1958 Golden Flash idle

[Willie Dee]

This is a strange one, I had no bother with the tick over on this bike but the boy was dickering about with it and fired it up but the accelerator was stuck on, so it started on full tilt. Sorted out the cable and fired it up but now it is is idling way too fast. The slide is bottoming out and the cable is now disconnected but still a fast idle, no air leaks. Anyone any thoughts?

[AdrianS]

You say the slide is "bottoming out". On what? The idle speed screw? If so back it off a bit to allow the slide to drop down a bit more.

[Willie Dee]

Adrian, the idle screw is out and I was assuming that meant the slide was fully down but reading this and remembering that you should never assume anything, I will be back at it today and check that the slide is fully down. Cheers.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

If the idle screw is out it could allow air in and cause higher revs?

Dave.

[Willie Dee]

Yeh Dave but I have it out to check the slide goes down as far as it can and it does. Your suggestion of drawing air gives me more info, some thing happened when it fired up on full tilt, just got to track down what. It's all in bits now as I am changing rocker box gaskets that were leaking.

[Steve C15]

Maybe pulled a bit of muck into the pilot jet or pathways.

[Willie Dee]

An update on this, really could not find anything obviously wrong so I wondered if the advance had jammed when it went to full tilt straight off. I had a gasket so nipped the cover off and decided to do the leaking rocker box at the same time. The advance looked OK and moved back when worked with a finger so reckoned it was ok, took the chance to take the play off the Dynamo chain and grease it when I was in there. Tackled the rocker box and was a bit wary as from what I had read, it was the worst job on an A10 you would ever have to do. Tried with hooks etc etc but it was not happening so decided to buy a comb. Could have been beginners luck but with elastic bands and the comb, it went together,first time, no problem. Built it all back up and it fired up and settled to a steady idle..so what caused the racing engine? No idea but just spent a pleasant afternoon running out in a very sunny Perthshire. Thanks for the input guys.