Subject: Re: An oddity
Author: Juha Vattulainen
Date: Apr 19, 2001, 6:43 AM
Post ID: 1706378736
Hei Bob,
Propably you have already gone through the carbs, but what about switching
the left and right hand carbs temporarily in order to see if the problem is
in the carburation ? I am not sure if this can be easily done. Instead you
might of course try to locate an extra carb to make the test.
I am not sure what kind of carbs you have in your Ambo, but if your carbs
have the piston type accelerator pump, you could check that the small ball
valve inside the pump piston is ok.
Best regards, Juha Vattulainen
| Brian, Thanks for your response; I sort of get it. Let me tell you a few more things about this Ambo of mine. When I bought this bike, over a year ago, it did not run right. The dealer installed a new battery and changed the generator which did nothing. Electrics are all Marelli. All along I thought a piston kit was needed as, upon inspection, there was evidence of chrome flaking off the cylinders. So, I installed a new Nikasil piston kit, new gaskets, lapped the valves and seats, measured the valve guides and valve stems within tolerances, torqued the heads two times for break-in period, adjusted the valves two times, replaced spark plug wires and coil wire and checked for proper ohm resistance, replaced return springs on automatic spark advance using 8 and 9 coil springs, replaced distributor cap, cleaned the cap, rotor and points, new points and condenser and I have put more new spark plugs on the starboard side cylinder than I can count. Also cleaned battery terminals and leads to regulator. (Even new header pipe gaskets.) When I start the bike with a new plug she will run OK for about 10 mi. Then when I slow down or stop at a red light the starboard cylinder begin to fail and then will quit. I give it the gas a bit and she starts to fire again and then fails. I pull the plug and always find evidence of fouling; the plug is wet, dripping wet with gasoline. Sometimes gas will drip out the starboard header where it joins the muffler. When both cylinders are firing the bike has plenty of power and (like the rest of you guys) the bike is a joy to ride but it is always short lived. Please keep in mind that despite all the changes mentioned above it is always the starboard cylinder that quits. I am very grateful for all the help from you guys on this list esp. Ian, Andy, Peter, Rich and Mark and now from you Brian but I am now becoming desperate, therefore: IF ANYONE ON THIS LIST PROVIDES ME WITH INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF THE GREMLIN THAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND RESULTS IN MY AMBASSADOR RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY ON TWO CYLINDERS I WILL SEND THEM A CASE OF THEIR FAVOURITE BEER - OFFER GOOD ONLY IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES - ONE WINNER ONLY. Thanks, Bob Hawkes |