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- Feb 10, 2009
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- 2,930
the mixture gets richer as these items wear, and returns to previous settings when replaced.
Yes, that’s what I was hoping for.
the mixture gets richer as these items wear, and returns to previous settings when replaced.
It idles about 1,100 RPM once it is warmed up. That was a cold idle as evidenced by the high oil pressure reading.What idle speed do you have yours set?
Be careful not to turn it into a cam grinder
No, but then they are inexpensive. More importantly, the slides and bodies lasted longer with anodized slide when the bodies were still Zn. The AL bodies of Premier carbs with those slides last even longer. Also, I never found a worn-out anodized slide.If amals stayed working the same as the day they were fitted nobody would ever change them
They are great when they are new but that's about all
I'd imagine the premier's are a lot better?
Do the needle jets and needles last any longer with premiers?
No, but then they are inexpensive. More importantly, the slides and bodies lasted longer with anodized slide when the bodies were still Zn. The AL bodies of Premier carbs with those slides last even longer. Also, I never found a worn-out anodized slide.
The old un-anodized slides lasted around 1/3-1/2 the life of the bodies. When I still sold on eBay my biggest sellers were AMAL major repair kits + slides. Back then a pair of them was over 1/2 the price of a pair of non-Premier carbs so I started recommending replacing the carbs - putting all those new parts in worn bodies was making little sense to me. It's more confusing now with all the AMAL price increases on Premier carbs sets.
Since, in the US at least, I the majority of riders don't do a lot of miles so I think it makes sense to change old carbs to Premier and possibly never need any new carbs/carb parts other than possibly a needle and needle jet somewhere down the road.
Yes, I know some ride a lot. I've bought over 40 Nortons and Triumphs since 2013 and one had 29k miles, one had 13k miles, some had no speedo, and the rest had under 10k miles.
Finally, other carbs also have parts that need to be replaced over time including the needles and jets an in the case of Mikuni and AMAL MK2, the cold start plunger.
There was one for sale here, a while agoFor what it's worth, I just bought and installed a pair of new Amal Premiers on my 1974 850 MKII. When purchased the bike had a single Mikuni fitted and ran like a pig, (the carb had apparently suffered the ravages of Ethanol based fuel and been mutilated by a previous owner). I replaced the Mikuni with a pair of "sort of" rebuilt used standard Amals and for the most part the bike ran very nicely. The only (carb related) issue was that the left side insisted on running rather lean. Anyway, I purchased the premiers from Greg Marsh and the bike now runs beautifully! Thank you Greg! Yes, I still have some fine tuning to do and yes I had to play about with the idle screws and idle mixture, but nothing I would consider difficult or unexpected. Greg knew what jets etc worked best for my application and supplied the carbs accordingly.
It seems to me that what is important here is the need to need to obtain parts from people who know what they are talking about. My pistons and rings are from Jim Schmidt, he obviously also knows what he is talking about. I have no doubt the Keihin carbs are awesome, but hopefully with care and ethanol free fuel my Amal Premiers will serve for a long time to come.
We all have our own preferences, nothing wrong with that. My carb related sickness is I like SU's. Have often fantasized about finding one for the Commando.
Agreed 8k-10k and Zn slides at least are worn and maybe needles too. 8k-10k more and it's slides again and needle and jet too. 8k-10k more and it's carbs. In the 70s the carbs were basically normal service parts and cost very little so none of that mattered much. Go forward to the early 2000s and they were expensive and still wearing out. Later anodized slides came out which caused the slides to last MUCH longer and the bodies to not wear as fast. As far as wear goes, the Zn Premiers really meant StayUp floats and anodized slides from new. The AL Premier brought longer life still, factory testing, much better bowl machining, etc.I've never had premiers so can't comment
I've never got more than 8000miles out of a set of amal concentrics before they can't be tuned to my liking
By that I mean they'll carry on working but I want them to always hold an idle
If I rev it to 7000rpm then close the throttle I don't expect it to cut out or carry on revving etc
And I don't want that off idle lumpyness that you can get with worn slides
At the end of the day it's horses for courses
In a box with "Norton Amals" written on the side.All I can really add is that the bike is running really great now with the Keihins and next time I am in the garage working on the Norton it won't be on the carbs.
The Amals are going up on the shelf and I will be on the road instead.
Norton AnalsIn a box with "Norton Amals" written on the side.
I'd leave well alone if I were youHi just a question for all you long time Amal users , my 73 norton 750 mk5 has the RH6 head and twin 932 amals it runs really well I just clean the pilot in situ now and then , it starts good, idles at 1000 ,
Should I leave the slides alone or get them anodised ? Or get some anodised ones . I would prefer to leave but just wondered if if this would help preserve it . Cheers
If you leave everything alone, then they will eventually wear out by the similar metals from vibration and use. If you order the correct anodized slides and put them in, then the galling of the metals stops. Sleeving them will cost you more than the new slides. IMHO. Each to his own.Hi just a question for all you long time Amal users , my 73 norton 750 mk5 has the RH6 head and twin 932 amals it runs really well I just clean the pilot in situ now and then , it starts good, idles at 1000 ,
Should I leave the slides alone or get them anodised ? Or get some anodised ones . I would prefer to leave but just wondered if if this would help preserve it . Cheers
Is the $1000 you are quoting AUD? Does it include VAT and/or duties? Did you have the bodies, slides, or both sleeved? AMAL anodized slides cost $65 to $85 each in the US.I just had my Amal 32’s sleeved in Australia $250 for the pair compared to $1000 for new premier carbs.
Well Baz my original Amals were zinc pot metal and were completely flogged out at 35K miles I replace them with new Amals in 1979 brought through the Queensland Norton owners club so they did the order, the new ones were a different lighter colour to the old Amals so not sure who they got them through, they are more alloy than zinc in colour.What metal are your amals made from if not pot metal?
Premiers made of aluminium didn't come out until 2012
Sorry but I seem to have missed that. Rather surprising though.That is what the OP was using before installing the Keihins. See post #18