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[noddy]

Hi My brother has a 1958 BSA Bantam.
It does not go out that often due to the fact he is a full time carer for his disabled wife.
The carburetor slide tends to glue its self in the carb body, when its not been used for 3/4 weeks. It also suffers with the float needle sticking causing it to flood. The oil petrol mix goes sticky? I am wondering if it might have had the fuel tank treated with a sealer. Has anyone had a similar experience.
Regards
Noddy

[Tim NZ]

WHAT oil, and how much, is being added to the Petrol?

[Mark M]

Hi Noddy. This is a problem that afflicts 2 strokes that use pre-mix petroil and may (possibly) be made worse by modern fuel. What happens is that when you stop the bike the carburettor float bowl is full of fuel which is a mix of oil and petrol. During the period the bike is not in use the volatile portion of the oil/petrol mix escapes into the air leaving, depending how long you leave it, pretty much neat oil and the heavy fractions of the petrol. Which gums the carb and makes starting difficult. The answer is to turn off the fuel half a mile before home or turn it off and let the bike idle until it runs out. This is what the old timers used to do!

REgards, Mark

[Beezabryan]

Some old timers are still doing just that Mark

[simon]

My Dad used to do that with the lawnmower.

[Mark M]

Gentlemen of the 2 stroke clan, respect!

REgards, Mark

[Dennis C]

2 stroke or 4 stroke I have always done that if the bike is to be left unused. Doesn't everyone?.

[jefrs]

I had a Bantam for many years. It's the 2T oil turning gummy. I removed the little petrol filter inside the tank atop the stopcock because it glued itself up so often. Depending on model there's a filter in the banjo on the float bowl but if you remove the banjo bolt too often you can ruin the aluminium thread. It is usually that filter that gums up rather than the float needle. You can run it until it stops but that is not a good idea because a 2T will also run out of oil doing that, but you might drain the float bowl before putting it away. It should be simple to get the pipe off the banjo, but you can snap those too. Always shake the tank thoroughly on a Bantam because the 2T oil settles out overnight. A shot of RedEx may help, it is also a petrol preservative and may keep the 2T in suspension better, especially if the bike is not run often; the 4T lawnmower gets that, its carb does not gum up over winter. I used to tickle the carb float very thoroughly until it flushed the thick oil goo out, then it would start first go.

[hubb]

Ditto all the above but just a thought - has Castrol'R' ever been added to the petroil mix,just a spoonful to get that glorious smell will gum things up very effectively with the infrequent use you describe. Sympathies with your brother by the way,my bikes don't go out much for the same reason. Regards John

[noddy]

Thanks for input reference fuel problems. I shall pass it on. Regards oil mixture I think he uses the measure in the fuel cap, which may be abit too much. Also he likes to fiddle with the bike in his spare moments and runs it for a short time in the garage. It does no get up to temperature before its shut down which does not help. Thanks again Noddy