Hitchcocks Forum

Hi am having some real problems with my 1957 crusader
And am running out of time and patience.
Thort i was having problems with my carb but after getting a new upgraded one and defrent throttle valve am still having the same problem she just stalls when you turn the throttle.
Now thinking it mite be electric problems.
I have tyred PD engineering but like most garages at the moment very busy.
Im in the Doncaster area

Hi Martins........OK, not much to go on is there so let's try a bit of "outside the box" thinking to start the ball rolling}---------- Trial by substitution}---- Can you borrow a carb from a working bike of the same type ?? If fitting it cures the fault then you have a problem with your carb....If it doesn't then the fault lies elsewhere..............I know it's a bit simplistic but at least you'll have something positive to work with..........PS}-- I did see you had bought a new, upgraded one but that's not the same as what I'm suggesting....

Thanks alan .
I called up a local garage yesterday thay are to busy to look at her but did say that the first thing he would do is put a lead directly from the battery to the coil bypassing all the other wiring.
Have tryed this and still the problem is there .
Have the old carb that i can try and repair with the new part that i got.
Only other thing could be the coil or timing

Wish i could put the 2 vids on here showing what its doing

Martin, I looked at your vid on the Facebook site and couldn't really see the problem? It seemed to rev up reasonably well to me? The symptoms you describe could be a timing issue, this is fairly easy to check by loosening the screws on the points plate and turning it in the slots. Try one way, then if no improvement try the other. Mark it first so you know where to go back to! After all the things you've done to the carb I'm pretty sure that's not the problem and maybe never was. Can you explain the history of the bike? Did you buy it running, rebuild it yourself or get someone else to do it? It would be interesting to know when this problem arose.

REgards, Mark

Hi mark .
I was just thinking about doing that tomorrow.
I agree with the vids its quite hard to here the problem. I bought the bike some 20 years ago as a runner and used it for quite a number of years trouble free then with moving abroad and moving into a flat when i got back it was just sat for about 7 years so decided to completely strip her down and rebuild.
I no nothing about engines so decided to have someone completely strip it down. The worst decision i have ever made i think that person striped the engine completely down ever last nut and bolt.then he was to busy to put it bake together so was just moving from one plce to another for about 3 years .
In the end a place out Lincoln did it last year .
As for the frame i have done everything mostly new parts apart from the coil .
Had to put quite a lot of new parts in the cluch the old carb used to work just grate but was struggling to get her to run correctly someone came out and put a smaller needle in and she worked ok for about 6 miles then wouldn't start and agine when it did run it was very inconsistent.
Thats when i found the spray tube was broken.
So decided to upgrade to the MK1 which i was told was much easier to set up lol .
So thats where i am now taken some 10 years and i have learned lots about bike restoration but it would be great to get her running this summer

Finally sorted.
Thanks mark moved the points plate 1cm to the left and she will rev up a charm no problem at all .😊😊😊😊😊😊
Thats been one expensive problem a new carb and deferent throttle valve .and so much time plus stripping down my bike .
But on a serious note can you explain what was going on .
Just so i can learn from this .
Now time to put her back together hopefully she still works after .
Just need to investigate the alternater but that can wait even if its not charging the battery i can still go out on short runs

Its so good to hear that the problem has been sorted, so well done congratulations & i'm glad someone here (Mark M you deserve a few pints ) pointed you in the right direction. What probably happened was that your ignition timing was initially set "somewhere handy", i.e good enough to start the engine. When Mark suggested you move the contact breaker back plate one way or the other, and you did, as the engine now revs up nicely you can take it that the timing now is more or less spot on. You can of course double check things if you wish & make some timing marks. Don't worry about having spent money on a mk1 (they are good) or things like that as something like what you've experienced has probably happened to many of us. Enjoy your bike (p.s I saw your post on that fb group, some of the comments on there are just plain potty... personally I've always found the help/advice I've needed right here)... Go enjoy the bike!

Hi matey !!--------- well done and thanks for keeping us all informed...My next suggestion was going to be aimed at the advance/retard bob-weights not working maybe ??....For the very reasons you just outlined I'm not a fan of FB preferring the more informed company that's found on here....( Note to Hosts}--- is that enough grovel-factor for a 5% discount ??0.......

Nice one Martin, now get out in this lovely weather we're having and enjoy your bike!

REgards, Mark