Triumphrat

03-29-2004

I'm looking for some advice on starting a vintageTR6. IT was my dad's and sat for about 25 years. I just started restoring it and it has good spark and is getting gas. I'm not using the gas tank but rigged up a feeder tube for fuel. It will kick over a little with the choke on and no throttle, but as soon as I add throttle it gets a totally different feel and doesn't want to turn over. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Trumpets4Years · 03-29-2004

Have you rebuilt the carb? Depending on what's been in there the past 25 years things could get pretty gummy, blocked, etc.

What else have you checked or redone already?

--That's a nice bike you have there. The 650 will give you a nice ride and the single carb will make your life a bit easier (no balancing).

Ken

03-30-2004

I had the carb cleaned and rebuilt by a guy who has been riding and rebuilding classic bikes for decades so I doubt there's any problems with that. He claims that you don't need to use the choke to start them. He suggested lightly rolling on the throttle when I push the kicker. When I do that it gets very hard to kick over. If I do choke it with no throttle it will fire like it wants to start, but when I give a little gas it just gets hard to kick. It has new plugs and bright spark... I jusst can't get it to run

Trumpets4Years · 03-30-2004

I must say, that is something I have not come across. The throttle simply lifts the slide to pull more gas and air into the carb. Why that would have a significant effect on compression or the effort required to kick over the bike has me stumped. Perhaps some better minds than mine can offer some thoughts.

However, in case it helps, my standard start-up process for the older bikes...

1.) Tickle the carbs until the bowls are full
2.) Pull in the clutch and kick a couple of times to free the plates.
3.) Kick it hard once or twice while rolling the throttle back slightly
4.) If it doesn't start, fill the carbs again and repeat the kick.

A worst case start on my '74 bonny is two to three kicks.

Chucktri · 03-31-2004

On old British bikes the choke may be on when you think it is off!

The lever that controls the choke cable should be in the position that pulls the cable up, not down. This is a mistake that most people new to vintage Brit-Iron make. Try reversing the position you have the lever in and see if it makes a difference, (tension on cable, not relaxed) once the bike is warmed up a bit.

Chuck Contrino
Pres. Tri-State Norton Riders.

Slinky · 03-31-2004

In all the years I had my T140 I never needed the choke, the carb "tickler" was enough for cold starts.

You have tried the tickler?

Chucktri · 03-31-2004

Slinky,

It's true that you shouldn't need to use the choke on an old Brit bike. I've even removed them from a couple of the bikes I owned, but having the choke on, i.e. in the down position when you are trying to run the bike, esp. if there are other problems (timing, mixture, etc) can stall the bike.

BTW the "tickler" is the little button on the side of the carb body just above the float bowl. Depress it until the gas runs out over your finger, then try and start the bike.

Also remove the bowls to drain any water that might be in there, and look for crud in the carb, from sitting all these years.

hope this helps.

Chuck

cat · 04-15-2004

like the guys above: make sure it's not choked. make sure the cable is pulled away from the carb.

also, i wd. take a look at the points. if it sat for 25 years, some water could have coroded the points.

take a nail file and gently clean them off a bit.

i wd. put in a new set of plugs, too. they're cheap. mine were fouled last year after some carb problems-- put in a new set. pop bang i was started.

let us know what happens...

cat

04-15-2004

Got 'er running. I think the rings were compressed so I shot some wd40 in the intake, just gave the throttle a crack and she came to life. Thanks for all the tips (especially the choke being backwards). Triumph owners RULE!!!

cat · 04-16-2004

GREAT! sounds good, doesn't it?

cat :-D