New Project(s)

[Rockburner]

I am still to take it for a ride, but it seems to me that it's spitting and banging a bit too much and i think it might be running rich.

It's fitted with a 107 needle jet, which, according to this info: https://vintagebikemagazine.com/technic ... cles/amal/, is a bit unusual, so i may get a .1065 needle jet and see what it's like.

[Rockburner]

Took the Japton around the block a couple of times....

First few hundred yards were fine, then it started playing up again. Wouldnt fire, but would eventually backfire then pick up again for a bit, then repeat.

Managed to nurse it home.

Doesnt help that the choke lever won't stay open!


I think its running a tad rich:




Its also pushing a bit too much oil i think.

[Rockburner]

This thing is beginning to confuse me.

Dropped the needle in the carb today, from (iirc) 2nd notch, to lowest notch, and it's still dying at 1/2- full throttle opening, after a short time, just about when it starts getting properly hot. Before that its ok (ish)

I thought it was getting rich, but dropping the needle had virtually no effect, although it was struggling a tad at WOT, so it might be a touch lean when on the main jet?

Plug didn't look any different when i pulled it out after getting home. I cleaned it up before going out.

One slightly worrying thing is that when i pulled the plug out before the ride, it was smothered in oil...
I'm now worried a valve stem seal has gone.

I need to lower the oil feed to the head, its supposed to be 1 drop every 5 seconds at tick over.... Its currently twice that! That might be due to running R30 instead of R40, but i wouldn't think they're hugely different.

[Rockburner]

Sodding crap fibre washers!

I hate the bloody things.

Took the jet block off the carb this evening to check the fuel flow through, (to be sure the tank is breathing properly), it's fine e, but the sodding brand new fibre washer from Burlens will NOT seal again. It's gone hard already.

I thought fibre washers were meant to be reusable, at least a few times, this one ain't!

[Screwdriver]

Use it as a template, cut it out of cardboard.

[Rockburner]

Use it as a template, cut it out of cardboard.

I've got an A4 sized sheet of Viton, going to try that.

I also found some NOS Amal fibre washers on ebay, so will try them too if they're any good when they arrive.

[Rockburner]

Been doing doing some thinking over the weekend and I'm pretty convinced that the mag is dying.

The symptoms fit: after 5 mins on the road the bike just dies and will only "run" at low speed, and struggles to tick over, but once cooled down a bit, it will fire up fine again.

Got a couple of leads of restorers so need to make some phone calls on Monday.

Even if it turns out to be something else as well, knowing the mag is good will be one less thing to confuse matters.

[cheb]

What goes wrong with them?

[Rockburner]

What goes wrong with them?

The windings break and you get arcing inside them.

[cheb]

OK. Not a home fix by a long stretch then.

[Mr. Dazzle]

The Bonnie had very similar symptoms when the ignition was iffy. Turned out to the leads and caps, it ain't got a Mag of course. Probably worth doing the lot while you're in there.

[cheb]

The Bonnie had very similar symptoms when the ignition was iffy. Turned out to the leads and caps, it ain't got a Mag of course. Probably worth doing the lot while you're in there.

Single shot like a Coffman starter and then reload?

[Rockburner]

So, stripping the carb again in preparation for an ultrasonic bath (a friend has one), and the sodding curse of fibre washers strikes again...

IMG-20230606-WA0004.jpeg (1.37 MiB) Viewed 334 times

[Rockburner]

Yay! Carb cleaner and a bit of hot air.... (And some careful scraping with the old dental picks...)

IMG-20230606-WA0006.jpeg (1.28 MiB) Viewed 326 times

Also stripped the Puch carb down, it still had clean oil in the bowl!

IMG-20230606-WA0008~2.jpeg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 326 times

[Rockburner]

The foam air filter on the Puch wasn't very happy though!

IMG_20230606_175507_222~2.jpg (621.44 KiB) Viewed 320 times

[Count Steer]

The foam air filter on the Puch wasn't very happy though!

IMG_20230606_175507_222~2.jpg

Have you tried starting it while the filter was like that?

[ChrisW]

I'd been hoping you'd get on to the Puch. No offence intended!

[Rockburner]

I'd been hoping you'd get on to the Puch. No offence intended!

I've been busy.....

[Rockburner]

The foam air filter on the Puch wasn't very happy though!

IMG_20230606_175507_222~2.jpg

Have you tried starting it while the filter was like that?

Possibly, but it's not had fuel in it for some years.... Probably over 20....

[Rockburner]

Well, the sparks haven't run out yet!