section swept

Ah ha! I see from the specs that the 250 has 4 cylinders, no wonder the 350 was a better engine!

At the risk of putting my head in a noose, that ignition cover doesn’t look very much like any I’ve seen on comp. Villiers engines. Looks as though it’s Bond car related, hence the extra lugs on the casing/cover. The front fork (blue painted)judging by the silentbloc bushes are most likely of the mid 50’s early 60’s era. The square barrel maybe a Parkinson and this type was also used on DOT’S, Butler, Cotton etc advertised in the bike papers quite extensively. You need to establish if it’s a Trials or Scrambles barrel, I could wrong but I’m sure a more knowledgable member will be along to put things straight.??

Well as you say “it is doubtful I’ll ever ride it in competition” why worry about rebuildable shocks, go for the ones that best suit your aesthetic views about the 172. All the shocks you mention would do good service, it’s just that they are not fine tuneable like the more expensive versions. More important to select the correct length to keep the bike looking right?

Been back for a third look, really good looking bike that!

It just looks so right!??

You were sold an 03 as an 06!!!?

Oh that was you was it, so now we know?

Re-chroming or in the case of fork tubes hard chroming is usually the way to go, there’s a company in Hull that offers a service. Maybe some more locally, certainly one or more in Mansfield. If you need to ride and want to use your current tubes, you could rub down the affected areas and fill any imperfections with Araldite or similar Epoxy resin filler, rub down again with wet and dry and away you go...the seals may suffer but hey you are at least riding. This although sounding like a bodge it does actually work.?

All will have their own preferences for camshaft timing, profile etc. etc. Even to the point of the type of stuffing they have in the erm seat, saddle, bum perch!! ? And of course every conceivable item that looks standard will be made from Unobtainium and other featherweight materials.?‍? But in all of this its the riders skill and commitment to the sport that makes them stand out from the crowd.

Hi Varlo, I’m over in Mansfield and recently rebuilt a TY250E many of the spares I needed came from yambits, they don’t show the fork tubes but I’m sure if you were to ask they may be able to source at the right money. Very helpful to me when I needed advice on parts. Franks forks also may be able to make you some.

Knocks spots off F1 ?

As the TY 250 did not sell in the numbers expected many hung around in the dealers or were stockpiled at Mitsui the Yamaha Importers at Oakcroft Lane Chessington. So a 1974 bike might not have been sold until 75, 76 and even then it may not have been registered. Again some bikes may have been stripped when new to provide the necessary parts for a Majesty leaving a perfectly good but standard frame to be disposed of, also a second hand unregistered bike may have suffered the same fate. Declared new at 1974 should be printed on the registration document, the day, month of the year are not that important apart from decal colours not much changed. Try the yamahaty web site for exact model year, this is also evidence for DVLA. The web site yamahaty has good info on dating your TY and Trials and Trail UK also have some research showing which could help. ??

As well as all of the very sensible advice suggested I would like to add that you need to get to know the person(s) that you will be dealing with. Start with finding out what they have done in the past, view examples of their work and visit them at their home, not place of work as this is easily fudged. I build/restore/overhaul call it what you will Trials bikes and have been a bike dealer, that’s not all of my history but you get the picture. This is my hobby and I do it to sell the bikes on, not to make vast profits but to recover the initial buying cost and cost of parts and materials used, then the next owner can enjoy. Maybe you should reappraise all the parts you have and potentially sell these to other Greeves owners, the Villiers engines should be 9E (197cc) 32A (250) 34A (250) 37A (250) and their last trials engine, I doubt you will have a 37A but until you look. Are the tanks metal or glass fibre? Just because as you say you aren’t mechanical adept doesn’t mean you can’t achieve a decent build of a bike or two, take your time and budget for some costs. Good luck??

Don’t you just love ?the crackle from a well set up Villiers engine, slog through most sections with gusto! ?

I wonder if we all avoided the forum areas of engine and clutch etc issues if our bikes would be more trouble free and less finger troubled. Many a sleepless night must be attributed to the dreaded ‘forum malody’ ???

Changing to electronic ignition may give you a more noticeable crisp engine all things being equal. Depending on who’s kit you fit, you may as well keep the standard heavy flywheel, the whole point in having a big fat consistent spark is to allow the engine to pull well. Revy engines need a different riding style in most cases and you might find your bike too lively in sections. As a mute point should you suffer an ⚡️ignition failure contact breaker ignition is easier to fault find and rectify ?miles from anywhere, whereas unless you carry a big load of expensive spares and test meters....oh and a good torch ( it may get dark before you get running again) you find yourself pushing the bike home???? No disrespect to any electronic ignition makers etc I’m sure their products are good but it’s when they leave the safe environment of the delivery parcel that things can start to go wrong??

Katoons don’t balance very well but Katooms do....I also find that not drinking too much falling down liquid helps.?

You said it!

These older bikes have ‘character’ not something the jelly mold bikes have unfortunately?

Blimey you’ve almost created a new publication, save for any adverts,just a few words needed and you’re there. Excellent photos and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the video. Some really nice twin shock bikes to get the blood stirring! There ought to be an award for this sort of post???

With such a large discount off an obviously old model I would be investigating such things as battery performance and charge times. Heavily discounted machines mean less perseived residual value when you want to sell or part exchange. You state $1500 off MSRP but what was the selling price from other dealers.

Simply Bearings and other suppliers will be able to match your old bearing to the inside and outside diameters and width measurement. You can also select in most cases the quality/ cost prices to! S B web site very user friendly??

You’ve been referred to the bike specific section and your issue has been covered quite well. Search through should give you the answers?page 3

Yep and with the money they’ll produce even more dire crap!

I can hear them burbling through a section now, a credit to you Jim??