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Sorry for yet another post, but I thought the differences between the shapes of the inlets of a new and old Monobloc might be of interest. I feel at attack by Dremmel will be needed.

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I know that I’ll probably get buried under a hail of negative replies, but is the sharper profile of the new carb  really likely to cause that much of a difference?
Maybe it will make the carb run a bit richer? Then again, maybe it won’t have any effect at all and David can put away his Dremel and grinding wheels before taking action  :-)

Regards

Tony

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Paul  - Do Wassell sell  Monobollock copies now as well?

David, - To be honest, I'm with Tony, What is the likelihood of needing that last 200rpm, 2mph or whatever the effect will be, (unless of course it is being prepped as a racer..).

I'm sure that after the usual 'set up' tuning, that when being ridden as is it will be perfectly fine as it is.

Also, leaving it unmodified means if there are any issues with it, the guarantee will be valid. As soon as the Dremel hits it.....

Also, whether you fit meshed bellmouths or better air cleaners, you won't even see it.

Regards,

George.

 

In reply to by george_farenden

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George, you are correct. Wassell only produce  concentrics up to now, but I’m surprised by the finish of the new carb.

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The new one looks bored slightly off centre to the casting. Don’t think originals were machined at all in this area. Interestingly the old one has not had the bellmouth threads machined either. Leave it alone, might be even better as is but I seriously doubt there would be any measurable difference 

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I am guessing that whichever factory made the castings was saving some money by not using a multiude of patterns.  They just cast the smallest bore units and then simply bore them out to whatever size is needed.

It would seem to me that the airflow will be upset by the sharp edges at the transition from the casting to the machined out bore.

Mike 

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I've take the risk regarding guarantees and rounded the corners. I'm sure it makes no difference. There is what looks like a good Wikipedia article on 'carburettor bell mouths' and the conclusions seem to be they might make a tiny difference at the top end which just might assist in a race where seconds count. I think Michael must have the reason. When they made hundreds of thousands a year, they must have used different moulds for the 376 carb from 15/16 to 1+1/16. Not now.

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Just an aside - are the chunky float chamber cover screws drilled for wire locking?

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Thinking has changed on super smooth inlet tracts and they are only considered a good thing for fuel injected engines. Carburettor engines benefit from a little turbulence.

The Gold Star has a distinct step in its inlet tract, and machining to achieve a smooth bore reduces the maximum bhp. I guess with a 1 1/2" GP that any help getting the fuel to evaporate must be beneficial.

 

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Lionel...yes...they were offered by Surrey Cycles as an option. I have seldom-used lockwire pliers and I might as well use them. Were they originally prone to come unscrewed? And Steve...maybe that means that the rough internal of the concentrics (below the slide) was not a bad thing? In any case...I believe the inlet edge is best kept smooth. Not that it matters...I won't be competing with anyone.

Now I need to shorten the inner throttle wires by about 10mm. I intend to effectively extend the outers instead, using a spare pair of Amal cable adjusters...

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Hi David,

Personally mine never have. The original screws are of course countersunk, which means they tighten up well and the taper helps keeps them there. 

This is both on my 650 now, and also a 'back in the day' racing Bantam (the only bikes I've had with monoblocks).

However,  if you want to have the 'look', go for it, but as a suggestion I would wait until you are sure that the float is working as it should before doing so as you will soon get fed up of threading the wire in and out.

Now, if you were asking about the carb top ring staying tight even with the spring clip to hold it.......

Regards,

George.

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To confirm the Gold Star experience,  In Beart's "Single Purpose" there is mention of an improved performance (2 MPH on a 1/4 M run)when the locating lug on a slide was worn and offered a misaligned edge to the inlet tract, proved by replacement and repeated tests.

With regard to the bell mouth; the only advantage I know is that it helps contain whats blown back and deposits it behind the mag instead of on it...

Cheers

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They are fitted now. I know why some owners get rid of the air slides... my finger tips are still sore. I'd like to know how the factories fitted cables to Amal carbs. For those not used to twin carbs fixings, there are three studs with spring washers and nuts, plus one Allen screw on one of the inner flanges because it's impossible to get a fourth nut inside there. And with monoblocs  the Allen screw must be on the left carb or it won't fit.  The throttle inner cables  need to be about 10mm shorter than for concentrics  but the air slide cables should be about 3mm longer.

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.. find it easier to fit the cable to the handlebar lever last giving more slack when fitting the air slide. But as yours is a twin presumably you have a junction box somewhere which may make it more difficult.

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The air slide is worst

 And I never want to go into the splitter box again...I can't remember why, but I recollect not enjoying it last time.

I fitted the cable to the throttle slides without the main springs, and then wound the spring in after. That proved to be relatively simple.

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David it's a very complex fluid dynamics question, certainly beyond me. But I do know that dimpled golf balls go further than smooth ones.

I read that american tuners no longer favour super smooth polished inlet tracts, but more to do with efficient evaporation of petrol droplets I suspect.

 

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I wonder if the effort Amal put in to design and manufacture of needle-free RN and GP carbs produced any better results than the TT with its needle up the middle? Engines were changing as the new carburettors arrived just to obscure benefits. The Domiracer had (I think) twin, handed, GP carbs, but were they used on later racing Commandos or Dommies?

 



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