Evening all, It's me again, asking for another bit of basic advice. Just took the B40 down the road for a couple of miles in the early evening sunshine. But when I started her up I noticed a prolific leak from the carb. I quickly turned off the fuel and lightly nipped up the drain screw in the base of the carb. But that wasn't the problem. The fuel was coming from the tickler. I pressed it again and the leak stopped. A bit of muck making it stick maybe? Could be that today, before replacing my front wheel, I had brushed the dried muck of the underside of the front mudguard. Maybe a bit of muck found its way to the tickler button? Or maybe it was some crud inside the carb? I'm guessing I need to keep an eye on it when I start the bike, and if it happens again then need to take the carb to bits? Is that right? Could it be a problem at any time other than when I've just tickled it? Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated as always. Phil
Not unusual. Happened me a couple of times since I bought my first British motorcycle 55 years ago. Two weeks ago on the Victor Special. A decent blow with my hand on the side of the carburettor. Normal practice, problem solved.
What I believe without being certain is that tickling sometimes reposition float or needle. A nice smack reminds it where it should be.
Yes a knock on the cover of the float chamber does it. Mine is a relatively new carb and I think the float sometimes rubs against the bulge in the body where the screw fits. Once running the vibration should stop it sticking. Otherwise the needle is sticking. If its brass, change it for one of the new 'rubber' tipped alloy ones. Take off the float chamber cover and give it a onceover.