Commando Starting

Not enough fuel  when cold.  Try tipping the bike  to one side as far as you can for 10 seconds ,then see how it starts from cold.

Norton's were designed around carbs with ticklers.  It's either that or a tin of Easi-Start in the Barbour pocket !

My Venom, fitted with a Mikuni VM is an easy starter (if done right). The Honda race bike with two is a real pain to get running. Needs one side choke (actually enrichener) to start. So bad I bought a roller starter for it.Too old for running 75 yards before it firing up. When warm it has decent air fuel ratio, good for podium places. So with correct jetting and ignition timing it is possible to have them easy starting.

DJ.

I fitted a 34 Mikuni to my Atlas and have the same problem as you. Probably not so severe, living in Melbourne. 

The bike takes quite a lot longer to warm up as well. I've bought some different pilot jets but haven't bothered to try them yet as the bike runs so well when it's warm.

One advantage with the Mikuni is I get an extra 50 miles !!!! Range out of a tank of juice! 72m MPG on the Victorian NOC run last Weekend!

Don Anson 

Melbourne. 

Hi Paul, I assume you're keeping the throttle completely closed when starting - if you open the throttle  (as is common when starting with old Amals) the cold-start system won't work as intended. Having said that, I experimented with single Mk.2 Concentric on my 850 for a time and always found cold starting a 'challenge' (same cold-start system as the Mikunis) - as Richard says, 'tickleable' carbs seem better for cold starting.

 Commando Mk2 with a single Mikuni and starting was a first kick experience every time. From cold fuel tap open ignition on press the choke lever on the carb down no throttle then one kick into life then choke lever back up to normal running setting after a few seconds. Starting from warm/hot fuel tap ignition on with a little throttle then kick into life.

Regards

I had trouble starting my 750 with a Mikuni carb at one point. It was fine starting it once the engine had warmed up but a nightmare when cold. My problem was lack of compression due to worn rings. I fitted some new rings which increased the compression and it started a lot better afterwards. I also have the problem of wet sumping which seems to make it harder to kick the bike over quick enough to start easily after a lay up of 2 weeks so I fitted an Alton starter which spins the engine over very quickly and now starts first time at the push of a button.

i second the solution to keep the amals with ticklers. mine are all sleeved with brass after wear in slides becomes air leak issue. i have never wanted to fit anything else and i can use the factory air filter too.

New Amals are aluminium alloy, made possible by modern improvements in pressure die casting. Add that to chrome plated or hard anodised slides, and it's not likely that a new concentric will wear out in the likely life of machine or owner.