Forum

[Matt]

Hi guys. I went for a ride on my 500 today and it was a joy compared the dog of a 350cc that I have. The controls are all SO light and easy and the gear box is sweet and delicate... Now that's saying something for an Enfield! Anyway, I noticed that it takes a long tim to fall to it's idle speed. When parked the revs drop to a high tick over and the slowly slowly reach the nice idle that's set with the idle screw. It's an Amal carb that was on the bike when I bought her. Once she's idling nice and low if you blip the throttle it drops again to the fast tick over and then slowly slowly back down to a nice slow idle. I've never really noticed this before and just thought that was how it was, you know? Compared to the dog of a 350cc which is running the original Mikcarb it's a big difference. The 350cc drops instantly to a slow steady and reliable idle. Is this just a "feature" of the Amal on my 500cc or can something be done? I'm in a fettling mood! Thanks.

[Riggers]

Hi Matt. Two things to 'fettle' with...1) Check that the cable is freely routed, and lubricated. And 2) Check the slide insdie the carb isn't sticking....Oh and also that the spring inside the carb is in good nick. You can check the slide without taking the carb to bits by finding somewhere quiet, and with the engine stopped, shutting the throttle. You should be able to hear the slide hit the bottom of its travel. If you can't then it's time to fettle inside the carb! Cheers mate. Tony.

[Chris Tindal]

Matt I seem to remember mine doing that when I was setting up a new Amal monobloc, I think it was the air mixture screw that was way out. Whatever it is it should drop straight back to a nice tickover and is not a feature of Amal carbs