Any Velocette experts here?

Bryn · Jul 14, 2021

Bit of an odd one… my Brother has owned his 1959 Venom for a good 50 years.. and he’s quite adept at fixing it, and he’s obviously intimately familiar with how it runs and sounds…..he’s also skilled enough to pull it to pieces, and re build it.

Recently it’s been sounding different, with what he describes as a tappety tinny knock…as if you were Tapping a tin cup on the floor …It’s noticeable on tick over ….. and the noise builds as the revs increase ….the last time he took it out he decided to call it a day and come back after only a couple of miles as he didn’t like the sound of it.

The only thing he has noticed is a little side play on the big end, and end play on the rockers… this has flummoxed him and any ideas would be appreciated

As he put it it is only a single so it shouldn’t be that difficult

Posh Pete · Jul 14, 2021

https://www.velocetteowners.com/

Bryn · Jul 15, 2021

Posh Pete said:
https://www.velocetteowners.com/

He’s already in there…… so far not much help ….which is surprising …posted on here on the off chance anyone had suggestions :thumb2

AberdeenAngus · Jul 15, 2021

Hard to tell without hearing it.
Any chance of getting a recording?

Is it definitely coming from within the engine?
A screwdriver and a mark 1 lughole will tell him whereabouts its coming from.
Before he starts down the engine stripdown route - has he given the bike a good going over for loose/missing bolts (DAMHIK)

Posh Pete · Jul 15, 2021

Bryn said:
He’s already in there…… so far not much help ….which is surprising …posted on here on the off chance anyone had suggestions

Surprised at that too. I wonder if one make clubs are losing the expertise they once had, as the years pass? Sounds like a pull down may be needed anyway?

Bryn · Jul 15, 2021

He’s had it to pieces twice recently ..ground the valves in, put two different rocker covers on…as that seems to be the area it’s coming from….( not sure how it can be the rocker cover but he knows more about it than I do)

So it’s a bit of a mystery…he’s asked someone in the owners club who’s a bit of an expert….and he has no idea :nenau

theoneandonly · Jul 15, 2021

https://www.totalbikebits.com/product_locator/dealerdetails.php?id=234

talk to this guy , what he doesn't know ...ain't worth knowing .

tell him Baldrick recommended him.

if he doesn't know Nick , i'd be surprised.

Santa-2512 · Jul 15, 2021

Little ends

light rattly knock

Big ends low thumpy rumble

Bryn · Jul 15, 2021

Thanks for the suggestions chaps.. I’ll pass them all on,.. he’s done a phone recoding but it’s not very good apparently

UturnTony · Jul 15, 2021

Little ends tend to be heard on the over run.

Big end knock on a roller big end will be quite evident and not a light tinny noise.

Is it at engine speed or half engine speed? This will indicate whether or not it's valve gear as that operates at half engine speed therefore sounds slower.

Has he ruled out a problem in the magneto or dynamo?

Being of a light nature i'm guided to the valve gear tbh. Valve gear noises tend to manifest themselves on a light load, perhaps just as you roll the throttle off a bit and unload the engine.
I'm sure your brother will have checked the valve guides and cam followers.

The crank/flywheel ass. main bearings are (iirc) taper roller and need shimming but i doubt the fault lies there.

Bloody hell that's got the brain working, imagining the inside of a Velocette engine, something i have seen a few times but, a long time ago

Bryn · Jul 15, 2021

UturnTony said:
Little ends tend to be heard on the over run.

Big end knock on a roller big end will be quite evident and not a light tinny noise.

Is it at engine speed or half engine speed? This will indicate whether or not it's valve gear as that operates at half engine speed therefore sounds slower.

Has he ruled out a problem in the magneto or dynamo?

Being of a light nature i'm guided to the valve gear tbh. Valve gear noises tend to manifest themselves on a light load, perhaps just as you roll the throttle off a bit and unload the engine.
I'm sure your brother will have checked the valve guides and cam followers.

The crank/flywheel ass. main bearings are (iirc) taper roller and need shimming but i doubt the fault lies there.

Bloody hell that's got the brain working, imagining the inside of a Velocette engine, something i have seen a few times but, a long time ago

All passed on with thanks

Greg Masters · Jul 15, 2021

I got all excited when I saw this thread - I thought you must be buying an LE Noddy bike!

Any Velocette experts here?

Bryn

Moderator

Posh Pete

Still got a pulse.

Bryn

Moderator

AberdeenAngus

Registered user

Posh Pete

Still got a pulse.

Bryn

Moderator

theoneandonly

looking over the edge

Santa-2512

Omnipotent one

Bryn

Moderator

UturnTony

Well-known member

Bryn

Moderator

Greg Masters

'Don't mess with me' Member

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