Bonneville / Amal Mk1

[solomon]

Went for a longish ride yesterday. Heat soaked engine.

I messed up a gear change, as one does, so kept the clutch pulled for a few seconds while I ckinked and clunked about. Engine died. Let clutch out, momentum bumped engine to life.

Now does it all the time. Within a couple of seconds of pulling clutch. Holding idle to 1,000 revs with throttle prevents dying.

Don't think carbs idle circuit would go out of tune? So possibly dirt. Bike starts first kick, hot or cold, although in both cases it's with some throttle/all throttle.

Full tank, filled on ride before problem noticed. So plenty of flow. No restrictions off idle, before I knew it to 85 mph / 5,000 revs on the ride, before running out of road. (Was just seeing if my Dunstalls had any flat spots; they don't, and evenly spread torque too). Thought everyone one else was weirdly driving slowly, bike running really well!

No air filters.

Obviously will need to take carbs off and clean. Bit of a pain. Then got to retune and annoy neighbours. Is this the most obvious cause? Blockage in idle circuit?

Haven't tested for clutch drag yet when hot. Clutch never needs kicking free really, just a light kick after long non-use.

Anyway, having just read a Triple Speed thread, and the palaver needed just to pull a spark plug, grateful I have an old bike that is so easy to maintain. Relatively speaking. No laptop required!

 

[sikatri]

Technology does add complications. Still there’s always trade offs. Glad we have the choice to buy used or new. To me learning on a simpler model is preferable.

 

[Lordmac]

Went for a longish ride yesterday. Heat soaked engine.

I messed up a gear change, as one does, so kept the clutch pulled for a few seconds while I ckinked and clunked about. Engine died. Let clutch out, momentum bumped engine to life.

Now does it all the time. Within a couple of seconds of pulling clutch. Holding idle to 1,000 revs with throttle prevents dying.

Don't think carbs idle circuit would go out of tune? So possibly dirt. Bike starts first kick, hot or cold, although in both cases it's with some throttle/all throttle.

Full tank, filled on ride before problem noticed. So plenty of flow. No restrictions off idle, before I knew it to 85 mph / 5,000 revs on the ride, before running out of road. (Was just seeing if my Dunstalls had any flat spots; they don't, and evenly spread torque too). Thought everyone one else was weirdly driving slowly, bike running really well!

No air filters.

Obviously will need to take carbs off and clean. Bit of a pain. Then got to retune and annoy neighbours. Is this the most obvious cause? Blockage in idle circuit?

Haven't tested for clutch drag yet when hot. Clutch never needs kicking free really, just a light kick after long non-use.

Anyway, having just read a Triple Speed thread, and the palaver needed just to pull a spark plug, grateful I have an old bike that is so easy to maintain. Relatively speaking. No laptop required!

I replaced my original Mark Ones with the new IMPROVED deeeluxe Amal Premiers. Why, you might ask? Well, cuz my original ones were, perhaps, a bit worn and the bike did what you described; died too often, usually at a traffic signal (embarrassment, much?) But now, that does not happen. That's right, it will sit there and IDLE! In addition, I get better mileage to boot! These new Amal Mark One Premiers kick butt! I love them! Sorry if I missed your point with your new problem, but if it's carbs, those old models can be a giant pain-in-the-drain.