72 Thunderbolt hard to start when cold

[Cornpop]

Hi all,
My 72 oif Thunderbolt has become a bit of a pain to start when cold.
I fouled up the plugs by  accidentally riding with the choke engaged (cable slipped over the guide) and since then it has been a tough starter.
The plugs have since been replaced so that rules out that as an issue.
Once warm it rides really well and starts easily when warm.
It now tends to flood everytime I go to start it cold though.  What does seem to work is when I empty the float bowl and begin the starting process again.
My initial thoughts are float height adjustment?
My questions to you are: could the settings have changed since that ride with the choke engaged? Or does the carb require a thorough clean out from that ride? Can carbon deposits even build up in the carb?
Any thoughts on the matter are most welcome

[Spaceman]

When I bought my A10 years ago, I foolishly rode it 200 miles home in torrential rain and also didn't realise the choke was on most of the way back because I confused the way the handlebar lever worked. However, it didn't do the bike any harm and any carbon build up must have burned off quickly after I subsequently used the bike without the choke being applied.

The other single bike I ride is notoriously fickle when it comes to starting and, if it doesn't start after 2-3 kicks, the engine will invariably be flooded and you then have to switch off the petrol and kick the bike over 6 or so times on the decompressor to clear it.

In this case, I doubt if running on the choke did any harm to the carb itself. However, it would be interesting to know what your normal starting procedure is especially to try to understand why emptying the float bowl should make a difference - I assume you use the ticker but do you also apply full choke at the same time? At face value, it sounds as though the carb might be flooding when you try to start the engine perhaps slightly more than you expect after using the tickler. One thing that might be worth trying is to tickle the carb and then turn off the petrol to see what then happens when you try to kick the bike over to see if it starts at some point. It would certainly be worth checking the float height and the functioning of the float and the needle valve.

[MGI]

You could try simply tickling it until petrol leaks out through the the bell mouth or around the tickler and then kick it without recourse to the choke with just a hint of throttle initially.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

Perhaps just coincidence that a problem has reared its ugly head.  I would have a good look at the float and the float needle.  Is the float cracked and is there any fuel in the float causing it to sit a bit lower causing the flooding?  Is the needle seating properly and cutting off the fuel when the float comes up? 
Ethanol resistant floats and float needle are available and good clean never did a carb. any harm.

Dave.

[Cornpop]

Thanks for the input.
My starting procedure is fairly standard I would say. Fuel on, tickle until finger is wet, hint of throttle and kick through. I tend to not use the choke either as some say they're as useful as tits on a bull.
I will experiment a little more with my procedure ie gradually increase fuel in the float bowl, turn off gas after tickling etc. otherwise it is looking like a carb clean.
It's winter here in NZ so probably a good time to do it as well.
Cheers everyone