Forum

[Alan R]

Hi guys--Hi MATT, YEP, she's a beaut !! I think you've done alright there, old son !! Now all you have to do---and I'm SURE you're going to ----- is get out there and GET MUCKY, MATEY..... But can you do that very impressive trick of changing from Red to Blue and back again whilst on the course ???? Thanks JOHN L for that very appropriate video. PS Try using tinypics for image posting--

[Alan R]

----------- Status Quo ??}---- I believe it was a famous rock band, WAY before my time ????????

[John M]

Matt, you should be able to re-pack the rear silencer on two strokes. Look for a way to remove the baffles and you should find oily fibreglass packing inside, or even nothing. You can buy replacement packing, e.g. --------http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exhaust-Packi ... c9f&_uhb=1 ---------- The front section of the exhaust is an expansion chamber and doesn't quieten things much, if at all.
Out of interest does it have a chain oiler in the swinging arm?

[Matt]

Thanks John. I emailed the previous owner about this last night and he said that the silencer is all standard and that the bike is quieter than most! I've yet to go to a twin shock trials day so I guess I'm in for a surprise! I'll take my ear plugs! None the less I will still investiate the rear silencer and it's packing. The frame does have some kind of chain oiler. There are two plastic oil caps on the swing arm and then a little "spout" at the lowest point above the chain... I don't know if it all works though? I'll have to put some oil in it an see... I don't like the idea of dripping oil all over the woods though to be honest. Modern chain oils are probably much better and more penetrating these days anyway?

[Alan R]

Hi Guys--------- wouldn't a sealed O - ring chain be the thing to have ??

[John L]

Matt -
I thought at one point that my own Cota was getting a bit noisy, and so I repacked the rear silencer. Didn't make a s--t's worth of difference !
If it is indeed noisier than it should be, then it'll be because the FRONT box has blown out some/all of its packing; I've easily resisted the temptation to do anything about this as it's a somewhat more demanding job than the rear box......... I'm assuming that a similar situation exists with your bike. These old bikes tend to be louder than the "woofly" exhaust note of many more modern bikes, anyway. Regarding the chain oiler, I think most owners didn't bother with them because they always leak - you end up with oil all over the bike - or the garage floor !

[Matt]

First run across the local private estate. It rides brilliantly and I am amazed with how capable it is! I'm used to my Royal Enfield which is such a pig in comparison!






I am however having a few problems. I've never owned a two stroke before and I undersand the fine line between the intake and exhaust function, so is flooding a two stroke easier than a four stroke?

So the problem:
From cold I turn on the fuel, operate the choke (enriching lever) and kick it, it starts beautifully on the first kick. I then run it for half a min and turn the "choke" off. Then off I go. Once warm she ticks over lovely.

HOWEVER, if and when she does falter or I stall her I just can't get her started again! I kick and kick and nothing. So the first time this happened I removed the plug and found it was very wet. I held a windproof lighter to the plug hole and it burned all the fuel out the cylinder with a squeaky pop. I then used the blue flame of the lighter to dry and heat the plug. I put it back in and it started first kick.. So I assumed I had flooded it somehow? (I hadn't re-engaged the "choke" or anything, I double checked incase it had flicked on on it's own.)

Off I went. (I took the lighter and plug spanner with me.) When it happened again I thought OK, it's flooded so I opened the throttle fully and kicked it a few times to get plenty of air through but no joy. This time the plug was dry (it's a lovely biscuit colour by the way,) there was no popping of fuel in the cylinder with the lighter either. So I put it back together and continued kicking... nothing. Eventually I thought if it's dry maybe I should flick on the "choke" (enricher) so I did and still no joy until I thought, OK I've given it more fuel how about more air... So I held the throttle fully open with the "choke" on and she fired up first kick. (This was after about 15mins of trying on a cold windy day so she had cooled down considerably.)

I then enjoyed the rest of my ride not daring to enter "tick over territory." Once I got home I tried and she ticked over beautifully. I left her running whilst I took my kit off and then killed it with the kill switch on the handle bars. Then I thought I'll see if I can start her again and I couldn't... not at all. Even after plug out, pre heat, plug in and every combination of throttle open, throttle closed, choke on and choke off. So dismayed I have wheeled her back in the garage that's that.

I've checked the plug and I'm getting a really nice snappy blue spark. What gap should it be? Maybe that'd help?

Basically I've experienced a flooding of my engine and also the opposite (I think.) She runs great when she does so I think rather than mechanical error it could be user error. Like I say, I've never owned a two stroke before.

Advice welcome please. Many thanks.

[Matt]

UPDATE.
I've cleaned the carb out, I didn't notice and blocked jets but you never really know do you? I put a new plug in as well. Started her and let her tick over until she warmed up. Stopped her and then the same problem, I couldn't start her again. I removed the plug and it was harder to see if it was wet being all new and shinny but I burned off the fuel in the cylinder anyway and cooked the plug a big with the blow torch and put it back in. This time I kicked her with the throttle wide open... plenty of air. Instant results! Nice. I then let her continue ticking over whilst I put the fibre glass back on and then hit the kill switch again. Gave her a kick again with the throttle wide open, again instand results! I then let her run for 30seconds (which is a long time when your standing next to a loud bike tapping your foot) and tried again - she started great, and again, and again.

Every time she fired up from hot with the throttle wide open. I think that's the knack with this particular old girl, she like lots of air to get her going again from hot. I'm used to my Enfield's where it's a cardinal sin to touch the throttle during starting, all these machines are different personalities and it takes time to forge relationships with them hey?
I'll re-post to update how I get on over the next few outings.

[Alan R]

Hi MATT---------- good to see you out and about on the old girl !! I bet you have a "YING---DING,DING,DING!!"sort of noise from the silencer ?? Typical sports two-stroke sound on engine run-down..... From your early descriptions my thoughts are along either a) the carb float being on the high side ?? OR b) Air filter needs servicing (Easy starting when cold---tendancy to over-fuel after stopping or on re-start.... You'll be entering a slightly different world now with phrases such as}--- 4-stroking, transfer ports, primary compression etc....This might be of some help ?------ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW1jixDvUSY ----------------------

[Matt]

The bike certainly does make that noise Alan. It feel very nippy as well compared to my Bullets, it's like a little rocket! Ha. The overfuel situation seems to make sense... Having to give it loads of air on start up. I cleaned the carb today and it looked good inside, no water or bits in the bottom of the bowl. How would having the float to high effect it? Would it mean the float bowl has to much fuel inside it meaning more "pressure" (weight) of fuel so the engine's running on the rich side?