Saving Old Seagulls

460? !!!
I hope to find some. 250 was a bit expensive, around 15pounds per liter.

Charles, it's still sunny in Greece and I could use a hat..

Hi guys,

It's the 3rd time I fill the tank with caustic soda. First time I add 30-50grams, second time more than 50grams and now it's the third time with 100-150grams of granules of caustic soda disolved in water. It is so for 10hours now and I will leave it overnight. The point is that there is still a greasy and green substance on the walls internally. I just checked with a rod even if it's full with water and caustic soda.

I thought that this stuff burns all oily or greasy remains. I imagine that this tank was abandoned full with fuel until now that I find it dry but I would wait to be clean by now.

Any suggestions? I think I will try acetone if caustic soda fails again.

At least it worked for the paint. Two baths and all paint was removed.

Finally after

3 baths of caustic soda
1 bath with acetone
1 baths with soap, caustic soda and s/s washers
1 baths with soap and s/s washers
and one final bath with acetone to remove any moisture




Now time for the dents

http://s236.photobucket.com/user/Stelio ... b.jpg.html
Mind the "BSS" on this picture, have anyone seen that before? Any clue?

Mix enough caustic soda with water until it goes hot. You should have steam comming from the bucket. Mix it well and dip the tank and soak overnight. Then give it a good hit inside to flush things out. Ive had a good look at the inside view of your tank. It looks fine to me. Dont expect to good of a finish.

Yeap, I won't do anything else for the inside. After shaking it with water and washers inside the water comes out clear, so it's ready for fuel.

Is there a magic stick for the dents?

Who's gona get one SD in pieces? (not me)

Hello everybody!

Could anyone explain to me what's the JM numbers?

The JM numbers are stamped on the stator plate and flywheel, they should be the same, as the ignition system and flywheel are made up as a matching set.

Thanks, I have noticed that those numbers are the same but I thought that they may have a relation to the serial number of the engine.

Tricky thing to place the stator place correctly with this ring in the center, the flywheel at this time hits the metal part that holds the coil.

Hi guys,

Just an idea of what's going on here lately.

I purchased one more SD a couple of weeks before to get some parts that I was missing. Today I received the cover from Charles, thanks Charles

AND FINALLY!!! I sorted out the matter with the flywheel. It was hitting the metal parts that is holding the coil. Now solved, I replace the center ring of the stator plate. Not an easy job to achieve stator plate standing vertical to the crankshaft, a vernier and a lot of measuring, gentle tapping with a hammer etc etc. Yes! Now spins as it should.

Easy details to come to an end.



Just in case anyone 've got one scraped early villiers stator plate I am interested. It's a shame having two matched early villiers ignition systems and from the one missing the ring.

Looks like it was the weekend with the tanks..

On my SDP steel tank, I found that the bayonet cap would not fit, because of the paint on the neck!

100% success! Mine doesn't also, I will have to use grit paper to remove some paint and varnish

I saw your pic, and thought "Stelios, there was something I meant to tell you"

A very nice job on the tank though, don't put any petrol near it for quite a while though, whilst the paint hardens off. Patience

Yes of course no prob! I will certainly wait for a couple of weeks before any test. The varnish I used is supposed to be fuel proof.. I hope!
In any case I will be extra careful with fuels.

About the decals. I don't know, maybe as a kid I was playing with such stuff and remembered the technique. I sink each decal under water for one second and then applied it. After a minute it was ready to pull the cardboard. The only problem was some tiny bubbles that were remaining no matter what. But in general I would say that the procedure was quite successful as it was my first time.