newby help needed

[Buster1450]

Hi Folks,
This is my first posting on the site so be gentle with me.
This is my first British bike also, I have ridden Harleys for the last twenty something years.
However I digress!!!
I am now the proud owner of a 1960 swing arm A10 with a watsonian sidecar.
I was given this bike by a very generous member of our bike club because he has no room to keep it anymore, I digress again!!

Now to my problem, the bike starts on the third kick and ticks over fine however when I rev the bike it spits and farts. I have put in new plugs and new petrol but no change.
Any advice will be most welcome.

Cheers,
Buster.
 

[MG]

Hello and welcome first!

You got the air slide fully open and the mag lever (if there is any) fully advanced?

[Buster1450]

Hi MG,
Thanks for the swift responce.
i forgot to mention the bike is fitted with an Amal 376 monobloc carb with no air filter.
Can you tell me the best way to set this carb up and excuse my ignorance bit whats the MAG LEVER?

Cheers,

[MG]

With mag lever I was referring to the ignition advance lever which would usually be mounted on the handlebar, near the clutch lever. You will only have that lever fitted, if your mag is of the manual type, the iron head Golden Flash originally had an auto advance unit fitted on the mag that adjusts ignition timing automatically, while the sporting Rockets used the manual mags with the handlebar lever.

Sorry, can't help with the pre-monoblock carbs, but I'm sure someone here will be able to...

Cheers, Markus

[Buster1450]

Thanks Markus
that makes sense i have presumed the mag lever was a choke.
this may be where i am going wrong.
I asumed pushing the lever forword was taking the choke off but this is advancing the mag making it run awfull.

Thanks mate i will upload some photos soon and you can tell me what you think of my freeby.

Best regards.
Buster.

[LJ.]

Hi Buster... Good of you to join us, Basically you need to get to 'know' the bike as it is very different from a modern Harley. You can't complain much with it being a 'Freebie' Lucky so so. 

I reckon the problem your having is due to weak mixture, possibly a worn carb slider although you mention that there is no air filter, maybe the carb is jetted for a filter? Check that there are no air leaks around the manifold there are a few tips and tricks if you search the forum.

Cheers and enjoy the bike!
LJ.

[Buster1450]

Hi LJ,
Thanks for the input, you are right i need to get to know the bike and its nuances (and i am a lucky so and so).
I will try the mag lever first and see if the bike runs as it should.
Dose the bike have a choke?

Regards,
Buster,

[sinbad]

Is there two cables going in to the top of the carb choke + throttle
 http://www.surreycycles.com/    try the link its no 3 on the parts list.

[LJ.]

Usually there is a choke or air slide, but some bikes are not fitted with them. I've never needed to use mine, the throttle slide is effectively a choke itself. Once carb is set up correctly, renewing any worn parts, and correctly jetting the carb. You should then only need to just slightly open the throttle when kick starting. If a choke had been fitted in the past and removed make sure the hole where the cable goes in is blocked off, this is effectively an air leak.

[Buster1450]

Morning Chaps,
Just had another look at the set up  and it has the two cables going to the top of the carb one from the throttle and one choke from the lever on the handle bars. It also looks like I have an automatic mag unit so no mag lever.
I have assumed wrongly that pulling the cable put the choke on and not off  DOH!!

Thanks for the input guys no doubt I will be on with some more silly questions real soon.

Regards,
Buster, wink2

[Buster1450]

Hi Guys,
Now i have turned the choke off the bike runs great.
Thanks for the input.
Regards,
Buster.

[lawnmowerman]

Hi Buster and welcome to the forum. Glad you have sorted out your problem and got the bike running ok. I had a Super Flash with a Steib sports sidecar back in the day and it was great fun to ride but took a bit of getting used to after riding a solo. Not sure if you have driven an outfit before but it can get a bit hairy at times - chair wheel up on left handers and bike back wheel up on right handers. I put some bags of sand in the sidecar to start with but the ballast was soon replaced by a bootful of tools, can of fuel and spares - even a small bottle jack.
Look forward to seeing some pics.
Jim

[a10 gf]

Now i have turned the choke off the bike runs great.

I remember when I got my A10,  made a heap of trouble with wrong choke & advance\retard lever settings.
Welcome to the forum.

[fido]

I usually just remove the choke gubbins from Amal carbs as they start just as well if you simply tickle and kick.

[RichardL]

Buster,

I believe the problems with your A10, now and in the future, are, and will be, far too much trouble for a person of your import to deal with. Therefore, I am volunteering to lift these troubles from your shoulders by allowing you to divest your A10 to my ownership at no cost to you. Further, I may be convinced to pay you the same amount you paid your friend. No, no. No thanks necessary.

Richard L.