What Marque? Members Experiences

Members Experiences With Greeves Motorcycles

A RATTLING GOOD STORY(by someone who wishes to remain anon)(1986)

When I bought my Greeves, it had apparently recently been fitted

with a rebored 8E barrel and new Dykes ring piston - great! the

last thing to worry about is the top end. The engine of course

was the very last thing I refurbished, with new clutch bits,

bearings and seals. The great day arrived and the engine was

finally started. Third kick, lots of smoke and a healthy rattle

dammit! Back to the drawing board with the famous "listening

stick", using a busted broom handle with one end on the ear and

the other on various bits of the engine. A suspect big end was

readily diagnosed, although the rattle seemed to come from

everywhere. Out with the engine for dismantling (again), the big

end didn't seem worn out , but I'd forgotten what a worn big end

feels like so, trusting in my diagnosis I rushed off to buy a new

crank, started the engine and guess what, it still rattled. Out

with the "listening stick", this time with a second opinion. The

joint diagnosis, a worn top end??

Off with the barrel and out with the vernier. Approx .006-.008

inch clearance between the piston skirt and the barrel and .012

clearance at the top of the piston. Another diagnosis, incorrect

bore size?. Back to the shed for a less than +.040" barrel then

back to the bike shop for a nine Pound rebore using the existing

piston for sizing. Four days later the barrel's ready, back on

the engine and the engine is started, guess what - it still

rattles!!!

Back to the drawing board and "off with his head". On close

inspection it appeared that the piston was moving "within the

rings", another diagnosis, this time incorrect rings or worn ring

grooves (on a new piston??). This is getting ridiculous, off to

the shop for a new +.040" 8E piston, the final solution at last.

Back to the shed, off with the barrel and in with the new piston.

It looks and feels better so let's start it up. Guess what - it

still rattles - dammit!!!! I'm beginning to doubt my sanity.

Out with "listening stick" again and it sounds EXACTLY as it did

on the first day, but for the first time I listen to the carb'

area and the rattle is much more pronounced at the carb flange??

Just for the hell of it I stick my finger into the intake and

onto the throttle slide and guess what - the rattle disappears!!

Numbed with shock at the work and expense of my previous efforts,

I stagger blindly back to the other shed for a good throttle

slide, which is quickly found and fitted - guess what - no

rattles!!!!!

The moral of this story is - if you have a Villiers engine fitted

with a brass carb' and throttle slide, the very first thing you

should do is "stick your finger in the carb'."