Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all. Finished rebuilding my 59 connie which has fantastic Compression, That is the problem. Good spark, timing checked. Had it running yesterday, but what as palaver. Tickled carb, air valve closed fresh petrol in tank, but you need to be superman to swing it over,nearly crippled myself!!. Any ideas before I consider selling it for something more user friendly. Thanks.

They can be a bugger to start at times, is the mag still fitted and if so did you get it properly restored?.

Hi, had the same problem,but once run in the engine turns over easier and its fitted with coil ignition.Vince

I've rebuilt quite a few Twins now and they are a bu**er to start up at first. I've actually strained a calf muscle several times. The good news is that just as Vince says after a few hundred miles they loosen up nicely. What you are experiencing is not compression, which is relatively mild (peaking at only 8.5:1 on Interceptors for instance) but the tightness of all the bushes and new bearings in the bottom end. Once you're confident the bike runs and the oil is circulating try and do longer runs than you might otherwise with other bikes, I have a nice low speed 5 mile circuit which I just go round and round to pile the miles up and get it to loosen up. Stick with it, the fun will start soon!

REgards, Mark

Thanks guys. Nice to know I'm not the only one!! It is fitted with boyer electronic ignition so have no manual control over advance/retard. Have actually strained calf and thigh muscles and can hardly walk now!!!!.Will persevere when I get my leg back!!

As others have said, they can be very tight just after a rebuild, also the cold oil at this time of the year does nothing to help, get some miles on and warmer weather it will all come right. Persevere they are a fantastic bike to ride.