best starting method

[spyke]

Hi chaps,
Done 110 miles now on new engine and hasnt missed  a beat literally.
Always starts hot or cold but takes 3,4,5,6 kicks
Im tickling till fuel trickles out, full choke,free clutch,2 prime kicks then proper kicks.
Timing was done when head was off with vernier, mag and carb both fully recond.
Whats your fool proof methods for a first or second start?
Spyke

[shabashow]

you might be flooding it slightly. Try it with out the choke and just twiddle the nipple a little bit, especially if it's warm.

Mine start's first or second kick if no one's looking. If I have an audience, I sometimes get over enthusistic with the tickler and end up kicking her till the flooding clears itself.

[muskrat]

G'day Spyke,
                  I agree wiyh shabashow. Tickle or choke not both when cold, neither when hot. Some need a little throttle some a twist as you kick. Keep trying different methods till you find the one that works. You could also try retarding the timing a tad by closing the points a thou or two.
Cheers

[alanp]

Agree with above comments re. don't overdo the 'carb tickling'. Personnally I turn on the petrol tap, half ignition retard, close the air lever, take it over compression, one kick while opening the throttle to maybe a quarter open and she's away. For warm starts I leave the air lever fully open. Waiting for fuel to come out of the top of the carb tickler is asking for trouble with these engines in my experience but you do see Triumph twin riders doing this but maybe they don't have an air lever?

[Butch (cb)]

Yeah. Mine has auto advance so I don't have to fiddle with that. Timing I guess is about right. Tickle gently until gas just appears around the tickler. No choke. Starts and runs mostly first time, just have to hold her gently on the throttle for the first minute or so. I'm up to 900 miles now, still shaking out the bugs.
 

[Rich]

fit a mikuni carb and if you can afford it an electric start, no more kicking for me, all thanks to Steve Mcfarland

[mitch]

I do pretty much the same as you.
I have manual advance / retard, so i set this to about 80% retard position.
If i dont open throttle, then 5 to 8 kicks to start.
If i open the throttle 10 to 20% open, it starts 1st or 2nd kick!
Give that a ty, not too far open, just a bit!

[Andrew]

yes,  steve has come up with a very good lecky start, he is very good at his job, and if you need a grind or rebore brian north your man, i am very lucky to live where i do.

i remember some years ago, restoring a A7 shooting star with steve help using his loft when he started SRM (loft, srm was in a rail shead penarth dock he let me use loft 17 yrs old then, i was) we had to crane  out the a7 when finished

good days, but today parts so easly to get hold of, i do love my british bikes