Ugh, not a good day, but no wreck

Spent the morning putting on the exhaust, primary, got jets, needles, anodized slides, etc. from Amal this AM, installed in carbs, pulled one main jet apart with gorilla hands, replaced with old one, got it outside, filled tank, tickled carbs, hit it once and got about 4 ignition strokes and then nothing the rest of the afternoon. I even put the old jets back in back on, checked the plugs, dry as a bone, even when I flood the dickens out of it. I even tried a tiny squirt of starting fluid and nothing. I was hoping it was going to start like B+Bogus' video, guess I'm wishing too much. On to trouble shoot for the next few rainy days, check the Pazon first. I may even put the old needles back in, I can't imagine the new slides would make any difference. I'm wondering if it's the old avgas, it seems to have lost it's blue color over the winter, but it was still good Christmas eve.

Ugh.

A pilot friend of mine says AV gas does not go bad.I have been meaning to get some at the A/P where his shop is but now with fuel prices through the roof: forget it. Next time run it before you take it apart to verify it is/was a runner before you messed with it. Probably caught "wrenchitus" from you messing with it too much. It used to sound beautiful. My policy is if it ain't broke, don't fix or modify it. Gas and go.

Oh ugh, now this is a post I can relate too, so can't wait to read how it turns out for you.

The AVGAS should be fine.. (you did use Sta-Bil as well, right?) dry plugs? have you cleaned your idle passages? .017" drill (old peice of wire for field repairs, TENDERLY!)

Sounds like needle/seat/float problems.

"80% of all fuel problem are electrical"

I think you know what you have to do. If it didn't fire with starting fluid, it's not getting spark. New plugs, grounded against the head and check for spark with ignition switch or kick it through a couple times.

If the plugs are dry after tickle rainfall, seems its the carbs. Tickle means you have Amals. I don't like where this thread is going so I am going to take a nap.

Diablouph said:

If the plugs are dry after tickle rainfall, seems its the carbs. Tickle means you have Amals. I don't like where this thread is going so I am going to take a nap.

Click to expand...

:lol: :lol: :lol: killer :lol: :lol: :lol:

First off, anti-Amal people can just leave or don't read or start another anti-Amal thread, it's up to you.

I'm thinking fuel is not getting in somehow, but can't figure. Here's the scenereo.

New front and rear brake shoes, shouldn't be an issue.

New clutch bearing, shouldn't be an issue, but I did break down the primary to do this. Still can't figure it would be any problem, the rotor and sprocket still goes back on just like before.

Adjusted primary chain and clutch. Can't figure that would cause anything.

Now we come to the things that matter.

New Amal #3 anodized slides (replacement for original), new needles, needle clips, new main (240) and needle jets (106), same sizes as originals, same bodies. I did put some RIG grease on the slides.

This may be an issue. Replaced old H fuel harness with new style harness that goes straight from tank tap to tank tap with 180° fittings off bottom of carb bowls. The tickling seems to be different somehow, not as quick, but still get plenty fuel dripping off bottom of bowls with tickle. However, plugs dry, no matter tickle, but first kick did start and quit right away and nothing later. I almost get the feeling like it's flooded, but the plugs are dry. I may try using my old EW straight through taps (if they don't leak) as opposed to my BAP taps which seem to not be so quick with the fuel delivery.

Anyhow, going to check Pazon for voltage and spark tonight. Then maybe even put all original parts back in carbs, I've already put the original jets back in, but not the slides and needles.

This too shall pass.

Dave
69S

Oh Ok your story is progressing in mystery just as I remember - so have learned never ever throw away old parts, at least not till the new ones proven out, and still may need the old stuff in a pinch. Have you checked the kick stand starter cut out switch or the clutch depressor switch? Oh wait Cdo's aren't that complex. I tend to knock electrical connections loose doing other tasks like you list. New plugs is always something to try.

Bummer Dave, let us know what you find. If I finally get some time to wrench I will be getting mine back on the road too and allways have that wierd feeling like something won't work until as useually happens it fires on the first kick & leaves me with that big happy Norton grin. Good luck, Oh & just for the record I'm a Amal loving fool!

It's always the pilot jets.

When I had my Amals sleeved I had to go a lot richer on the idle adjustment. I went from about 2 to 1-1/4 turns out. May be the same with your new hopefully tighter slides.

Russ

Well, I have had my nap. I sense you have the slides so gummed up with rig? grease that the poor girl cannot breathe. Hold the throttle open when you tickle her so she can get a good whiff of petrol. Choke her a bit and crack the throttle while kicking through. I find that if I botch up the initial procedure and get no joy on kick 1 or 2 she needs more fuel. My bike has always been thirsty for a good prime especially when cold and also after a few beers or breakfast. My rested thoughts.

You forgot an important detail, you are older now and you may have lost some kick leg strenght during the winter, maybe your wife got you on a diet and you lack those extra few pounds :wink: Time for a margarita :mrgreen:

Jean

PS Dry plugs after a good tickling... I'd check the carbs and fuel lines.

How many vehicles or gas powered devices in your family/household and how many different drivers? You say the av gas doesn't have the blue colour? Maybe someone put that in the lawnmower and put who knows what back in the gas can. The engine would fire till the crappy fuel got in then game over. It might be worth draining the tank and putting fresh fuel in.

Dumping a little gas straight down each carb throat is inviting a kick back but you will know if you have a reasonable ignition. Maybe a compromise would be to open up the idle all the way and see if she lights.

My money would be on the pilot like Swooshmister said. Just because he won't paint his tank doesn't mean he doesn't know his carbs.

aceaceca » Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:30 pm
Well, I have had my nap. I sense you have the slides so gummed up with rig? grease that the poor girl cannot breathe. Hold the throttle open when you tickle her so she can get a good whiff of petrol. Choke her a bit and crack the throttle while kicking through. I find that if I botch up the initial procedure and get no joy on kick 1 or 2 she needs more fuel. My bike has always been thirsty for a good prime especially when cold and also after a few beers or breakfast. My rested thoughts.

Click to expand...

This about exactly matches my factory Combat Trixie acts. After she failed to start last month d/t a bad battery, when only teasing couple half starts, even with new battery she took like half hr of on and off kicking attempts and me recovering before she ran, but weirdly has started normally as above scine, just smokes too much now of course.

Nothing for it after all the simple stuff tried and tried, but go through carb, fuel and electrics in painful detail or no joy rides for you. Just tell em at work you'll get there soon as ya can.

sump full of oil??

Waw running on AvGas... Simply impossible overhere :shock:
With those fuel prices, you should switch to Jet A1, so you can have real big fuel problems