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[hunter]

Is that er....Syrian Lannister?

[GTRMikie]

I’ve dismantled the carb and blown air and carb cleaner through the pilot jet. Everything seems clear. Reassembled and refitted the carb. Still would not start with flooded carb and full choke. However when I put my hand over the carb air intake, kick the engine over once, remove my hand and kick it again , it starts immediately and runs OK. The engine is obviously not getting enough fuel when cold to start it. Would the position of the pilot air screw make much of a difference? At the moment it is set to give a good tick over.

[Adrian]

It might need more than compressed air to clean the pilot jet fully if it's the internal bush type, they can be a right pain. You could get it ultrasonically cleaned, or try the no. 78 or 0.016" drill as recommended by Amal, and THEN hit it with the compressed air and carb cleaner.



I'm assuming it's a new carb from the kit, and that there are no air leaks where it's mounted. The air-screw is usually set somewhere in the region of 1.5 turns out, subject to fine tuning.



A.

[Andy C]

Certainly sounds like a blocked jet, and I would definatley see if you can get it ulstraonically cleaned. I have another bike which rescued from the brink of extinction and I was forever having carb problems with it until I gave it an ultrasonic bath - best thing I ever did.

[GTRMikie]

I may have found the answer. It may be my starting technique. I have previously owned a classic Ducati. To start this I would just apply the choke then kick it over, this is the technique I was using on the Enfield. However by using the decompressor on the Enfield, ie taking the engine just past compression with the decompressor, then tickling it and applying the choke, it appears to start quite readily, but the throttle stop must be at a reasonably fast tickover. Can anyone explain this? I hope to confirm my findings tomorrow!

[John R]

I have a 350 Bullet with a Mk1 Concentric Amal. I would suggest that you do NOT apply any choke, that you tickle the carb till petrol appears, then, as you say ease over compression with the decompressor open and then kick.
You may have other problems with jets etc. but this is the best way to start it. At various times in its history my bike has been an absolutely cussid starter and as now, first kick almost every time.
The carb in question is one of the Premier ones and I was lucky enough to have the mechanic at Sammy Miller's motorcycle museum, which is local to me, set up carb, timing and tappets. That guy can just scare bikes into starting!