Took my 500 out for a spin yesterday - the ultimate form of self isolation - and I was gratified that it Started first kick, given that it has not been touched in six months or so. I took my 350 out a couple of days earlier and that started second kick which is also gratifying if only because I only have about 3 kicks in me. With the 350 there is a ritual which must be followed and I am sure everyone is familiar with the starting procedures of the pre unit B models... In the case of the smaller machine I slightly retard the mag, turn on fuel, apply about one third choke, flood till petrol seeps from the little button, get the kick start where I want it and give a long kick, as soon as it fires advance the spark and remove choke - works for me... However, the 500 does not have a choke, is this normal? also when I tickle it, the fuel flows out of the bell mouth not from the small button. It still starts OK but I'm just curious...
Dont think fuel should run out of the ballmouth? perhaps the needle is not seating or the fuel level is too high .you can check the level with the 'pip' on the float chamber cover assumong you have a monoblock .
May be due to the angle of the carburettor. If the bell mouth is above the tickler level fuel will flow from there first. My B40 shows fuel out of the bell mouth and the tickler at the same time!
Actually, the bell mouth issue is a minor detail given it is a really good starter, I not sure what the carb is, I don't know the difference between a monobloc and a building block, would be interested in learning how to discern the model of carburettor. The thing that is puzzling me is the lack of a choke, is possesses a Magneto and an advance/retard lever as does my 350 but whereas my '56 350 has a choke my '58 (Frame) does not. The engine is much older '47 I believe.
http://amalcarb.co.uk/?SID=jpkll13fj358n6bd7utg5jtg64&___store=amal all the Amal carbs are here , unless you have a strange one like my A50 which has a Mikuni
A lot of owners used to remove the choke (air slide) mechanism and cable, block the hole in the carb cap and run without it.
This seems to be common across many BSAs. The cold starting procedure was, tickle to flood it well, kick it, rev it and ride away.
Not really sure what the advantage of that was but quite a few of my restoration projects have arrived with that setup, one with some vintage chewing gum in the cap orifice.
If you've taken a look at the history of the Amal carbs you'll have seen that the pre-monoblocs had separate float chambers attached to the carb by a banjo bolt.
Then the monoblocs, which had integrated float chambers on the side of the carb - a stubby cylinder with a plate attached on the side by three screws and a vertical join to ensure that we needed a good seal to prevent a fuel leak.
Then the concentric family where the float bowl forms the base part of the carb. Mk1 still had a tickler, Mk2 was a different design with an 'enricher' and no tickler and fitted mainly to the later T140 Bonnies.
Cheers,
Bernie
Thank you guys, appreciate your feedback...The Classic Bike mag arrived yesterday and lo & behold there is an article on the B33, whilst reading said article and viewing the accompanying photographs I noticed that the choke lever on the subject bike was located on the frame directly behind the carburettor. Excitedly I raced into the garage thinking perhaps I hadn't noticed the lever previously but no, the frame was unadorned. Not to worry.