madass gantry system - back to cables...

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joe czech

joe czech

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sorry Don. although your linkage system is top notch - fit, finish, quality, etc., all was good, HOWEVER, my 74 needs choke - plain and simple. without choke, it was a bear to start, i'd jump on the kick start until I was blue in the face. 72, bad knees, and not much fun. when I did manage to get it started, I had to nurse the throttle for a few minutes to keep it running until I got it to temp. if it stalled, it was a SOB to restart. anyway, LSS, back to choke and cables. massive improvement - half choke here in florida, and she'll start on the first or second kick, and I can stabilize the idle within a few seconds. a friend here in palm coast, came over and help me route the throttle and choke cables and dial in the twin amals . got to tell you, I was out yesterday - from a red light, idle flat to WOT - three gears, she pulled like a freight train. all is good and i'm a happy camper....

so, anyone interested in a barely used madass system....
 
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Oh dear, a rather overlooked item, the choke. Another problem and something that is fitted on muticarbs on other bikes but not here, is the omission of a single screw/knob adjuster for the slide stops.
 
I put on his kit without the chokes and it was a bear to start. Put the chokes on and now it starts easily. That and the new Premiers did the trick.
It's a great kit for sure. I saw a few things which could make it better but for now it works like it should.
Just need to get a new Tri Spark unit and I'll be back in business.
 
Its funny how each Norton is different, my Norton 44 years ownership starts without chokes first kick every time even in our winters if I use choke anytime it would be harder to start with to much fuel but others I know have to use a little choke for then to start British bikes running Amal's but in a warm area chokes should not be needed at all if things are set right my Amal's have the choke slides taken out completely for over 40 years, I am running PWK carbs now but thinking of going back to a new set of Premier Amal's as I do miss my ticklers.

Ashley
 
Back in the seventies I never used the choke on a succession of Triumphs and Nortons, just a liberal tickle, but nowadays I find the choke essential. I wonder if modern fuels are somehow different when it comes to cold starting?
 
My. 850 starts fine with chokes removed and cable openings blanked off. First or second kick the norm. Yes I need to hold throttle open a wee bit at and after starting until things heat, maybe two to three minutes from dead cold.

This was with original amals at about 14k miles. Ive just resleeved them but not yet run the bike since November as weather not decent until recently.

Might be interested in a second hand gantry setup if price is right and guaranteed Corona-free ;)​
 
You can easily use the choke with Dons set up .
My 74 also likes choke if it has sat all night or more.but also saying that only on the first start of the day.
I had to shorten the outers on the choke cables by the same width as the plate, ( 7mm off the top of my head) and they work perfectly.
 
I have the Madass linkage kit that I will sell for $80 which includes shipping. It would not fit under my Fastback tank. PM me if interested.
 
I once asked Dyno-Dave what the trick was for getting the air filter out and in to a 1972 Commando. His reply?: "There are no tricks. There are procedures. Would you like me to list them?" Where-upon he proceeded to list the procedures starting with 1968 etc.
I learned a lot in those few moments. (Thanks Dave!)
Starting my Commando has become a bit of a "set of procedures." I'm not going to say that this works on all other Commandos but it works nearly every time on mine.

1. Tickle the carbs.
2. Set the choke.
3. Turn on the ignition.
4. Give it one third throttle.
5. Push the kick starter down until you feel compression.
6. Bring the kick starter back to the top and kick it like you really believe it will start!

Like I said, no guarantees but this has worked on other Commandos which were giving trouble starting and mine has started on the first kick in freezing weather.
 
I had no problem refitting the chokes on mine. I did remove the adjuster locknuts to allow the slide to go further down though.


Cheers,

cliffa.
 
I have installed the linkage kit with chokes. Removed the adjuster nuts and cranked the adjusters in all the way. Cable adjustment is just right.


madass gantry system - back to cables...
 

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For all those that say they need a little choke or half choke or whatever other then turning the choke on, please explain - I don't get it. Until the choke slider is about 90% down it is hidden inside the slide and does nothing as far as I can tell.

Since 1968, I've removed the choke on every British bike I've had. Including my first - a Triumph T100C with ET ignition ridden to college all winter in Illinois. The PO of the 74 850 rider I have assured me it wouldn't start without half choke and he had been riding it for 42 years - it started up no problem in front of him without the choke and I removed it as soon as I got home.
 
marshg246 said:
For all those that say they need a little choke or half choke or whatever other then turning the choke on, please explain - I don't get it. Until the choke slider is about 90% down it is hidden inside the slide and does nothing as far as I can tell.
Click to expand...

Exactly! I’ve argued that point many times too.

Unless you’re talking about a true ‘enrichening’ device like on a mk2 Amal, that’s a different thing altogether.
 
sorry folks. not trying to be argumentative - i'm far from having any expertise on the subject. maybe i'm not understanding all the details of what's going on, but with the madass system, it was a problem to start cold and maintain idle until the engine reach operating temp. not so much cold weather (i'm talking 75-80°F florida weather), but a cold engine. when I put everything back to OE factory - issues gone. I guess there could be something else at play here - can't say. I did not change needles, jets, or settings - everything remained the same. I do have trouble believing the amal carb folks would install a choke mechanism that has little impact on cold air or cold start operation. to me, that doesn't make sense. then again, it could be just the nature of my carbs - everything involved -- my idle circuit, float level, settings - everything coming together was driving things just a bit too lean for that perfect start cold scenario - maybe a little choke put things in balance, closer to the ideal cold start F/A ratio. I DON'T KNOW. I do know, that every time I deviate from the norm, it comes back to bite me in the arse. again, nothing wrong Don's gantry system - nice product, and I really liked the concept. fit and finish - everything top shelf. it just didn't work me. peace....
 
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