starting

[a101960]

I found I was using the choke in the WRONG direction. ie. when first starting (and applying choke) I was moving the lever from forward to back position.... but I then learnt that this was completely wrong, ie. the choke OFF is with the lever pulled all the way back (towards you sitting on bike), and to put choke on, you push forward.

On my bike the choke appears to have little or no influence on how the engine runs or starts. It will start with the choke lever in either position. My son in law borrowed my bike and not being familiar with the choke operation he rode it with the choke on. Out of interest I checked the plugs, and the plug colour was the same colour as when I ride with the choke in the correct postion. All rather odd, and yes I have double checked the choke is definately operating correctly.
John

[Johnny J]

Mine is the same, no difference, also checked it...

[bsa-bill]

to large pilot jet maybe

[Triton Thrasher]

the choke OFF is with the lever pulled all the way back (towards you sitting on bike), and to put choke on, you push forward.

Depends what sort of choke lever is mounted on which side of the bars.  Choke cable should be pulled tight for normal running.

[oldbeezageezer]

I have been having the same problem with my '54 A10. Been out twice on it and the first time to a show. I was parked for about two hours and it was a b**** to start. It eventually fired and I got home.
Second run, covered about 20 miles and the bike died on me and no amount of tickling and kicking had any effect so I called AA beakdown/take home. I had to wait one and half hours for them and tried the bike while I waited but no joy. When the breakdown arrived the driver was a biker and tried the bike and it fired but would not run. He took rocker covers of and checked clearances, which were tight. I had set them as recommended at 8 and 10. Mechanic said that when the engine gets hot gaps are closing and that's why it wouldn't start.

Anyway, I have just come in from my garage after having reset gaps to 10 and 12th. I went for a 5 mile run and when I got home, killed the engine, took my gear off, made a cuppa and went back to bike. Got it just over compression and gave it a kick and it fired. second kick it was running. I let it idle for a while, turned fuel off then killed engine again. Gave it 5 minutes and gave it kick without turning on the fuel or tickling and it fired up easy as you like.
It's noisier than I would like but if I can go out and not worry if I am going to get home, I can live with it.
I don't have a choke on mine.

[agonda1]

Same experience here .Opened up exhaust tappet clearance by 0.005 and it starts OK now hot or cold
Just a thought , how much oil goes in the chain case and what type

Jim