[charlie]

Monro Tiller made by Geo Monro fitted with Villiers engine, would have originally had a MK12 (side valve engine) not a MK15 (overhead valve engine). Machine s/n 5733 was despatched on 20/12/60 and delivered on 15/3/61 to customer in North Wales.
I have found the best way to set the timing is to remove cylinder head to ensure accurate measurement of tdc and then timing point 1/8″ before TDC (3/16″ before TDC for Mk10 and Mk12).

[charlie]

photo of Versatiller by Farmfitters.

Attachments:

1. 

[charlie]

Now you have top off gearbox you should be able to confirm date as it is stamped on one of the gears, crownwheel I think.

[charlie]

Making good progress.

[charlie]

Great news, have a good holiday.

[charlie]

Try Jon Cruse at The Mower Centre, Hailsham.

[charlie]

With the gearbox in neutral you should be able to push the machine. The clutch can stick, mine does OK to engage gear but drags so continues to drive, as soon as rotavator is put into gear and working the problem goes away due to greater load on clutch. The Albion gearbox clutch has a number of corks in the friction plate.

[charlie]

With the gearbox in neutral you should be able to push the machine. The clutch can stick, mine does OK to engage gear but drags so continues to drive, as soon as rotavator is put into gear and working the problem goes away due to greater load on clutch. The Albion gearbox clutch has a number of corks in th efriction plate.

[charlie]

5900 May 1929- 6397 Oct 1930 498 machines, if information I am looking at is correct.

[charlie]

I see your machine has the clutch on the right and a stop button fitted.

[charlie]

Air leak on air filter side of throttle butterfly should not affect starting it is leaks from butterfly to engine that will be a problem, eg weaken the fuel / air mixture.

[charlie]

The two handles at base of handle bars are for swinging handle bars to left or right, just slacken them off, turn handle bars to desired position and tighten. Make sure they are tight.

[charlie]

The Trusty Earthquake is fairly simple to operate. Standing at the rear facing forward lever on left hand handle bar is the clutch, not clear from the photo but it looks as if your machine has a throttle control on the right hand side. The original engine was governor controlled, no throttle lever. On the right hand side of gearbox is the gear lever, all the way forward should be reverse, then as you come back neutral, first, neutral, second and if a three speed gearbox, neutral, third. Lever on back of gearbox is to engage drive to rotavator tines. Depth control is the spring loaded bolt/pin at very back which is used to adjust depth skid. Depending on ground conditions do not try to go full depth on first pass, go in stages. If trying too much in one go machine will tend to jump or even stall depending on ground. Hope this helps.

[charlie]

I dread to think what those springs for the tines cost! A recent booklet I bought from Donald Jones in the USA via that online auction site shows a shock absorber for the other type of tines, see photo.

Attachments:

1. 

[charlie]

serial number doe snot seem to fit in range on the information I have. A5 are 4 digit serial numbers, 623? would be correct circa 1029-30.

[Author]

Posts