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Messages - bikerbob

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16
Singles / Re: 1970 B25 speed
« on: 25 September, 2023, 15:01:22 »
I have a 1970 Starfire I weigh about 12 1/2 stone just been out for a little run  and it cruises nicely at about 55-60mph will obviously go a lot faster but at my age 81 am comfortble at about 55mph.

17
Singles / Re: Ongoing problems Starfire
« on: 24 September, 2023, 13:50:27 »
Thanks for that I now understand what it is

18
Singles / Re: Ongoing problems Starfire
« on: 24 September, 2023, 10:18:23 »
I do not think it is an interference surppressor as it is identical to the original condenser.  I have never heard of a star earth system could you please explain  what it is please, you may be right about a powder coated frame  as I have noticed that with a fully charged battery and the engine running the headlight is not as bright as I would expect from a 12volt system and when you rev the engine the headlight does not get any brighter although the ammeter shows a good charge rate.

19
Singles / Re: Ongoing problems Starfire
« on: 23 September, 2023, 18:06:35 »
The original was suspect did some tests with multimeter but results were not consistent so decided to replace it with a new one. I think I will remove the dodgy looking second one you only need one. I kow a previous owner has had the bike completely stripped down because the frame has been powder coated and the original wiring was replaced as it has a number of bits of masking tape tied to various wires with info on them as to where they go,also there is various bits of electrcal tape tied to various wires. I am considering  because of the state of the harness I may do a complete rewire over the winter months.

20
Singles / Re: Ongoing problems Starfire
« on: 23 September, 2023, 16:33:59 »
Just been back out to the garage found the old condenser that I replaced with the new one as pictured and it is exactly the same as the old one, but why would some one fit 2 condensers it has obviously been there for quite some time. bracket very rusty and connector looks corroded.

21
Singles / Re: Ongoing problems Starfire
« on: 23 September, 2023, 15:38:15 »
Just googled ballast resister non look like what is fitted to my bike and they all look like they have 2 connectors this only has 1 just like a condenser.

22
Singles / Ongoing problems Starfire
« on: 23 September, 2023, 14:44:41 »
1970 Starfire can someone please tell me what this item is and what it does. It looks like a condenser but I have got a condenser which you can see is in the correct place fastened to the back of the tool box. This looks as though it has been there for some considerable time fastened to the rectifier bracket, the cable that comes off it is a thick cable but when it goes under the fuel tank it has been cut and a normal sized wire has been taped to it.  It then connects to the coil using the same contact that connects to the points the black and white wire. Incidently as you can see it is a new condenser that I fitted but the original old condenser was fitted there behind the tool box. There is nothing like it on the wiring diagram

23
Singles / Re: Starfire Problem
« on: 13 September, 2023, 18:03:56 »
I posted this problem on another forum and a guy said check that the float bowl is level because it can suck in and affect starting. So I took the carb off and checked and sure enough the bowl was bowed using wet and dry on a flat surface I got the bowl perfectly flat and while I was on had another go a clearing the passageways put everything back together and hey presto bike started first kick ticking over perfectly left it running for about 4 minutes then decided to call it a day, My thanks to all who tried to help me with this problem

24
Singles / Re: Starfire Problem
« on: 13 September, 2023, 15:52:20 »
Thanks Neil. What is strange is when I got the bike with fresh petro lin I tried to start it but it would not start so after few kicks I took the plug out and it was wet heated it up with blowtorch fitted back in bike started first kick ran OK ticking over perfectly reving with no missing  but after about minute it suddenly stopped no warning  just like switching a light switch off. Bike started again after a couple okicks same again ran for about a minute then suddenl stopped did this 4 times in a row decided  to try to find the fault. Was advised that this is a blocked or partially blocked pilot jet. Have had the carb off  3 times cleared all openings with compressed air also as I have explained cleared the pilot jet and can feel air  blowing through it The only thing that I have done extra to the carb is fit viton float needle as I ordered it along with new gaskets. Now I have a good spark but it will not start. It was starting OK before I took the carb off just would not keep running.

25
Singles / Re: Starfire Problem
« on: 13 September, 2023, 13:43:43 »
Back working on the bike, things are getting worse have had the carb off and dismantled 3 times cleaned out all passageways did not have a number 78 drill to clear the pilot jet but did have set  of welding nozzle cleaners the smallest of which is0.0155 dia half a thou smaller than the pilot jet but is longer than a 78 drill so can get it right to the bottom through the jet have done this 3 times blown compressed air through all openings blocking them off with my finger so making the air blow different ways can feel air coming through all openings. Have refitted the carb but bike will not even try to start have a good spark at the plug but here is the thing after numerous kicks took the plug out and it is dry so looks as though petrol not getting to the plug although carb flooding OK and when I took it off there was plenty of petrol in the float bowl. Where do I go from here Thanks. All new gaskets and seals.

26
Singles / Re: Starfire Problem
« on: 07 September, 2023, 09:18:35 »
Amongst all thearticles that I have collected over years I found this paragraph in an article  Tuning your carb.

" Pressed in pilot jet
 Ama; 4 stroke carburetors have .016diameterpilot jet (622/107) pressed into the body. It can be cleaned using a 78 drill....016" diameter drill. After cleaning, blow compressed air through the pilot passge.
 If the pilot air screw has to be screwed in past 1 i/2 turns in to richen the mixture the standard jet can be enlarged to the next size with a 77 drill (.018") 0r with a 76 drill (.020") as necessary. If you go too far, for the majority ofbikes, a smaller removeable pilot jet (124/026) can be screwed into the tapped hole in the body."
This course of action would have to be a last resort thing, at the moment I would like to get the bike at least running consistently so I can have a go at tuning the carb properly Having checked the plug I can see that it is running quite rich. Unfortunately I am going to have leave off working on the bike for few days because of ohther commitments. I will come back and let you no how I get on. Thanks to all who have gave info.

27
Singles / Re: Starfire Problem
« on: 06 September, 2023, 17:11:48 »
Thanks for that the coil was still attached to the bike when I did the tests will take it off tomorrow and try again. While waiting for the condenser to come I thought I might as well take the carb off  check it out, the inside was spotless no signs of any dirt blew compressed air through all holes all OK. The airscrew position has got me thinking, now with a mono bloc carb the starting point for tuning is one and a half turns out, on this concentric carb the screw was not quite a half turn out are concentric carbs different. Also the needle position the Amal catalogue says posotion 2 but  in the library I checked the instruction book for my model and it says position one, now I don't think this would contribute to my problem but I would like to get it correct when I put it back together not sure what position was before I stripped it as when trying to compress the spring to release the throttle cable somehow disturbed the needle clip and the needle fell out getting a bit clumsy in my old age.

28
Singles / Re: Starfire Problem
« on: 06 September, 2023, 14:06:37 »
No Idid not tickle the carb just kicked it over and couple kicks bike restarted. Have got the tank off and have done multimeter test on the coil using the ohms setting at 200 I get a reading 0f 5.2 changing the ohms setting to 20k and taking a reading from either connector to the plug lead hole I am getting a reading of 8.76. From what I have checked on line the reading across the connectors should be .4 to 2 and from the connectors to the plug hole 6k to 20k. Is the coil OK or do I need a new one. Thanks. I will be next taking the carb off and checking that over but because of other things may not get around to that till the weekend. Thanks

29
Singles / Re: Starfire Problem
« on: 06 September, 2023, 09:19:55 »
Thanks for those replies I will work through the suggestions,however I am not convinced at this stage it is a petrol problem I am 81 years old have been riding bikes since I was 16 not continuosly but continuos since 1995 I have restored an A10 a C12 A65 A7 so I have had numerous problems both fuel and electrical which at times have caused a few headaches. In my experience if it is fuel related then you normally get some warning missing spluttering that kind of thing. In all those years I cannot ever remember having a blocked main jet but have had a number of pilot jet blockages  plus other carb problems you usually get some symptoms like with a blocked pilot jet normally the bike will try to start but will not and if it does start then it will be missing and spluttering. Now electrical that is my weak point they have always caused me the most headaches like now trying to test the condenser have watched videos on line  the first one I watched a guy set the ohms on the multimeter to 20k then putting one lead on the connecter the other on the body if you get a high reading of 18-19 then condenser is OK if you get a low reading 1-2 then condenser is faulty. Using that test on my condenser I get no reading at all. The only thing with Starfire is this is the first time I have ever had a bike with a concentric carb all my other bikes have had Amal Monoblocs maybe concentrics react differently,the main reason that I suspect an electrical problem is the sudden stop of the engine no prior warning it is like switching your light off at home it is that sudden but you can start the bike up again with just a couple kicks and the whole saga starts again runs perfect for about a minute then suddenly stops. I do appreciate the help that I am getting Thanks.

30
Singles / Re: Starfire Problem
« on: 05 September, 2023, 14:34:21 »
Thanks for that on my Starfie the condenser is under the seat bolted to the rear of the toolbox like you say I think I will just buy a new one and go on from there.

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