Hitchcocks Forum

I have recently aquired a 1949 RE 125cc. It has been garaged for nearly 20 years and I am trying to get it running again.

I am totally new to this so I am trying to learn as I go along.
I have cleaned the fuel tank out and the carb, put fresh fuel in, check the spark plug and points but still can't get it to start.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas?

Kick it over a couple of dozen times and see if you get petrol on the plug. If not I would clean the carb out. 2 stroke mix leaves the oil behind when it evaporates and will clog the carb. These engines had a decompressor - is it stuck open? Rings could be stuck in the grooves. Just a few ideas to be going on with.

Thanks for the quick response, I will kick it over like you say and check the plug and I will get back with the results.

Two strokes depend on compression inside the crankcases, usually this is retained by oil seals on the crankshaft (usually rubber but sometimes metal sandwich,) and if these are worn the bike will be difficult or even impossible to start. The illustrated Parts Books on this site just show bushes on the crank. If the previous sensible suggestions don't work then a strip of the bottom end may be required. Lastly, how good is the spark? The flywheel magnetos on these bikes aren't brilliant and can lose magnetism with age. If the spark in air (outside the engine,) is feeble it could fail completely under compression. Flywheel mags can be re-magnetised though!
REgards, Mark

hi ,i aggree with mark ,oilseals,carb clean ,spark plug igniton get ready to have some fun 2 strokes are like marmite good luck, atb paul.

I agree Paul......just don't try to spread it on your toast!

I got the thing kicked over but the carb keeps emptying of fuel.
checked the oil deals and they seem to be good, maybe the float position??
not sure how I adjust this though.

I have just discovered that the float needle is not letting any fuel not the carb. It seems when I replace the float bowl cover and press the tickler, the float is pushed down causing it to slip on the needle, leaving the needle too high and blocking fuel flow.

I don't know how to go about fixing this, any ideas?

There should be a groove on the needle into which a clip on the float locates preventing it from being in the wrong place. it's possible you have the wrong float or needle or both, or just possibly float chamber top!
REgards, Mark

Yea there is a groove on the needle and his does stop at he clip on the bottom of the float.
but when I close the float bowl the tickler is able to push the float down over the needle.
i was thinking maybe the small nipple reservoir gnot sure what it is called) at the bottom of the float bowl is filled up with old fuel. I did strip the carb down and clean everything. does anyone know on an Amal 223/001 how deep the little nipple is at the bottom of the float bowl?