Norman White PR starting problems

[concours]

Great news!

 

[concours]

For those who haven't fallen asleep with this one an UPDATE... Finally got the bike back to Norman (real privilege to meet this wonderful chap) and he tells me there's signs it has been run ethanoled fuel, must be by the previous owner as I used 102 octane ethanol free, with blisters on the fibre tank and carb needles gummed up with brown residue (that's €200 wasted on a so called 'professional' clean in Germany). So he got the bike running on the right cylinder but still problems on the left. Ignition is spot on so he is going to investigate further. More to follow...

I've put four different sets of new spark plugs in the bike without success. Think Norman believes it's a failed electronic part but will await his investigation.

It's mind-blowing, to think a DPO (or ANY assigned caretaker) wasn't even smart enough to put the correct fuel in this hot rod bike.
To be enamored by vintage is one thing, to not bother to school yourself as you go is just shitful.

 

[Fast Eddie]

It's mind-blowing, to think a DPO (or ANY assigned caretaker) wasn't even smart enough to put the correct fuel in this hot rod bike.
To be enamored by vintage is one thing, to not bother to school yourself as you go is just shitful.

Indeed, the mind boggles as to some peoples logic. Someone spent a fortune on a top spec build like that, then ignores Norman and puts cheap shit fuel in it !?

I wouldn’t be surprised if the valves are not seating correctly, due to said gum, but let’s see what Norman discovers.

One thing is certain, when Norman has finished with it, it will be properly sorted.

 

[Staytite]

I have met Norman many times over the past 30+ years and he has done excellent
work on my engines.

How come he looks much the same now as he did 30 years ago ?

 

[Onder]

Because he is using the EasyStart...

 

[Saber]

She lives and the great man was right again about the use of cheap ethanol fuel by the previous owner. It took three strip down and cleans to get all the gunk out of the left hand carb too.
Thanks for all the help from thw Forum now I just have to find a decent club on the Continent to race it with!

Good result! Were you there when the great one did his troubleshooting? It would be interesting to know his approach and thinking to figure it out.

 

[PM999S]

Good result! Were you there when the great one did his troubleshooting? It would be interesting to know his approach and thinking to figure it out.

No I had to leave it with him for three weeks or so because he had to patch it in with at least three other bike projects he had on the go. However, what I thought was just a manufacturing fault on the tank he spotted very quickly as bubbling that suggested melting fibre glass so he told me very quickly he thought it was ethanol pollution but still checked over ignition etc which was all still spot on. Proper professional!

 

[Tornado]

The dissolving resins in the tank may persist for some time after proper fueling. Might be best to either leave this tank for shows/on the mantle piece etc or have it lined if needing to use.

It is possible the DPO did use correct fuel yet the resins in tank were just not up to task. They were for street gas of the 70's afterall.

 

[PM999S]

The dissolving resins in the tank may persist for some time after proper fueling. Might be best to either leave this tank for shows/on the mantle piece etc or have it lined if needing to use.

It is possible the DPO did use correct fuel yet the resins in tank were just not up to task. They were for street gas of the 70's afterall.

I've bought a Fastback ethanol safe tank from RGM though mainly because the original is too long for me and puts me way too far back on the bike. The shorter tank should get me nearer the Ducati 999 position that is my favourite for track and road.