Newbie classic owner needs help PLEASE!!!

[Jimmy Sass]

Hello everyone,

My dad passed away in November and left me his '78 Bonneville. I saw the bike then and started it up, but was unable to take it home at that time due to transportation issues. Long story short, I picked the bike up Monday and brought it home. I have not been able to get it to start. I don't have an owners manual and am stumped. The most I could find was a Youtube video of a guy kick starting his Triumph ( which did help some ). The battery was dead but has since been charged.....and yes it does have gas. What I have done is turned both fuel lines on and pressed the button for a few seconds to get the gas flowing ( please forgive my lack of terminology since I don't have an owners manual ). Key is turned on....run switch is on. I have kicked several several times....nothing, not even a sputter. It is a great looking bike of which my dad only got to ride once. Also...there is a black button above and below the run switch...what are they??? Can these bikes be pushed off?? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[The Seeker]

OK......does the orangish/yellow lamp (on the left side) of the top of the headlight come on when you turn the key to the ON position?

Next, you "tickled" the carb. Did you tickle both of them or does it have only one?

The two buttons above and below the "kill switch" don't do anything at all. But try switching that kill switch on an off a few times in case it got some corrosion. Also try starting the bike in all 3 of the positions just in case.

You don't mention turning on the choke though......there should be a lever to apply it on the handlebars.

 

[Jimmy Sass]

My bike doesn't have some of those features....I was looking at some photos and the bike looks like some but different at the same time. There is no light on the headlamp. There are three lights where you bolt down the handle bars. There is a red light that comes on when you turn the key on. " Tickled " both...Starting the bike in all 3 positions??? The run switch I have is up or down on or off ( as far as I know ). I will go take a look here in a second. I saw a video where a guy was showing how to choke and his was on his handlebars...I don't have that. For all I know I might have a different model. The last time I saw the bike and we started it the guy watching over it said it took about 5 minutes for it to warm up before it would idle.....when my dad got the bike it wasn't running. I don't have the first clue what was done to it...would it help if I took some pictures of it and posted them here??

 

[Jimmy Sass]

When I first tried to start it I pulled the clutch in and there was no compression...

 

[jpread]

Hey don't miss the owners manual and shop manual posted here on Triumph Talk. It has been a great help with my '78.

https://www.triumphtalk.com/showthr...8-Manual-And-Handbook?highlight=owners+manual

 

[DaveM]

Ok take out the plugs lay them down on top of the cylinder head and give it a kick and see if you have spark. Also while you at it and have the plugs out place your finger over the plug holes and kick again to see if you have any compression. It should push your finger off the hole. If you cannot get the plugs out just use another plug and connect it to the plug cap and lay this on the cylinder head to see if you have spark.

Posting a few photo in this thread would also help us

 

[The Seeker]

When I first tried to start it I pulled the clutch in and there was no compression...

Yes......it's not like a modern bike with an electric starter where you can start the bike with the clutch depressed. It doesn't have any other kill switches like on the kickstand and so on either.

What I meant with the kill switch is that most of them have 3 positions....UP, DOWN, and MIDDLE. Usually, having it set to the middle is ON and UP or DOWN is OFF.

When you say it doesn't have 3 lights on the top of the headlamp, it leads me to think it's not a '78. But if a lamp is lighting when you turn on the key, then it's probably not that important.

It think pictures would help immensely so we know what bike we're talking about. And I'd like to see a picture of the carbs so we can figure out how to choke the bike since there's no choke lever on the bars.

You DID say that you got gasoline from the carbs when you tickled them...right?

 

[otherwise]

One other thing on these bikes that have been sitting, drain the oil from the bottom of the crankcase and put it back into the oil tank, they wet sump.

 

[Silli]

Just to recap some of the above in a bit more detail.

Firstly, you cannot kick-start this bike with the clutch pulled in! The reason for "no compression" when you tried it is because with
the clutch pulled in (dis-engaged) the drive between the gearbox and the engine is also dis-engaged, so the crankshaft will not rotate.

To check for spark. Remove both spark-plugs and connect one of them back onto the plug-lead. Ensure the body of the spark-plug is in good contact with any metalic part of the engine
such as cooling fins, and that you can see the end of the plug. Turn on ignition, kick the bike over (not literally) and visually check to see if a spark is visible at the plug.
Do this for both sides. If you have a spark, all is good. If not, then your problem is probably ignition orientated. Good idea to replace the spark plugs anyway.

Drain all the fuel and replace. Clean out the carburettor bowl/s. (Manual needed). There could be water contamination.

After trying to start it, remove one of the spark plugs. Is it soaking wet with fuel? If so, flooding is probably taking place. This indicates a leaking float needle valve. Fairly easy to fix. How many carburettors?

Try some of this stuff, then post back on progress.

 

[Rocky]

All very good advice.
Assuming that the engine has compression and no sticking valves, it should start if you have a good spark and gas flow through the carbs.
Since it ran 2-3 months ago there can't be all that much wrong.
I think Silli's advice about contamination in the carbs is spot on.
If you find you have a good spark at the plugs I would look at the carbs next.
You're in a warm climate and gas in the carbs may have evaporated and left a coating of varnish or grunge.
Quite often when you appear to have a good spark at the plug it may not be strong enough to jump the gap under compression.
Good luck.

 

[grandpaul]

Triumphs don't "wet sump" nearly as often as Nortons, thankfully.

Sounds like old gas and gummed up carbs.

Do the spark check to ensure you are at square 1. If you have spark, try cracking open the throttle a bit as you kick it.

If no-go, you'll need to pull the carbs and soak the main bodies (remove the two adjusters on the side that have little o-rings) in Berryman's Chem Dip (comes in 1 gallon can). Soak 1/2 hour, then rinse REALLY WELL in running water. Use rubber gloves, that stuff is nasty.

 

[CarlS]

Good thread and good advice.

 

[Rocky]

Thanks for the rep.
Lots of other deserving advice being given here

 

[Jimmy Sass]

Update.....tried bump starting to no avail ( it only made my son tired from pushing ). Took out the spark plugs. I do have fire and compression in the cylinders. I am about to go buy new spark plugs. Here are some pictures of my new ( older ) British girlfriend. If y'all can help me figure out what kind of model she is would be great. There is the possibility that there could be some water contamination. I only had an open trailer to haul her on & it flooded for about the first hour or so of my 6 hour journey. THANK YOU EVERYONE for all of your advice. This is a great and helpful website.....you guys rock!!!

 

[CarlS]

Nice looking Bonnie. Thanks for the pics.

 

[grandpaul]

Well, that's one wild custom! "Electric Banana" for sure.

Nothing unusual about the engine except maybe chromed carb caps.

If the new plugs and draining the carb bowls & fuel tank (refill w/ fresh mid-grade) doesn't fix it, you need to pull the carbs and clean them properly.

 

[Silli]

You could also try removing the air filter elements. They could be water-logged.....

Strange that you cannot even get it to fire at all. All seems to point to no air/fuel mixture getting into the cylinders.

 

[jpread]

That sure is a nice looking custom! Please keeping us posted on updates, I am also pretty new to having these old machines so its a good learning expierence seeing these suggestions too.

 

[Rocky]

We haven't had an update on the spark situation, but I'm still betting on carb problems.

 

[hemibee]

Nice scooter.


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