Will new Amal Carbs on my BSA A65 Spitfire resolve the starting issues?

I have replaced all the ignition. Checked compression and valves. As a last resort I got new Amal carbs will they resolve the issue?

[@billg125]

You will need to remove the choke gizzmo's! The Mk1 concentrics are diabolical things. their pilot jets are bushing fitted in the pilot passageways. Bloody difficult to remove any blockages. One sure method is to drill out the blanking plug opposite the pilot mixture screw then, clear the blockage & use some epoxy to seal the drilled hole. Mk1.5 units already have a removable screw for just such purposes; what does that tell you?. but, over time, the carby bodies will warp causing further issues. I would not have them even as a gift! MK 2 Amals or Mikuni's are the way to go, at least in my opinion. glad it started well for you.

[@mintimperial1762]

Original Spitfires had Amal GP carbs with a central float chamber.

[@johndeaville9326]

Yes the choke slides have been left in the permanently on position so the bike will start ok but will soon die because of this. If you don't want to have a choke you need to leave the choke assembly off! I have a Spitfire and have the chokes fitted. They are needed to start the bike up from cold and you should not argue with the guys at BSA, IF THEY WERE NOT NEEDED THEY WOULD HAVE LEFT THEM OFF AND SAVED MONEY! Any bike that should have a choke but doesn't and starts ok without means the mixture will be miles too rich when the bike is up to temperature. The oily deposits in the slides of the old carbs worry me and also the broken gasket. I feel the poor starting could have been overcome without resorting to a new set of expensive carbs. Bet you have since had to take the choke parts out of the carb or correctly reinstalled the whole choke system. When you started the bike I could tell it was on full choke and I reckon after about 10 mins the engine would come to stop. John Deaville.

[@toooldtodieyoungmotorcyle]

Thanks for your comments appreciated. I think i will get a choke lever and cables. The oily deposits I am reliably informed is very old ethanol petrol that is drying out.

[@RD-650]

👍

[@cabinvibesebaystore8956]

New sub ! Liked 🙏😃🌙👍

[@RB87NL]

Shouldn’t the choke slides be removed if not used? I recall that tension on the cables keeps the choke slide open and therefore off.

[@toooldtodieyoungmotorcyle]

Hi, not sure but Amal told me to remove them if I was not going to use them. It caused a big debate on a BSA forum but the bike still starts and seems to run fine without them installed. Thanks Graham

[@RB87NL]

@@toooldtodieyoungmotorcyle The discussion of running with or without chokes is like oil threads on forums. That’s up to you to decide. But if you don’t want to run chokes on the carb’s the slides have to be removed! Otherwise the choke is always on and the bike won’t run properly. Just check the air filter side on the carb while opening the throttle, you’ll see the choke slide blocking the inlet.

[@gren509]

Really - you left the choke slides in ! Muppet !

[@toooldtodieyoungmotorcyle]

Thank you for following community guidelines and leaving your respectful comment.

[@mrstupid]

Amal would have not told you to fit choke sliders without the cable to hold it off. You are now operating on full choke so i doubt it will make 40 mph before fouling the plugs. You do need a reasonable skill level and some correct tools plus knowledge of old British bikes to run this. I have spent over 50 years on these bikes so far

[@toooldtodieyoungmotorcyle]

I cut my teeth on BSA bikes back in the day. Not my first rodeo and my videos are aimed at people who are maybe trying their hand at restoration. I got so much flack the first time I built a wheel on youtube and told to leave it to the experts. I had it checked at a pro wheel builder who told me it was done perfectly. Not everything is filmed. I appreciate your comments though. The BSA videos are quite old and the bike is running perfectly now. 50 years experience so what? maybe you have been doing it wrong for 50 years. Just Saying.

[@toooldtodieyoungmotorcyle]

Also I do state quite clearly in the video thyat I will be running the bike without the sliders in place. Thanks for your comments though.