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[Robyn]

Hi
I am currenty restoring a Royal Enfield Flying Flea and I am having trouble getting it started, I had to have the HT Coil re-wound and I am now getting a reasonable spark from my plug, I have timed it according to the mauual, I put a little petrol straight into the head and I got it to fire twice after about 10 Kicks but not I cannot get it to fire at all, I was told that Old two stroke engines do not need fuel additive, is this true ? does anyone have a Flying Flea and have any tips on timing and geting them started.

Thanks Robyn

[hubb]

Hi Robyn, I haven't got a flying flea but old two-strokes are essentially the same and I've had my old Villiers unit for more than 40 years which has had its share of starting problems.There are a number of reasons which can make them hard to start.1.There has to be a good spark-old flywheel magneto's can lose their magnetism making the spark weak.[main cause of poor starting I think] 2.The crankcase has to be airtight as the piston needs to create a vacuum to draw in fresh fuel on its way up- worn crankshaft seals are the usual culprits.3.Is the piston giving good compression-the piston rings could be gummed up or broken.4.Is the engine flooded by over tickling the carb leaving fuel sloshing around the crankcase.5.Is the spark plug wet-try drying it on a gas ring/blowlamp or try another plug.6. Is the timing spot on- timing it with the head off and using a test light wired to the points is easiest.7.Is the carb in good shape,are all the airways clear-blow them through with an airline and is the float ok and operating the needle valve properly. They're temperamental buggers at the best of times but hope this helps

[jaffa90]

As hubb says,(knows what he`s talking about),i`m old hat and new on here,have you tried BRADEX EASYSTART SPRAY into the air intake? I thought old two stroke engines had fuel/oil mixed in the petrol tank? As you know fuel today has no lead for lubricating or cooling.

[simon]

I'm with Hubb, I would check your crankcase seals. They can look fine but if they aren't sealing it is very hard to keep them running.

[Robyn]

Thanks hubb for the info its a real help, the engine has good compesion I striped the head and everything looks clean and smooth, I dont have a very good spark though I have tried adjusting the points to get a better spark but it still seems quite dull even after trying a new plug, I had my coil re-wound but maybee its still not right, if I wanted a really good spark would it be worth trying to find an original HT Coil. I put petrol straight into the compresion chamber and the bike fired twice after about 10 kicks. I will try timing it again and check the crankcase seals.

[Robyn]

Hi Hubb

I can comfirm that my spark on my plug is suficient I have taken a vidio clip and sent it to a local bike shop I have been told its fine, I think my timing is probably out. in my manual it says the following. The ingnition timing should be such that the contact breaker points are just about open when the piston is 3/16 before the top of the compression stroke with the magneto coil plate central on its slots. If the piston was out buy a couple of mm hear or there would that make a big diference does it have to be perfect? I dont have a light inicator for timing but I do have a mulimeter with continuety this should do the same job.

Thanks Robyn