Amind of their own?

Is there a starting sequence to ease the firing of the beast? I cleaned the carbs and intakes, and it started on the 3rd kick. I rode it to my buddy's house and when leaving it fired on the 1st kick. Then a few days later I went to ride it and what seemed like forever kicking it she ran. Then again trying to leave my buddy's shop it fired on the 2nd kick. It seems when the bike is warm I have to tickle the shit out of it and it will start. Is that normal? I set the carbs up to the manual.

Yeah, sounds normal.

I found what works for me is to tickle the carbs until gas just starts to dribble out the vent/tickler. For my bike, any less and starting can be a pain. When its hot, starting can be anything from one kick to having to tickle the hell out of it, depending on how hot it is and how long it sat. Just when I think I've got it figured out, things change.

Last week I went to a bike night about 50 miles away and it ran great until I got to the parking lot, where it didn't seem to want to idle. Somehow one end of the balance tube came off an intake.

Last month I went to start it a couple of days after a really long ride, and it didn't want to start. After a while I started checking everything - air screws had somehow backed out another full turn from normal. Put them where they should be for me (1 turn out), and it started right up.

Definitely an adventure each time out

Seems like the number of kicks required is proportional to the number of people watching :lol:

It's been years since my bike was running but what I always did was bring the pistons to TDC and then make sure there was no slack on the kick start arm, put all my weight on it and slowly start things turning but really kick it fast by the time the kick start arm was 1/2 way through and until the end. The crank would spin a bit faster this way than if I just kicked it slowly or normal. (My mind rationalized that the timing was set for advanced spark for efficiency at higher rpms so the faster it turned over the better. I also envisioned the auto advance cams on the points spreading a bit pre boyer and the alt would generate a stronger spark.) Maybe this was all in my head but it seemed to start better this way.

I learned the delicate construction of the kick start mechanism after letting a friend take my bike for a ride one day. He was actually 1/2 gorilla I have come to realize. When he didn't return I walked to the end of the road where I found him kick starting my bike. His kicks were karate style, the power began around the oil filler cap and by the time his foot touched the kick start arm his full force was behind it. He had split the hollow shaft inside the cover and done other damage in there too. Repairs were $285.00 as I recall and in 1972 that was like $1000.00 today. Lesson learned: Don't shock load the kick start mechanism.

Kber45 - Seems like the number of kicks required is proportional to the number of people watching

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Maybe when I get my machine running again I'll remember the silent prayer I used to subconsciously offer to the norton gods when approaching the bike to start up in front of a crowd.

Wellcome to the world of British motorcycles !!! love them hate them i personally love em !!
Cheers Blaise

I fully appreciate and sympathize with all of your "kick-starting" stories. When I first bought my 74 Roadster 12 months ago, I experienced all of the issues with kick-starting plus much more. My 55 year old right knee can vouch for it. Anyway, fast forward 12 months and several thousand $$$'s later, getting it "sorted", I finally succumbed to replacing the twin Amal carbs by transplanting a Mikuni single into her. As much as I tried to keep the bike as "British" as I can, it cured all of the "starting" isssues. These days, kick starting the beast is one of the more pleasurable and anticipated activities I look forward to. Choke on, ignition on, 1 kick, and she roars into life. Choke off, and after a few blips of the throttle, she settles down to a steady idle at around 900 rpm. But whats with the "full on" / "full offf" choke? :?:
GW88

I do like the bike and will keep it as long as someone doesn't offer me 10K or more for it. I guess I'm just spoiled by the american and jap bikes that I've had and they all started on 1st or 2nd kick all the time. But I don know after working on the bike already that the british are a little on the corky side when building things. Anyone mounted a single Weber down draft on thier bike yet?

getting it "sorted",

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That is a good point. When they are properly set up they start easily and reliably. I have put a lot of miles on my Dunstall when I last rode it 20 some years ago. It and most of my latter nortons all started pretty well 1st or 2nd kick and sometimes you had to kick it another 2 or 3 times but they started very well. My 1st norton that I bought new was the worst. I had one of those bad cams that had the keyway cut in the wrong spot for the timing gears. My amals work fine on my dunstall. The worst problems I used to have for bad starting were usually from condensation on the points when fall came and it chilled off at night. You had to pop the points cover off and dry them with a match book striker or just a piece of paper and then it would fire right up. Now that I'm resurrecting both these bikes I've bought boyer ignitions for them. Since they have sat for so long I think I'll update the entire electrical system. I'm considering the Sparks alternator also. Hopefully the carbs just need a good cleaning.

I have a 920 Mk2A fitted with Tri-Spark 'Classic Twin' ignition and single 36mm Mk2 Amal - I've found that a good procedure for starting (either hot or cold) is to 'prime' the engine with the ignition off - Turn on the fuel - switch on the choke (if the engine is cold) - open the throttle very slightly and give a couple of slow kicks - then switch on and she normally starts first kick. I've also found that the pilot jet setting is quite critical with a hot engine - I've set it quite rich and it seems better at hot starting.
The problem with these bikes is that there are so many variables with carb types, ignition systems, cams etc.

HTH

what starting problems?

I am somewhat mystified about these numerous posts regarding difficulties starting a Norton.

How hard can it be to start up an internal combustion engine? That's what these things were built for - running.

I have had many Brit bikes over the years - current one is a Commando, and starting it is no more challenging than starting my lawn mower, car, etc.

But for some people - there seems to be almost a witchcraft-like approach and many mysterious techniques involved to what is for me a very simple process that I just take for granted, as I do with my car.

The car: Turn key - engine starts.

The Commando: Turn key, push button - engine starts.

What's this about "1st kick" "2nd kick" etc. Why do people kick their bikes? I respect mine, and certainly wouldn't kick it.

And all these comments about care and nurturing of Amal carbs... what's an Amal carb? I have a single Mikuni on my bike, and haven't even looked at it since putting it there several thousand miles ago.

It would no more occur to me to tinker with the carb on the Commando than it would on my Toyota or my VW. (which actually have injectors these days).

Maybe, just maybe...... some people like the added complications of tinkering with their carbs, timing, plugs, etc. as part of the whole experience of being "one with the bike?"

Zen and the Art of Starting a Commando..... maybe somebody could put together a compendium of the various Zen techniques. It could turn into a best seller, a movie even.

Better still, issue a Commando to each and every Al Queada terrorist. That would slow them down. They'd burn up all their energy and rage just trying to get the thing started, and would get so involved in the process that they would forget their anger and the rest of the world and abandon their jihad.

The suicide bombers would never make it to their targets. Hell, they'd never even leave home.

Here's to electric start and non-Amals for all (except the bad guys of course).

Take it easy LOL LOL I have heard real bikes don't have electric starters, Although I have two! Some of these guys are just getting their bikes going. On my 75 I enjoy kicking it to life, But your right as they get them sorted they will find they are not that hard to bring to life. There are a lot of little issues that can make them hard to start, But it's not some type of magic. Chuck. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I find that if I'm not using my Commando regularly, I get out of touch with just when to tickle it and precisely how much throttle to give.

The Commando primary drive ratios do not seem to be particularly efficient for kickstarting. It calls for quite a thrust to spin the motor over fast enough. I'm only 150 lbs or so and starting an 850 calls for committment and all my body weight. I know no-one who starts an 850 using one foot firmly on the ground and well-developed quadriceps - I'm not say that it can't be done, just that I don't know them To me this indicates that the techniques are not to be compared with oriental multis.

One of the major factors is to be confident and not intimidated by the beast. They don't kick back all that hard. I only become worried if I'm on a sloping wet field for instance - will my left foot hold me up when I land ?

I think the confidence thing is fundamental. Personally, I'm pretty hopeless at starting Lombardini single cylinder diesels with a rope but that's because they've bitten me a few times and I'm scared of 'em. By contrast, I cut the 'leccy 'tart off of my Mk111 because it was heavy and unnecessary.

There's no substitute for using a Commando regularly and building up your own experience so it all becomes automatic - and then, one wet day the kickstart rubber will fly off, you'll rake your shin and kick the ground and the whole vicious spiral will start all over again. Sorts out the long-term enthusiasts from those just passing through

If I wanted an easy button bike I would go to the dealer and buy a new one. I prefer to kick start my bikes. But to each his own. The 932's on my bike don't have a pilot jet and no choke's. I'm going to get it out today and ride after the game. I'm simply wondering about this bike as I've only owned american and jap iron.

PKK any time you ride north into Temecula let me know and I will meet up with you for a ride. If I ever ride it down that way I will let you know.

If I have to explain, you would not understand.

"I am somewhat mystified about these numerous posts regarding difficulties starting a Norton."

And to the rest of your post: you're my kind of guy.

Why put up with something distasteful when you don't have to? The many upgrades of the Norton Commando only offset the many design and manufacturing defects that abound with the stock Commando. I applaud those who make the Commando into a good, reliable, less maintenance, form of a motorcycle. As for those who insist on originality, right down to the fasteners; I'll see you at the museum, but hardly ever on the road.

My 750 has an electric starter button. But the engine doesn't start when I push it. There's nothing hooked up to it, it just came along with the Yamaha kill switch I installed.

One easy swing on the kickstart pedal, "following through with my full body weight" as they say in the owner's manual, and the bike snorts to life. Sometimes it takes two kicks if I haven't ridden it for a while and it's really cold out.

I haven't had to "tinker" with my Amals since I had them resleeved three years ago. I do appreciate having those tickler buttons - no "priming kicks" needed. I always get a chuckle out of Mikuni owners who boast of getting a one kick start after three priming kicks. To me that's a four kick start!

Nothing wrong with Mikunis though. They're good carbs once you get them set up properly. As you say, to each her own :wink:

Debby

debby said:

I do appreciate having those tickler buttons - no "priming kicks" needed. I always get a chuckle out of Mikuni owners who boast of getting a one kick start after three priming kicks. To me that's a four kick start! Debby

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Debby, it's only four kicks if they don't take the plugs out first. Please tell me no-ones stupid enough to kick a Commando over against compression with the ignition switched off ? There's always the chance that it might start if it's switched on !

I took it for a 20-25 mile ride today. When I was close to home and stopping at a light the bike would shut off when the clutch was pulled in. I moved it to the shoulder and found the tail light had shit both mounting bolts on the road somewhere. The wire chaffed and when it hit the plate frame it nuked the fuse. So with some stripes of duct tape found on the shoulder and some tinfoil from a cigarette pack it was back to life and rode it straight home. Starting it wasn't an issue as when cold I tickled it till the gas was weeping.

This is how my bike starts cold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f-W0-iK4EQ
Tickle till they weep, hold the throttle open half way and give it a swift boot. I'll admit it takes a few minutes till it'll hold an idle though...

chopped850 said:

I prefer to kick start my bikes. But to each his own. The 932's on my bike don't have a pilot jet and no choke's.

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I remember as a child watching some bikers kick starting a motorcyle. The guys were getting played out and I asked my dad what they were doing. He explained that was how you got a motorcycle started. This reality kind of personified motorcycles to me at that time. You had to give them something to get something back from them. Everything else this was a given, they just performed like robots but motorcycles made you grunt a bit before they would do anything for you. I've always loved this feature of an mc.

Hey chopped850, are you saying there's no pilot jet or are you meaning no throttle stop screw? That's how I run my nortons, no choke assembly and lose the throttle stop screw.