Restoring Lena-Contact-Sailing Home-Sailing Logs-Uphill photo Tour
Seagulls

A whole flock of bits

I asked J at Uphill if he might have a wipac flywheel and base - the result was me coming home with a car full of seagull bits - and no wipac magneto !

He was just about to sell off the lot to someone - so I got in first.

I ended up, once sorted, with another complete short shaft Silver Century Plus/Clutch - various bit of engines/tanks/ exhaust tubes - and five crates of various bits.

Pride of place goes to the brand new 40 series block - still in its wrapping.

This lead to a bit more leeway with the restoration of the Longshaft Silver Plus/Clutch I'd started. I now have a variety of spare cranckcase bases to chose from - and have settled for a ditto model no. - but with a 71 date as opposed to 68 - pretty close. Should really have a wipac - rather than a villiers though.

SJP 3794 - Forty plus - 1961-2

I had this engine as just the top end complete - but I then realised from browsing the parts books that the 40 plus used the same gearbox as the Century. It is only the water pump top casing which is different - the forty plus having a smaller exhaust tube.

I had a bottom end of an LLS, so only need the differnet top casing and tube to make up an authentic SJP. The bonus is that I have various 40 bits - inc new heads, new 'seagull logo alloy ring' etc - and of course, if I feel inclined, I can use the 'brand new block' !

So - its on the new bench, in the 'new shed'.

My 'assistant free' flywheel removal tool worked a treat again.

I stuck on a spare drive tube just so it has something to support it when it breaks free.

Make sure the piston is at bottom dead centre ( why ? - not sure, but seagull info insist its critical ) I stick a stick into the bore, then mark the flywheel opposite the plug hole.

You can give it a much heartier whack held like this - without some poor sods hands to worry about !

I'd earlier managed to free the baseplate locating screw. The baseplate was loose - but the screw was seized with the end half split off - yuek !! - I was set on destroying the villiers base plate - as I have about 6 or 7 of them now, but tried it anyways.

Managed to grind off the other side with a worn down dremel wheel - so left myself with a sort of 'rough screwdriver bit' sticking up. Put a blow lamp on it and a small adjustable - and, wow - a 'seagull moment' - it came loose. Anyone who has worked on these engines will know what I mean by this !

Good news - is that the collar of the upper crankcase and it locating hole are in fine shape. I'd feared it would be all mushed up.

This bore is free, but seems a little stiff on the piston travel. Villiers interals in very good order - nice clean loking coil and low tension lead.

Head off next - then hunt for a swap on a top casing and tube.