Forum

[rado53]

Hi everyone,
I am taking my Bullet 500 Classic to the MOT man tomorrow morning so I gave it one last look over this evening. Just for the sake of it I fired the bike up. It took four kicks as the first three gave a lot of kick back and lots of grey smoke from the tea caddy air filter.
I wondered if this was due to me using the choke and tickling the carb' too much? This evening in London it is still very warm and humid. Should I avoid the choke in the warm weather? Or is the kick back a sign of something else? Hmmm...
Thanks,
Alan

[Craig]

Purely my Own Opinion, "If Only Now and again, Nothing to Worry about"
....Smoke From the Air Box= Back Fire, Hence Kick Back,Hence: "If Only Now and again, Nothing to Worry about"
....Many Different reason's why..My Old Classic will Kick Back about Twice a week (Due to Lazy Kick) and One Good One Now & again to Show Who's Boss.....IF Electric Start they Might Be Sprag Clutch Probs...BUT if 2 or Less a Week in Regular use... "Do Not Worry" IMHO.

[Bullet Train]

Agreed with Craig here. My 500 doe's exactly the same thing and has been since I bought the bike 3 year ago. They over fuel very easily. Sometimes, after standing at work, I kick over once, choke on and away it goes, another time, I get what you describe here. Even in sub-zero temps of the last two winters, I've turned over no more than two times, choke on and again, away it goes. It can even do what you describe at the most inconvenient of times/places, ie: at the lights, or, filtering through a line of traffic, or worse, even in the middle of a roundabout! I know from experience. Hop off and push to the side very sharpish? hold the decompressor open, turn over 2/3 times and bang, away it goes. That works every time. Try it next time you get the kick-back/smoke through the air filter. This I why I always keep "blipping" my throttle, especially when stationary for more than a few seconds, nearly everywhere I go in fact. Too embarassing to keep stalling and pushing to the side of the road! Another "quirk" of the Bullet....
Regards
Bullet Train

[Peter 53]

I agree with Craig also... lazy kick syndrone (we've all done it).
Currently I have a 350 short silencer on my 500. which sounds strange, but it's better than the Velocette fishtail I've had for the last few months. I have had the odd 'traffic light moment' but the carb sopit-backs are less frequent than they were. After 2 years I have finally 'tamed the beast'.

[Paulk]

Hi Rado53,

Might be worth while just checking your timing, could be a touch advanced/points gap too big (ignition advances as the gap opens - all else being equal).

If it persists you should check that your advance/retard is working properly and not staying advanced.

That's assuming you have a mech ad/retard unit and points.

As for the choke if it starts without it in warm weather - good for you, case of trial and error on amount of tickling and choke to see what suits best.

Word of warning, if it starts readily with no choke or tickling when cold it could be an indication that your pilot air screw is set too rich.

Paul.

[Alan R]

Hello RADO 53 }-----------Choke AND a tickler, eh ?? So it's not the standard carb---probally a Mk1 Concentric at a guess ????????? Try changing your starting routine. It's so easy to over-fuel a bike and it takes a devil of a lot of pushing/kicking etc to get it cleared. Do your normal pre-start settings ( prime the oil---ammeter position..) but WITHOUT using the choke. NOW either a single shot on the tickler ( Not this --press--press--press---press that you see so many do), OR deploy the choke---then give it that full, firm swing to start it. If it fires--HOO-RAY !! and put the choke to 1/2 position and let it warm up. If it doesn't fire-up, try again but with a bit more choke OR a single shot on the tickler. Check your plug for type---condition---connection---age. Is that darned de-compressor fully shut ?? Good luck with the MoT----has your silencer got "Not for road use" on it ?? I hope not----------------

[rado53]

Hello all,
I think it was more me than the bike. I would usually kick it over whilst on the main stand but I was trying on the side stand. I also think I tickled the carb too much.
Thanks everyone