Mikuni VM vs TM

click · Apr 20, 2010

Hi Lads,

Just did a big search on this site & could not find any info. on the Mikuni TM flatslide carb (might be a reason for this!!)

Anybody running a TM carb on a Commando? will it fit?

Thanks in advance

Kevin

geo46er · Apr 20, 2010

Hi Kevin,
Back on June 24, 2009 two board members "cmessenk" and "neuxstone" have postings regarding the use of a Mikuni TM series carb on a Commando and speak highly of it. I presently have a VM 34mm installed (which I did very late last fall and have yet to pull my bike out this year to finish tuning) and a TM 34mm which I would like to try later. I do have some basic tuning specs for the TM, feel free to drop me a line at geo46er@yahoo.com

click · Apr 21, 2010

geo46er said:
Hi Kevin,
Back on June 24, 2009 two board members "cmessenk" and "neuxstone" have postings regarding the use of a Mikuni TM series carb on a Commando and speak highly of it. I presently have a VM 34mm installed (which I did very late last fall and have yet to pull my bike out this year to finish tuning) and a TM 34mm which I would like to try later. I do have some basic tuning specs for the TM, feel free to drop me a line at geo46er@yahoo.com

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I'll search for the postings above & if I've any more questions I'll zap you a PM.

All the best

Kevin

cmessenk · Apr 21, 2010

Kevin,

I had the Mikuni TM carb installed on my Combat after months of frustration with my brand new Amal carbs. I had some very reputable folks try and get the Amals to run correctly ("bill" on this site and Mike Carter in Altoona, FL) but it continued to stall at red lights and cough & spit when crusing at slow speeds. I had the TM installed and it was like night and day. My bike is now a 1-kick starter even after a week in the shed....idles perfectly at 1000 rpm and will out-pull all my other buddies on their Commandos. My setup is:

Main Jet: 240
Pilot Jet: 35
Needle Jet: Type 389, Size P-0
Needle: 6DH3
Airjet: 2
Slide: 4

bill · Apr 21, 2010

cmessenk said:
Kevin,

I had the Mikuni TM carb installed on my Combat after months of frustration with my brand new Amal carbs. I had some very reputable folks try and get the Amals to run correctly ("bill" on this site and Mike Carter in Altoona, FL) but it continued to stall at red lights and cough & spit when crusing at slow speeds. I had the TM installed and it was like night and day. My bike is now a 1-kick starter even after a week in the shed....idles perfectly at 1000 rpm and will out-pull all my other buddies on their Commandos. My setup is:

Chip
you forgot to mention that I warned you about the amal's and you would be MUCH happier with a single mikuni. it took a little time but you did see the light.

cmessenk · Apr 21, 2010

bill said:
Chip
you forgot to mention that I warned you about the amal's and you would be MUCH happier with a single mikuni. it took a little time but you did see the light.

You're absolutely right, Windy. I'll tell you, what I HAVE learned is to listen and take notes everytime you talk about Nortons!! Hey, hope you all have a great time up at the Three State Ride...sorry I can't make it this year.

click · Apr 21, 2010

Hi Lads,

Many thanks for the replies.

I contacted David in Legendary-Motorcycles.com as he was mentioned in another posting about the TM carb.

Are there any other suppliers worth contacting who have good knowledge of supplying TM carbs for a Norton.

I've contacted two suppliers in the UK but they have only supplied the VM carb & seemed a bit unsure about the TM!

All the best

Kevin

jaap · Apr 21, 2010

As a proud Norton owner you can not mount a Mikuni or Keihin or any other Japanese contraption on a Brit
bike, I got kicked out of my parts suppliers shop once because I told them I had NGK plugs in my bike.

.............. :lol:

I am using Champions plugs now ofcourse, and still kicking it at the traffic lights...........all part of the Norton experience if you ask me,
wouldn't want to miss it for the world, same as the @$$kicking by the wife after she discoveres another oilstain, so yes no belt primairy for me.

and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and on........................

littlefield · Apr 21, 2010

It may be worth checking on a Keihin FCR. Lots of availability on the carb but don't know if anybody makes a 2 into 1 manifold.

click · Apr 21, 2010

jaap said:
As a proud Norton owner you can not mount a Mikuni or Keihin or any other Japanese contraption on a Brit
bike, I got kicked out of my parts suppliers shop once because I told them I had NGK plugs in my bike.

.............. :lol:

I am using Champions plugs now ofcourse, and still kicking it at the traffic lights...........all part of the Norton experience if you ask me,
wouldn't want to miss it for the world, same as the @$$kicking by the wife after she discoveres another oilstain, so yes no belt primairy for me.

and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and onand on and on and on and on........................

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I agree with most of what you are saying but I want this bike for my daily ride, I got my first Brit bike 25 years ago, a Triumph T100P, it was my only form of transport for 7 years, I went all over Ireland, France, UK and the Isle of Man. I learnt all my spanner skills from keeping the T100 on the road, I was always spending my time in the garage over the weekend stripping carbs or heads or clutches etc. etc. I still have this bike & it is just ready for final assembly after a nut & bolt strip down.

I feel I have paid my dues to the big Brit Gods in the sky & just want to make this bike as practical as I can for everyday use :mrgreen:

Now if I keep everything original and you want to spend your weekends working on my bike that sounds like a great deal . . . . . for me :mrgreen:

click · Apr 21, 2010

littlefield said:
It may be worth checking on a Keihin FCR. Lots of availability on the carb but don't know if anybody makes a 2 into 1 manifold.

Hi,

I think I've come across a discussion about a single FCR on this forum & the issue was it would not fit due to the frame tube. The twins fits because they just fit either side of the frame tube.

If I had a bigger budget I'd consider twin FCR's :roll:

Kevin

jaap · Apr 21, 2010

:lol: :lol: hahaha, no thanks just email me your address and I will get you the Mikuni's.

click · Apr 21, 2010

jaap said:
:lol: :lol: hahaha, no thanks just email me your address and I will get you the Mikuni's.

:mrgreen: If you're buying the least you could do is get me a pair of KCR's, what the heck get the Mikuni as well so I have choice :wink:

jaap · Apr 21, 2010

You know you are asking this from a fingertight dutchman ? :lol:

I can get you some reinforced wooden shoes for kickstarting purpose only.

click · Apr 21, 2010

If we keep the ribbing going jaap the EU might have to get involved :mrgreen:

Is it possible to fit a TM carb & keep the old style air cleaner (oval shape with mesh all around, not the big black ugly MK3 box!)

I think somebody mentioned they had cut the wire mesh sides & made a thinner original air box?

I know you can get a single hole front plate for the original airbox but will the TM+manifold+rubber adaptor fit in-between?

Kevin

splatt · Apr 21, 2010

The TM36 carb is a tall carb and will require a specific manifold, I can tell you it wont fit with a RGM MKII amal style manifold, you can also get them with an accelerator pump and the idle adjuster on the side instead of on the top, the top adjuster is abit tricky. My opinion is the VM is an easier carb to work on only due to the fact the TM is all held together with screws.

click · Apr 21, 2010

splatt said:
The TM36 carb is a tall carb and will require a specific manifold, I can tell you it wont fit with a RGM MKII amal style manifold, you can also get them with an accelerator pump and the idle adjuster on the side instead of on the top, the top adjuster is abit tricky. My opinion is the VM is an easier carb to work on only due to the fact the TM is all held together with screws.

Hi splatt,

David in Legendary-Motorcycles.com recommended the TM34 even though I have a 920 based on the intake valves are standard & dictate the capacity of flow, seems to make sense?

David can supply an entire kit, all the cables (2) filter, elbow. remote choke and extra jetting. Has anybody got this 'kit' from David?

The VM is the main carb most guys use but with the limited knowledge I have of carbs, the flat slide carb is a 'better' performing carb.
I'm interested in the accelerator pump, anybody running one?

Kevin

cmessenk · Apr 21, 2010

click said:
If we keep the ribbing going jaap the EU might have to get involved :mrgreen:

Is it possible to fit a TM carb & keep the old style air cleaner (oval shape with mesh all around, not the big black ugly MK3 box!)

I think somebody mentioned they had cut the wire mesh sides & made a thinner original air box?

I know you can get a single hole front plate for the original airbox but will the TM+manifold+rubber adaptor fit in-between?

Kevin

Kevin,

I'm not sure you can use the stock airfilter and housing...in fact I sort of doubt it. An easier solution, and much nicer looking IMHO is this solution...a simple pancake filter:

http://www.sportingforless.com/servlet/ ... air/Detail

An advantage is you can take the TM off the bike in less than a minute....rubber connector to the manifold and similar connector to the air filter....carb removal is a snap!

click · Apr 21, 2010

cmessenk said:
click said:

If we keep the ribbing going jaap the EU might have to get involved :mrgreen:

Is it possible to fit a TM carb & keep the old style air cleaner (oval shape with mesh all around, not the big black ugly MK3 box!)

I think somebody mentioned they had cut the wire mesh sides & made a thinner original air box?

I know you can get a single hole front plate for the original airbox but will the TM+manifold+rubber adaptor fit in-between?

Kevin

Click to expand...

Kevin,

I'm not sure you can use the stock airfilter and housing...in fact I sort of doubt it. An easier solution, and much nicer looking IMHO is this solution...a simple pancake filter:

http://www.sportingforless.com/servlet/ ... air/Detail

An advantage is you can take the TM off the bike in less than a minute....rubber connector to the manifold and similar connector to the air filter....carb removal is a snap!

Hi cmessenk,

It's the old head & the heart issue. My head say the pancake filter which I actually like, reminds me of the Triumph air filter. But my heart says 'go on try & keep the original' :shock:

I think my head might win this one & I'll tell my heart that I'm keeping the original Amals & air filter just in case :roll:

Thanks for the link to the filter.

Kevin

geo46er · Apr 21, 2010

Greetings,
Just a little info to pass on. The single hole stock looking front airbox plate is available from Norvil part# 06976755. The question then becomes will the stock rubber air tubes fit whatever type of carb that you are trying to mount?
The one-into-two manifolds are available from Sudco, SM23 for 32-34mm carbs part# 005-037 or SM-23A for 36-38mm carbs part# 005-038 price each is $150usd. The bolt on rubber flange mounts 32-34mm or 36-38mm sell for $23usd each.
The whole Mikuni kit typically with VM series carb can be had for a little over $300usd which of course includes manifold, gaskets,rubber flange, carb, cables, and airfilter. For slightly more (approx. $50usd) the supplier can substitue the TM series carb.
If you already have the VM set up TM carbs can be had used or new off Ebay some what cheaply, jets and needles are cheap, needle jets are $15usd each.
One more note, if you pick up a used manifold check to see if it is made to mount a single Amal carb (IE bolt spread center to center = 50.8mm) as this will make it very difficult to install a flange for a Mikuni carb (ask me how I know).

GB

Mikuni VM vs TM

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