After setting the usual stuff including tappets, ignition timing, mixture etc, I'm unable to get my machine to idle consistently. I know that it could really do with a rebore, but I suspect that the battery might be the problem since it's really due for replacement.
Anyone had any experience with the electronic ignition misbehaving due to a poor battery?
74 Strada poor idle
Re: 74 Strada poor idle
ignition is totally seperated from the electrical circuit so the battery cannot be the problem
check your the rubbers on the bottom of your choke levers and the o-ring, they are big trouble makers if they are old enough to loose flexibility. the bottom rubber is flat coming from tha factory....
check your the rubbers on the bottom of your choke levers and the o-ring, they are big trouble makers if they are old enough to loose flexibility. the bottom rubber is flat coming from tha factory....
Re: 74 Strada poor idle
Thanks Hendre. I'll check the chokes again, but did rebuild the carbs recently. I'm now suspicious of the French petrol that's in the tank, it smells overpoweringly of ethanol. Fresh fuel at the weekend and we'll see what happens.
Just as an aside; when the bike arrived from France I fired it up and was alarmed by how poorly it ran. I checked the ignition timing and other stuff and got it running better but nothing like right - not had it on the road btw as it's still on a French reg. Anyway, I notice that the front cylinder is burning a little oil and decide to strip it and take a look. On reassembly I check the valve clearances and something is wrong with the marks on the flywheel. After a little head scratching it occurs to me that I should check the valve timing, only to find that it's 180 degrees out! What I can't understand is how the thing ran at all!
D
Just as an aside; when the bike arrived from France I fired it up and was alarmed by how poorly it ran. I checked the ignition timing and other stuff and got it running better but nothing like right - not had it on the road btw as it's still on a French reg. Anyway, I notice that the front cylinder is burning a little oil and decide to strip it and take a look. On reassembly I check the valve clearances and something is wrong with the marks on the flywheel. After a little head scratching it occurs to me that I should check the valve timing, only to find that it's 180 degrees out! What I can't understand is how the thing ran at all!
D
Re: 74 Strada poor idle
ethanol, the nail to the coffin of our beloved machines...
Drain the tank and put Shell V-power in there, it is still without ethanol (at least in NL) and our old ladies love it!
Drain the tank and put Shell V-power in there, it is still without ethanol (at least in NL) and our old ladies love it!
Re: 74 Strada poor idle
Well, new fuel didn't make much difference, but took off the carbs and found that I'd managed to overlook the fact that the idle screws were missing their O rings. A pair of rings and a smear of silicone on the inlet stubs for good measure and the tired old engine ticks over relatively well. MoT next week. Thanks for your input Hendre.