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[Scalyback]

Oh, Heck!


Just visited the Amal set up page.


4 different bits to do depending on throttle, pilot jet air screw needle, mainjet?



Well thanks for the advice, would have looked a treat, but Tornado gets used too much as opposed to the enjoyment of tinkering about!



I shall have to go for cleaning the Mikcarb up, and you never know, I might even epoxy a fake brass tickler on it just for show!



Thanks guys for all your advice!

[apparently lucky eddie]

Amals are in fact very simple to set up, don't be fazed by it. There is little advantage changing to a copy of an old carb though unless you have an old bike. Why try to make a modern bike look old if it is running sweetly and risk the aggravation if you're not au fait with carbs? There are a couple of guys at the (old British) bike club that are currently using Mikuni carbs (not Indian Mikarb snides)on their machines. Not only are they reliable but they are also cheaper than modern Amals.

[Scalyback]

OK, next question,



Should I change my Mikcarb for a Mikuni?

[Norm]

Ok next question, WHY, is there something wrong with your micarb?

[apparently lucky eddie]

Rule Number 1. If it ain't bust - don't fix it! Unless your carb is old and worn, not working properly and can't be set up to work correctly and if you don't understand carbs, leave well alone matey. It will only end in tears and tantrums!

[Scalyback]

Hi Norm,

I don't seem to get that higher speed idle when cold starting with the choke lever?



The mechanic set it up, as it was running somewhat rich, so he changed the float bowl, a needle and a jet I think. I used to just move choke off as soon as the engine fired, but now It has very little power to start riding (with the choke ON, otherwise it just dies) and I have to pull out of a junction, then do another 200 yards before I flick the choke off, when the bike runs ok. I have no real idea if this is correct for a bullet, but my very old Honda with a Kei hin carb was the same as the bullet used to be, start it, flick choke off, get on and go!



I am guessing that the carb setup i have now is correct, but it is quite unnerving, pulling out onto a busy main road when cold and having virtually no power until the throttle is about half open or more. Once he gets warm (Army style bike, it's a 'he') and the choke goes in, it runs just as well as before when it was rather rich.



Just wondered if I would do better with a Mikuni, or should I just enrich the mixture a tad OR... just leave alone as it may be set correctly now, but I just don't know it, never having owned this type of bike before?

[apparently lucky eddie]

...Going back to my previous post, I should have said that the bikes with Mikuni carbs were an old Triumph twin and a Norton Commando, not Enfields.

[PeteF]

Apparently guys who trial Triumph Cubs are using Micarbs and find them better than Amals. Read it in Classic Bike recently.

[mauri]

the micarb is actually not a bad carburetor at all, it is a mikuni copy after all.

once set up correctly it works well, and is more than adequate on a standard enfield.
even with a open air filter an exhaust.
and the set up possibilities are as wide as a mikuni.
a monobloc has less possibilities in this matter, adjusting the float hight is one example.
the MK1 is hardly better in this matter.

if hotter cams, higher compression, bigger valves,..... are added, an upgrade to a bigger diameter is not a bad idea.

[Jonesy]

Hi Scalyback,If AMALS were any good,they would be ,fitted on japanes bikes.Stick with MAKUNIS thy are bettermade ,and easier to setup