Post by zilch56 on Mar 12, 2012 11:05:31 GMT -4
I just my 76 Bonny last fall and I'm still working through the kinks and learning the bike. Yesterday I tried to start the bike. The previous owner told me the bike was running pretty rich. I confirmed this by looking at the plugs after a short run last fall after going through the carbs. It was still hard to start, hard to get the carbs dialed in and would kick back like a mule. Yesterday I reset the carb mixtures back to the basic setting 1 1/2 turns open. Wow it was really kicking back but started in about 5 kicks. (Glad I learned never to get your leg fully extended when kick starting a bike) I stopped it and set up the strobe light started it and got up to rpm to check timing. The timing was set to the TDC mark for #1 cylinder instead of 38 degrees BTDC. I got it to adjust out to about 17 degrees BTDC. I could get it to set up to the full 38 degrees before the slots in the timing plate ran out. I got some advice on another bike forum I frequent and will re-clock the rotor and timing plate relationship. The slots will then have enough room to get the 38 degrees BTDC. I went ahead and started/ran the bike and what a difference. It would start from clod in 1-2 kicks and acceleration was excellent. I checked the plug color after the run an it was starting to get that nice grey color instead of the wet black color. I can’t imagine how the previous owner got around on it before. When the shop installed the Boyer ignition mod they set up to the wrong markings. I can’t wait to finish up the other issues and getting her cleaned up for a real ride.
I remember when I was learning abour aircooled piston engines in A&P school when reading plug tan was a "cooler" color than grey. It was better overall for aircooled engine to have a "cooler" running mixture. 