ES2 won't start

Hello George, is the valve lifter set up ok

Barry

Put the old Champion back in.

Did you adjust the push rods are they both engaged ok? Do you have compression? I can stand on mine at tdc and it won't turn over.

Finally my old failsafe is to heat the plug with a blow lamp and fit it carefully when hot!

Dan

Hi George,

You haven't fitted an NGK resistor type plug have you? I treated my WD Big 4 to a new NGK and it wouldn't start. Had to put the original Lodge plug back and it started first kick. Also no problem hot or cold. Although its a personal thing I prefer Champion plugs to NGK. Not had a problem with a Champion plug during 45 years of riding Nortons.

regards

Petrol on?! Fuel in tank?!

as you know you need spark (at the right time) fuel and compression, if Cant get a bike to start I put half a teaspoon of petrol in the plug hole and try that. If it fires you know it's a fuelling issue, if it doesn't it's one of the others!

Dan

Mine won't start if a rod is too tight and Rattles terribly if it's too loose!

George. You wouldn't be able to adjust the valve clearances if a pushrod wasn't located. You said you readjusted them. Does that mean they were incorrectly set initially? Am I correct in saying that the ES2 should have zero clearance, just being able to rotate freely? Were they able to rotate freely when you checked? It sounds as though the timing is out again, but that does not explain why it wouldn't initially start. A back fire is normally when it is retarded, whilst a kick-back would be if over-advanced; or not kicking it over enthusiastically enough! Maybe initially the failure to start was caused by the pushrods being too tight; or by another small issue; it didn't like your new plug and flooded, or whatever; and when you re-adjusted the ignition timing (2 or 3 times?) it compounded the problem. There could have been two things going on here.

If fuel is getting through, it is sparking in the right place, the valves are fully closing with correct clearances, then it should go.

Ian

If it were a blocked jet it I think it would have fired when you added petrol down the plug hole so I think you have ruled out fueling.

As you have only taken the head off it is likely that the problem is being caused by that, and that would infer valves/compression, are you sure the lifter isn't fouling the tank and decompressing slightly? I had that problem albeit with a non Norton tank. Has the head seated properly? Is a valve sticking?

ps do you mean back fire as in the exhaust or kick back as in engine trying to go backwards?

try starting the bike without using the carb tickler .

Barry

Ok, you can stand on the kickstarter, so compression is good. It kicks back when advanced and not when retarded. That appears to rule out incorrect ignition timing, given that you have carefully checked it a few times. And of course you have a spark. It is actually igniting fuel, hence kick back, but does not continue to run. Sounds like a fuel issue to me. Are the plugs getting wet after all your frantic kicking? If so then it is flooding, if dry then there is a fuel restriction. Could be blocked filter on fuel tap, or dirt in the carburettor, possibly caused as you say by swilling the tank around. Air hole in filler cap blocked? Inlet manifold air leak when you re-fitted the carb?

Btw as the old plug was ok I would be inclined to keep that one in for the time being until you get to the bottom of this. The one thing that definitely has changed is the plug. I have fitted a new plug in the past which failed straight away, whilst the old one was still ok.

hello now hear is a thought have you done your timing on the right stroke and at TDC was both valves closed before doing any timing remembera single cylinder engine only fires once every 720 degrees or two turns of the crank lets hope you find out what the problem is .yours anna j

Easy trap for the unwary there George. Dislodging dirt in the fuel tank, lines or carburettor when removed for any engine maintenance. Been caught myself a few times.

This has certainly gone into my memory bank, Paul. The beauty of this forum is that we all gain an accumulative experience from it. George