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Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 5:52 am
by Collector Inspector
This was purchased by Mr Fred Goddard for the use on the Donnelly River early 1930s. He lived in Pemberton.After he passed it was taken into the care of a very young Micheal Chadwick also Pemberton. Continued use on the Donnelly until it basically wore out.
Over the years Micheal slowly fefurbished it. Has new gearset and revised prop shaft. Good barrels with new rings. A few parts for the magnito (fiddly) and right to go on the river again.
It was used for only a couple of years before my friend sadly passed.
I lost track of it as was sold by auction by the family.....
THEN
Out of the blue there it was on our Gumtree.....................................Got it!
Has been under my workbench for bloody years........Between projects so decided to show some love and clean it up.
Really easy but consuming doing a gentle freshen up. Everything works so basically a service as well......and paint the tank.....
Some Pics (You all love pics aye)
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 12:39 pm
by Oyster 49
Thats a great story
and a great find too!
Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 3:13 pm
by Silver Surfer
Yes...We all love Pics, especially detailed ones like these, accompanied by a Bio of the Engine itself! Nice one.
Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 10:43 pm
by Collector Inspector
Thank you for comments above.
I have some old photos of it somewhere....I shall post them.
It is now clean and corrosion protected.....quite impressed.
[attachment=4]20231209_074214.jpg[/attachment
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2023 12:34 am
by Collector Inspector
And.....maintaining momentum. Grease gearbox.
There is a detail pic of key replacement of gear pin. The pin went through the water gallery....easily blocked.
Also see seal ring on new shaft. Very clever......I think something like a steam/lubricant concept?
Magneto check next....
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2023 1:35 am
by Collector Inspector
BANG!
Never expect the noises when winding something like this off aye. Heart starter.
Pics
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2023 3:19 am
by Collector Inspector
Ok, magneto done.
Next thing is to mix fuel and drown it for an internal soaking....going to be messy when I put it on a trolly.
1/4 pint to the gallon straight SAE 30 mineral oil...it has never run with modern two stroke so why change.
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 3:00 am
by Collector Inspector
Timing part 1
Determine TDC (piston stop rotate forward and back......take centre method).
Verify TDC mark on flywheel. It lines up with 4th fin port side. It will be visible with the fuel tank attached (handy that).
I then found (measured) the gap between one side of the spark plug hole to top of piston at the point of confirmed TDC. Not so fiddly as it sounds. Kept trimming down an allen key until sliding fit. I then measured the thickness.
I then did some this and that to get combined piston stop thickness required. "Insert"
See part 2
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 3:24 am
by Collector Inspector
Part 2
6 mm how easy is that then. Rotated back from TDC inserted said 6mm and brought up for a firm sliding fit. Marked flywheel ignition point on flywheel. Lining up with same 4th fin.
I will put timing tape on it (degs) to see how it stands.
Ignition check and timing next.
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:01 pm
by Oyster 49
Nice job
I have an identical engine on my rack thats been waiting to be looked at for 10 years. Must look at it next after the OG is finished.
Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 12:02 am
by Collector Inspector
Oyster 49 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:01 pm
Nice job
I have an identical engine on my rack thats been waiting to be looked at for 10 years. Must look at it next after the OG is finished.
I hope this endeavour of mine will be a help aye.
Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 12:34 am
by Collector Inspector
Now for the really fun bit....Ignition timing.
PART ONE:
Apply a 7" diameter tape to flywheel. By my mark 4mm (5/32) BTDC is 32 Deg.
Fit to motor.
Isolate points and check condensor...usual value used on everything. Being so old I will not trust it in the middle of The Indian Ocean though.
I checked the timing as found. 52 Deg....WOW no wonder it ran ragged last time Mike used it. Very hard to start and sounded unhappy. Also would not run with the exhaust bypass closed. The isolated points with a multimeter (Beep setting) to confirm that. The point gap was totally out there as well.
See part 2 below for the rest...
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:07 am
by Collector Inspector
Ignition timing.
PART TWO:
Fiddled about for ten minutes. The base plate would not centre around the top of the carby which puzzled me....no good. I have no idea and, never played with one of these before so I went backwards. Can anyone tell me the maker of this?
I turned to the 32 Deg mark after centering the plate close to over the carb. That is where the points should open. So adjusting the points to just open and locking off.....ended up at exactly 0.020". No real surprise really. In doing it backwards both the backing plate is in a reasonable position and the timing is set.
So...the timing is correct, the point gap is correct and the piston BTDC is correct.
Every component is in outstanding condition so seamless and smooth adjustments really helped.
Now what next....
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:48 am
by Collector Inspector
I suppose check compression.
60 solid psi top cylinder (number one) and very much below 50 psi on bottom cylinder (number two).
I will check again after running it.
If I pull the barrels I will find out if 172cc or barrels of later at 165cc. I do not know what Mike used.
After some thought from here attention to tank is in order......may take me a while to be enthusiastic while proceeding but proceed I will.
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Re: Early Brittannia Western Australia
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 3:05 am
by Collector Inspector
Finishing really early tanks is a can of worms at any time.
I had some feedback that they were blue.
I was roughly 7 or 8 years old when I first saw this motor. Many years of memory depleting substances but I think it was green.....with the remains of decals. It was rather beat up even then.
Mike made one out of aluminium .....nice job actually.
This was exported to Australia from the factory. It may have been green (sort of the green version of light blue that every motor sported from the early days).... like anzani after the black period.
Basically I am tired of blue.
To my eye a tasteful sort of green would set it off.
If anyone knows of green or can post detail pics of decals that would help make this more enjoyable.
In anticipation
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