Hi
I have had my Commando since 1988. It was bought cheap (?) for £800 and was in a sorry state. No silencers, downpipes rusted away, old interpol tank fitted with aftermarket cafe racer seat and a hole in the frame where some bright spark had fitten an aftermarket clamp on side stand. This hadstarted slipping round the frame so it was drilled and a pin inserted which created an even bigger hole in the frame. After extensive work and lots of money it turned into a fastback but was difficult to start. I then bought a new SU Carb from Bernard Hooper but it was still difficult to start. Ignition is Boyer and having left it for some years I decided to fit a new RGM Mk2 Amal kit. Still very difficult to start and always needed easystart.
Now on my third set of petrol taps as the ethanol has dissolved rubber seals and blocked the old taps.
So new 6v coils, HT leads and Palladium spart plugs. Now to get it started.
Nothing !!
Battery charged, new BP Ultimate unleaded (not from South-west where they add ethanol for some reason). Spark plugs sparking resting against head and flashing strobe. Timing set exactly as per Boyer instructions. No volt drop to the Boyer unit.
But still nothing. I tried to start off and on the choke. I assumed that even if pilot jet is blocked the choke would put some petrol in the combustion chamber. I even opened the throttle to try and squirt some petrol in. Still nothing.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Geoff
Has it wet sumped? ie the…
Has it wet sumped? ie the contents of the oil tank drained into the crankcase.
If the crankcase is full of oil (which it usually is after a long period of standing), the drag of the crankshaft through the oil can make make starting difficult. The engine often pops but can not overcome that drag to run on.
So try draining your crankcase first. Then if still no luck, thoroughly clean the passages in the carbs..
Crankcase was full of oil,…
Crankcase was full of oil, drained and tried to start again. No luck.
Checked carb - pilot jet blocked. Choke jet a solid screw no hole!
So problem no petrol.
Fitted a new pilot jet and choke jet - no start with and without choke. Still doesn't seem to have petrol on plugs. Not sure if the crap in ethanol petrol could block the feed to jets but the card looks clean inside.
Now going o try easy start!
Hi David, did you ever…
Hi David, did you ever resolve this problem?. If so how? Regards Neil.
Hi Neil, After this amount…
Hi Neil, After this amount of time Its probably a basket case. The Atlas with similar effort needed started 2nd (feeble!) kick after a rebuild , 2year layoff and the old fuel. But thats with a monoblock carb, a far superior thing. And no ethanol gunk.
Mk.2 Amal
I once fitted a Mk.2 Amal to my Commando and always had great difficulty in starting it. Once it was running it was fine but even hot starting was difficult. This was years before I fitted an Alton starter and it may be that it would have been OK with the faster spinning-up with an e-start. The one issue I've found with carbs with cold-start 'devices' (Amal Mk.1.5, Mk.2, Mikunis and DellOrto etc.) is that you must not touch the throttle at-all when attempting starting otherwise the system simply won't work - I can attest to this ... .
I reverted back to pair of Amal Mk.1s and all was fine - I like ticklers!
none starter
hello now you say you have fitted platinum type spark plugs but for ethernol they not fire right as there a bit high voltage so go back to champion spark plugs N7BYC Heat range same as N4 for twin carbs now for single carbs use champion N9BYC now these are what I have in My Norton Manxman 650 and she starts easy usually fist kick even after a long lay up So please dont get Disheartened we all feel your pain as we got the Tshirt Just Try eliminate things one by one and you over come the problem but just try a pair of champion plugs from green spark plugs and see what happens all the Best Anna j
But
Platinum or Iridium plugs need LESS voltage.
Just tried starting it again.
Tried to fire initially after I had put the choke on but couldn't catch.
Wouldn't start with easystart.
Tried opening throttle - spat back through carb.
Plugs wet with petrol afterwards but difficult to detemine how wet with spindly gold paladium plugs.
Could the pilot and choke jets be blocked with gunk from the ethanol petrol?
Thanks
Geoff