So, I have got the bike ticking over (it last ran in 1972, so great to have her back). When I de-clutch, the engine dies, so the bike doesn't move. Would this be a timing problem or carb? I am running a Boyer electronic ignition (including coil). Grateful for ideas. It might be worth mentioning that I had to wind the ignition back to between 80 and 90 degrees advance before it would fire.
Mike
sounds like you are new to…
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Dies?
Hello Mike, when you say 'the engine dies' do you mean it 'locks-up' or just stops (as if you have turned-off the ignition). If it locks-up this would imply that the clutch is not free (as Robert suggests) and you have a gear engaged. Having to set the ignition timing back so far certainly indicates something else but I'm surprised the motor runs at-all in this state. The light Twins depend on very accurate timing to run correctly.
Keep us posted on this - I'm intrigued ... .
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Yes, I'm new to this! I…
Yes, I'm new to this! I start the bike in neutral, when I engage first gear and apply revs the engine doesn't run as smoothly as when it is idling. Then when I release the clutch the engine stops as though I had turned off the ignition. I have been rebuilding the bike myself, and while I would love to get it going myself, I am prepared to pay to have an expert finish the job.
when I set up the timing, I followed the procedure in the owners manual (and explained in many threads on this forum) but nothing happened at the correct angle of advance. I put that problem to this forum and received advice on the one hand that is should run if set up property and on the other hand to keep advancing until it fires. In this case, the latter worked.
I hope that helps
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Patience
Mike,
You first reported your problems starting the Jubilee in 2022. Two years on and you deserve to be running. Summer days are getting shorter.
Are you in UK?
What county are you in? Let us know and perhaps the offers of help will flood in.
Can't be that much wrong with it if it fires up and idles.
Peter
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Expert help
Mike,
I might have a contact who can help you. Contact me by my email address on page 2 of Roadholder magazine.
Peter Holland. newparts@nortonownersclub.org
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Michael - if your in Suffolk…
Michael - if your in Suffolk then I'm happy to help!
Bruce
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Thank you all for your…
Thank you all for your replies. Apologies for not responding to offers of help until now, I changed jobs recently and my attention was diverted! Bruce and Peter, I live in Cheshire, thank you for your offers of help, before I get in touch, here is the latest
I solved the problem of 70+ degrees of advance by wiring up the Boyer ignition properly!! I had incorrectly connected the two wires from the stator plate, once swapped over, the engine now ticks over at 30 degrees of advance. I have used a strobe and can see that it advances by about 10 degrees when revs are applied.
i thought that this would solve my lack of power problem, but it hasn't. The bike does move forward (so gears are engaged) but after about 3feet, the engine dies (as if I have turned it off at the ignition switch).
I'm open to suggestions.
Mike Formby
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It must be fuel or air or…
It must be fuel or air or spark. Fuel starvation is not likely if it stops that quickly and it's been ticking over for some time. Likewise air. So possibly a loose connection that rests in place until the bike is moved?
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If this is a Jubilee, the…
If this is a Jubilee, the manual specifies 32 degrees before top dead centre at full advance. That would be 5,000 rpm on an analogue Boyer system.
Does the carburettor have an air slide and is it pulled up out of the venturi?
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Gears
Sounds to me it might be a load on the engine on moving off!
As in a post further up is the clutch free when lever pulled in.
If so, 3ft is about 1/2 a wheel revolution. Have you tried turning the rear wheel with the bike on the centre stand, in gear and plugs out to see if the box is free to turn in all gears.
Added Sun morning
It was late last night, so to continue and expand:-
Ignition and fuel - must be reasonable because Mike has set the ignition - so has enought fuel to rev up to probably 5000 rpm as the advance has moved 10 deg. That should take care of starting up to 10 mph at least.
Clutch must be free because otherwise he would not be able to select a grear with the engine running. Primary and mainshaft ok or it wouldn't kick over or run at all.
It sound like a load on moving off so that leaves transmission lockup or rear brake being pulled on. Front brake should be ok or it wouldn't be able to move around at all.
Fair point by Bruce below.
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This might sound a bit silly…
This might sound a bit silly - but, are you sure you're moving off in 1st (or 2nd) gear. If the gear being selected is top (4th) then engine will die quite quickly without a LOT of revs. Been there, done that!
Bruce
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sounds like you are new to old Nortons ?, clutch may be stuck, Cant follow what you are saying about the timing. Timing is pretty critical on these short stroke motors .Would pay you to get help?.