OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Question on Digging Equipment Rotary Hoes & Tillers Howard Bullfinch

Hi,
I have a new project. A friend said it was a Howard Gem. It has a Villiers C12A-01-01 petrol engine. Made in Ballarat.
I have cleaned out the tank and air filter but I have no spark. I have downloaded a manual to the 12A series Villiers 120cc motors 1957, but I think it a later model. It doesn't seem clear how to get the cover off to



get at points. Seriel no 94106, the motor.
I can't see any makes on the machine.

I have just dug my 14 sq mtr garden by hand or foot and dug in sand and fertilizer, hoping next time it will be easier...

speedy
Bundy
cheers

What a beast!

I'd say it's a Howard right enough, after looking around at pics on the Web. Doesn't quite look to be a Gem though - those are a big, heavy [around 300kg] machine.

A Bullfinch, or its successor the H200, look likely candidates. With the optional wheel weights!

Have a look at some pics at http://howardgem.webs.com

Other good Howard sites: http://www.howardregister.com http://www.howard-rotavator-spares.com/manuals.php

Online viewable parts list at https://www.yumpu.com/fr/document/view/11297597/bullfinch-h200-parts-listpdf

Manual and parts list for the very similar UK Model 200 is at http://www.allotment-garden.org/rotovator/

If the gearboxes/shafts are all OK, it may not be worth spending much time on the Villiers. About a 3.5hp Briggs or Honda/Chonda would suit it.

Hello Gadge,
You got it, a Bullfinch, I have had a look at many pics on the net now.
I will persist with the Villiers as it was going, I read in a manual, first turn on the magneto switch to on.....
I'll try that.
thanks
speedy

I've managed to take the cover off... I just need to get a flywheel puller and check points 12 to 16 th inch.... it's coming together slowly
speedy

If the magneto is stuffed you can throw a coil and a battery on them using the original points and they run just fine, did it to a big Howard cultivator some years back.

Hi Trev, I did this to a B&S on a ride on and it worked fine, I also fitted a resistor block in the coil wire to drop the voltage through the points to reduce the risk of the points burning. Do you think this was needed?

I used a six volt bike battery and a 12 volt car coil. Never had any problem with burning the points so don't know if a resistor would be needed for a 12 volt battery but if the points on the motor in question have a capacitor across them, that is what it is there for.

Most 12V car coils [on distributor ignition systems] are designed to run with a 'ballast resistor' in the +ve supply.

So in normal running the coil sees ~8V. However, when the starter is engaged, the resistor is bypassed to make up for the voltage drop due to the starter draw.

I went up to the Yesteryear Machinery Rqally at Tegege 25 km north of Bundy yesterday and there was a Bullfinch there...


Picked up a few tips from the owner.
Also a Villiers 120cc motor on an amusement machine.
speedy

I made a flywheel puller and eventually it came off.
As the Bullfinch went under in the Bundy flood the points area was covered in dirt. It has an American magneto Phelon and faced points and set to 20 th in.
It didn't start but I put some fuel down the plug hole and she fired up. WOW.
I did it a couple of times, sounds so good.
Next job is to take carby off and clean it.
Thanks for all your help and manuals etc.
speedy

The carby cleaned up perfectly and it started. It has a gevener and no throttle.
I'd like to upload a video.
Have to do some hoeing next.
speedy

Sounds good so far.

If the engine oil looked OK when it was dropped out, i.e. not milky, then the engine itself didn't get waterlogged, at least.

Speedy, sorry to digress but going back to your original post about it being made in Ballarat. I was up at Lake Goldsmith on Saturday at their display day and it is staggering to see all the massive heavy machinery, and the not so massive machinery that was made in Ballarat many years ago. It is almost like it was the big machinery producing capital of Australia, but time marched on and all those huge factories have vanished

Yes Gadge
The engine oil was good, but I will change it, and the gearbox diff thing, I will replace oil. I just wanted to start it before doing all the other things.... painting would also be a major job, but it would look great in original orange and green. I'd have to lock it up in my small shed.

NormK, I think is is the same all over Australia, all sorts of things made , but world economics , international trade, etc etc. it's a pity.....

speedy

G'day speedy,
Given this machine's history, now is the time to check the points cam for surface rust, if you haven't already done so. The heel of the points arm will wear extremely quickly with any rust, and a new set may take some finding.

Norm, I guess it was the fact that Ballarat was one of the earliest centres of hard rock mining in Australia, that made them a heavy machinery manufacturing centre in the 19th Century. Big local demand for boilers, large steam engines, rock crushers, shaft cage winders etc. It's said that there were 40 foundries there in the 1880's - so says an EA doco HERE.
They also had a local railway locomotive works [Phoenix Foundry] from the 1870's until 1905, when Victorian Railways decided to give their own Newport works exclusivity.

Some of the legacy Ballarat farm machinery makers and foundries survived into the 1980's at least - Jas Smith, C.C. Harding are examples.

PS: As you may gather, Victorian mining history is a particular interest of mine.

hi Gadge,
Yes I cleaned up the magneto thoroughly. there was some rust, but that cover stopped a lot of the mud from enteringthe points area. I took it all apart.
cheers
speedy

I did the three oil changes with some Moreys oil treatment and got a video.
I have a problem with the transmission, maybe a slightly stuck component with some rust as it worked when full of water.... on the engine test.
I have to put the engine cowl back as that helps with the head cooling.
My misses hates it and I have to keep it at a mates place..........
[video][/video]

Cheers
Speedy
Bundaberg

[quote]My misses hates it and I have to keep it at a mates place........../quote]
Sounds like your in the market for a second one

Well I have to get rid of my Bullfinch.
Motor is good, it has two gearboxes, the ploughing box is good, but the drive box worked but had some water in it and stopped. I have had oil and moreys oil treatment in it , so I don't think there is much wrong with it.
I don't really want to sell it, maybe swap it for a mower.
Any ideas
Speedy
Bundaberg