Is this damage or has a purpose

[IanCordes]

It makes you wonder if some creative soul built an engine from disparate Villiers parts?

[John Wakefield]

Mark The engine plates are not Greeves design, I have drawings for both the single (9E 32A etc) and the twins (2 3 & 4T) and neither resemble the plates in your bike. The cylinder is definitely not 1H or 2H and neither is the flywheel side crankcase half as the upper dowel pin is not in same position, also the small rectangular hole in casting just behind the cylinder is for the 9E/32A type 2 pin lighting socket. The 1H & 2H also have wider engine mountings.
I would agree with Ian though that the flywheel looks the same as the 1H / 2T type. So I think the engine is basically a 9E /10E
It beggars the question as to why someone would make bespoke engine plates when Greeves ones would do the job!
Have you a side on pic of the whole bike Mark, whats the frame number?

[Colin Sparrow]

..the cutout at the top used for spaying the primary chain?

Well, at least it wouldn't have puppies

[IanCordes]

I don't think it is a 10E. More like a 1H; 224cc, or 2H, 246cc. Is it a 66mm bore, Mark, or 63mm? They share much with the twin engines, and that appears to be a 2T-type flywheel. If so, it would explain the non-standard engine plates.

[MarkM]

This is the flywheel, looks a bit odd too - can't find similar on web. lots more holes than normal? looks more crudely machined than you might expect too

[garybam4711]

Looks like slimline crankcase from photo of the left hand side could be 36/37A type but would need to see right hand side as could be 11E type

[John Wakefield]

Job to say from that angle.

[MarkM]

Yes I did know that Brian, but James & Fanny B mounted it with cylinder vertical Greeves & other maufacturers inclined the 9E version forward. Usually James & Fanny B had their name on chain case instead of Villiers. As I said previously Greeves did not fit the 10E. The 9E and 10E are interchangeable within the engine plates.

John, are the engine plates on my bike standard they look a lot broader than normal?

[John Wakefield]

Yes I did know that Brian, but James & Fanny B mounted it with cylinder vertical Greeves & other maufacturers inclined the 9E version forward. Usually James & Fanny B had their name on chain case instead of Villiers. As I said previously Greeves did not fit the 10E. The 9E and 10E are interchangeable within the engine plates.

[MarkM]

Mark, the cut away, was probably done to allow a brake pedal to be set in closer to avoid snagging or catching tree stumps etc on a trial section, it was probably done whilst the engine was in another frame.

Like that idea Dave. The cradle looks non-standard and I think (possibly) has been made specifically to house this 10E (although without checking alignments a 9E might go in)

[Brian Magee]

John,

The 9E and 10E are exactly the same engine apart from the two outer covers which have the horizontal lines at a different angle. The lines on the 10E are lower at the front so they appear horizontal when the front of the engine is mounted higher to make the cylinder upright. Other than the outer cases, all the part numbers are the same.

Brian.

[Brian Catt]

Like Dave said, but the cutout at the top used for spaying the primary chain with an aerosol????

[dave higgins]

Mark, the cut away, was probably done to allow a brake pedal to be set in closer to avoid snagging or catching tree stumps etc on a trial section, it was probably done whilst the engine was in another frame.

[John Wakefield]

Can't help feeling something else going on here John, the cover has been flattened behind the 'D' shaped hole and there has been significant welding . Is it fanciful to think that Greeves experimented with the 10E ?

The crank area looks a bit odd too ??

More like some back street mechanic thought he knew better than Villiers, definitely not of Greeves doing. in any case they did not use the 10E (a 9E with a vertical cylinder) used by James & Francis Barnet.

[MarkM]

Looks like the mice have been at it. seriously as you dont have the missing pieces welding is OTT, best to look for another cover.

Can't help feeling something else going on here John, the cover has been flattened behind the 'D' shaped hole and there has been significant welding . Is it fanciful to think that Greeves experimented with the 10E ?

The crank area looks a bit odd too ??