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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Ransomes Fourteen

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Three Incomplete BSA/Villiers F07 Engines later I'm near getting enough parts to make one workable unit for the Fourteen but could do with finding another carb.  One of the old engines was fitted with an AMAL a bit like a 379 but with the traditional air cleaner rather than the type fitted  to the Sloper engine. The newer engine has an incomplete Zenith 13 TC with a number of linkages (? for a governor, though I can't see how these were connected to anything on the engine).

Talk about a jig-saw puzzle. Anyway I assume the newer engine would operate with the older Amal which I will try, however I'd like to rig both engines up but need to find another Amal carb. Has anyone any advice/suggestions please.

Was going to attach some photos but batteries in the camera are flat so will include some later.

Hope the pictures have now uploaded.

Forums

hortimech Sat, 16/11/2019

I don't think either of them came off a Ransomes fourteen, but the first is nearest, though the airfilter cover should be plated not green. Neither exhaust looks correct. What does the engine fitted to the machine look like ?

wristpin Sat, 16/11/2019

My engine  has the Amal carburettor similar to yours  with green air cleaner, but as Hortimech says, it is plated, not painted and I understand it to be  of Villiers manufacture. Your engine with the red cowling is, I believe,  of BSA manufacture. I have two Ransomes parts books and they only show the Villiers engine.  

Probably the best person to answer your questions is Paul  Child of  Meetens.

layzeefox Sat, 16/11/2019

Thanks for your views on this. Having restored a Sixteen with a Norton /Villiers that had the same Amal carb, I am sure that this was what was fitted to the Mk 1 machines which I think these are.

I attach some more pics showing the engine in Green which has done a few thousand miles and  which I hope to replace using one of the later BSA's, shown painted red, The most incomplete has never been used but needs the most(though not that many) new parts. The carb is the most challenging as I can't see how the governer can be connected, therefore an old Amal Carb might be my best bet. What do you think?

hortimech Sat, 16/11/2019

If you have a Ransomes sixteen, then you know what your fourteen engine needs to look like. Just use what you have, to build a copy of your sixteen engine, the only problem will be the exhaust, the only ones I have seen on the Ransomes is either the long flat one in your picture, or the larger upright round one in Wristpin's.

I have never seen that Zenith carb on one of those engines, it is possible that someone was trying to make it work.

It is my understanding that these engines were initially designed and made by BSA and later renamed as Villiers during the Manganese Bronze Holdings amalgamation during the late 60s.

layzeefox Sat, 16/11/2019

Spot on Angus, Identical to my Sixteen. Just need to source a s/hand amal Carb now.

Do you know the Carb type as the number is unclear on  mine but looks like 3/9 but the Amal site dosen't list such a number, Keith

layzeefox Sat, 16/11/2019

Thanks for that Hortimech, both newer engines have the same exhaust. Well I suppose it will have to be a BITSA as we ageing Rockers used to say. I'll keep looking on the web for a local old Fourteen of Sixteen, though the latter seem to be as rare as hens teeth, Thanks again Keith

wristpin Sat, 16/11/2019

When viewed from the air cleaner end

379/3C , left hand float chamber. 13.8 mm at the manifold pinch bolt

379/121 right hand float chamber, 18.2mm at the manifold.