Forum

[Adam]

Thanks for all the advice and information. I forgot to mention I'm running with an Amal Monobloc which has been blown through following ultrasonic clean (I like the lighter fluid idea). I will get battery load tested but bike refuses to start even when jumped off wife's MGB which has 6 month old battery and never refused to crank even during the recent cold snaps. I am tempted to resort to a quick tow round the block or even a whiff from the highly inflammable aerosol can (not the one mentioned above). Adam

[papasmurf]

Adam be very careful with the inflammable spray:-

[Adam]

I tried a whiff from the highly inflammable aerosol can to no avail. With the cr#p weather of late my enthusiasm has waned even further but I will resume my quest soon. Thanks again for all the help and advice, I am grateful. Adam

[Adrian]

Adam,



how long have you had the bike? Has it ever run properly for you?



I notice you haven't replied to stinkwheel's points about using the kick-start, or possible problems related to the sprag clutch. I assume the K/S lever is still fitted and that you have been trying it. Does the engine kick over freely in neutral, apart from compression? If not something in the starter gear train might be binding, the sprag clutches are notorious for failing with this model, often locking things up completely.



Meanwhile, what EXACTLY happened when using the MG battery, did the starter motor crank the engine over but without getting the engine to fire, or did it struggle to crank the engine over at all? Your mention of "something odd about cranking speed" makes me wonder.



I also have to say there are some duff NGK plugs out there (possibly copies), you might be better off fitting a Champion N3C and checking for a spark while kicking the engine over. Bad sparks can also be caused by the oem ignition coil and metal plug cap packing up, it might be worth checking these, too as the bike is 11 years old. Providing you are getting a decent spark at the right time then it **should** just be a case of putting the plug and plug cap back, tickling the Monobloc carb and booting the thing into life.



A.

[ric]

Could as previously hinted at be a slipping sprag (just biding its time before completely failing).
Short of opening up the casework and physically checking it over it might be wise in the short term to only use the kick starter which would certainly remove the sprag from the problem list as being one of the reasons the bike won't start.
After I'd set mine up correctly I could during the summer months start it from cold by hand on the first push. These are not exactly highly strung engines and I appreciate me mentioning that is not helping you either


As already asked 'Has it ever run for you? The previous owner may have put the go faster [enter cynical Emoji here] Amal on the bike instead of sourcing the dedicated but more expensive dedicated Dellorto kit) or performed a simple cost mod on the original Ucal to boost performance, had some not unexpected problems and then sold them on to you along with the bike.

[Adrian]

Adam hasn't said what size Monobloc is fitted, but I can't see why a properly set-up 1 3/16" 389 shouldn't be on the list of successful carb swaps for the original 29mm CV Mikarb. I still have the PHF32 Dellorto off my old Electra as well as the TM-36-31 Mikuni that replaced it.




More info is needed about this case.



A.

[Alan R]

Hi guys-------- One of the things I enjoy about this forum is the consistent supply of oddities that crop up in conversation............earlier Stinkwheel mentioned Occam's Razor, a name I'd not come across before...so here it is then}-------------- https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor ------- Just thought I'd pop that in for interests sake...now back to the plot !!!

[Alan R]

Hi guys--------I've just this moment been re-reading Adam's listings.........Go back to his very first one where he starts off with}--"2007 Electra X. Had a load of corrosion in the tank"...He then goes on to say}---"On one occasion the motor fired and ran for 5 – 6 seconds but cut out as I backed off the throttle."....... So fuel IS getting through, the engine HAS run for him at some time BUT only with the wider throttle openings....ie the jetting AFTER the idling circuit....Despite the use of "Supersonic cleaning" my guess is that the idling jet/circuit is still blocked....The poor starting technique he uses has given rise to a Red Herring in that the sprag might well be on its' way out now as well.........On the assumption that he still has a spark then the next logical thing to do is test-by-substitution ie}-- fit another carb that's KNOWN to work....At least that will give him a direction to follow for sure...

[Jamesy]

Has the idle adjustment been checked.My friend has a workshop and does professional ultrasonic carb cleaning for a classic bike magazine.He strips carbs right down and usually fits carbkits to them.He will adjust them roughly to there original settings but always informs owners to check and adjust as required when carbs are fitted back on the bike.

[AdamP]

Firstly, I must apologise to one and all for not posting this sooner but a lot of stuff has got in the way of a harmonious lifestyle during the last twelve months, some very good, some not so. However, happy new year to you all and here follows a wee synopsis of my tinkering around with the troublesome Electa X. …..Problems started when the engine cut out twice on one short journey, having thought about it, both times on a right turn. I found that by wiggling the wires to the ignition switch the switch would randomly go open circuit (replaced switch)…... The single fuse holder dangling inside the battery cover was similarly fragile (replaced and secured fuse holder)…… Owing to the time it took me to get around to doing stuff like fuel tank cleaning and lining, the carburettor had gummed up rather badly…... Ultrasonic cleaning was not the complete answer, advice here and from our hosts was strip the device and submerge it in carb cleaner at least overnight and blow through all the jets and drillings…... Good advice although my can of ‘air duster’ didn’t have the lungs to do the job properly but a neighbour’s compressor soon sorted that out (didn’t get to try lighter fluid)…… I also replaced the fairly new (24 months?) battery with a ‘Motobatt’ gel example, cost a lot of money compared to lead acid but worth every penny with superior cranking speed, no ‘stalling’ against compression and is just as lively after long periods of inactivity as it is when used daily…... I think that covers everything and I’m pleased to report that all seems well now and the machine still brings a smile to my face and has been used frequently over the last couple of months when weather permitted. So, thanks to all of you for your advice and apologies again for my tardiness in reporting progress. Adam