FV		6405		V 7/16TS NHC HB		S5 DG3+6					SR LFP SENS				P RB 7/51				8” NS 3C 2H	4”P	Webbed crankcase Al impeller FVP prop		Jersey
FVP		6493				Integral cast T bracket															Crankcase assy only. Later LS size c’case.		Gloucestershire
FV		6569		V 1/2TS		S 5					CO				P				4C		ODSeagull		Dorset
FV		6661				S					NS tank								3C				On e bay 5/19
FV		6798T		V		T					CO PFP								3C	4”P			You Tube
FVP		6842T													7/51								Dorset
FVP		6870		V		T					NS tank? LFP				RB				NS gearbox	4”P	Champion PC		New Zealand
FVP		7089		V HB		S					CO SENS				P RB 8/51				3c 2H	4”P	OESL		Fife
FVP		7118																					New Zealand
FVP		7135				S5 DG3+6														OESL			New Zealand
FVP		7383		V NS		S5					SR LFP				RB 9/51				3C	4”P	OESL Webbed c,case		Melbourne
FVP		7739																					New Zealand
FVP		7751		V TS NHC NHB		S 5					CO LFP				P RB 3/51				3		OESL		New Zealand
FVP		7767		V TS		S –T (NS)					SR LFP				P RB 11/51				3		OESL		New Zealand
FVP		7837									None												Australia
FVP		7862		V NTS		S 5 NS Grip					SR LFP SENS				In RB				3C	Later	OESL Webbed crankcase		e bay June 2017
FVP		7893		V NHC HB		S 5					SR LFP				P RB				3C	4”P	OESL Later head		Australia
FVP		7896				S 5					SR				RB				3C	4”	OESL		On e bay 4/19
FVP		8035		V 7/16 NHC NHB		S 5					SR LFP				P RB 10/49				3C 2H	4”P Plastic CR	OESL 2pc Champion PC Webbed crankcase		Scotland
FVP8041 was the last to be produced in 1951. FVP8042 was the first to be produced in 1952.
FVP			8090	V		NS						Later			Later PB				Later 4”?	Later	OESL		Holland
FVP			8190	V		S Long									P				4C		OESL		Bury St Edmunds
FV			8222	V7/16 TS NHC HB		S 5						SR LFP SENS			In RB				3C	4”P	OESL Webbed crankcase		Notts
FV			8250	V7/16 NHC NHB		S 5 DG3+6						SR LFP SENS			P RB 12/51				3C 2H	4” P	OESL Webbed crankcase		Fife
FV			8297																				e bay Sept2013
FVP			8369	V		S 5						SR UFP			HRB				3C 2H		OESL		Fife
FVP			8582	V NHC NHB		S 5						SR			None				3C	None	OD OESL Webbed crankcase		Flintshire
FVP			88??																				Walton on the Naze
FV			8905	V		S long						SR UFP			RB				3C	Later	OESL		Skye
FVP			8925	V 7/16TS NHC*NHB		S 5 DG3+6						CO* UFP SENS			P RB 3/52				3C 2H	4”P	OESL Webbed crankcase		Gloucestershire
FV			8964	V NTS NHC HB		S						SR UFP SENS			P RB 2/52				3C	4”P	Webbed crankcase OESL		Lincs
The Engine Support Lug, according to the BS parts list, was changed at S/No.10000. The original ones are described in the parts list as ‘Engine Support Lug fitted to bottom half of crankcase’ and were fitted up to 10000. The later ones were described as ‘Engine Support Lug fitted to top end of Transmission Casing Tube’ and were fitted from engine number 10000 upwards. I am therefore now only recording the type of Engine Support Lug for those engines with serial numbers in the range 7000 to 13000 and using the acronyms OESL (Original Engine Support Lug) and NESL (New Engine Support Lug). We can speculate that the Original Engine Support Lug (OESL) was possibly last fitted in the 9000s, and the new Engine Support Lug (NESL) was probably first fitted at 10000. This probably means that not all the numbers in the 9000s were allocated, and indeed, to date, the recording of known engines before 10000 seems to come to a halt at 8964.
FVP			10021		V 7/16TS NHC HB		S 5					SR UFP					P RB	3C		P 4”	NESL UFP	Greece
FVP			10048				S 5					CO						4C			NESL	Flintshire
FVP			10056		V HB		T NS					CO PFP(B)					RB	3C		5.4”SBPort	NESL	On e bay 7/19
FVP			10090																			Notts
FVP			10152		V							CO					Wipac					Suffolk
FVP			10327		V		S 5 NS Grip					CO UFP SENS					P RB	3C		NESL		On e bay 3/16
FVP			10341																			On e bay 7/18
FV			10349		V		S					SR						3C			NESL	e bay July 2014
FVP			1