Subject: 71 Ambo from Indiana
Author: John Boettcher
Date: Jul 12, 2002, 11:52 AM
Post ID: 1710592729
As a few of you know, I was the lucky one that got the Ambo from the kid
in Indiana a few weeks ago. Here an update.
I put a battery in it and swapped starters because the starter solenoid
was busted. Checked oil and a few basics. Starter button acted funny but
it did start and run as long as you blipped the throttle. Pulled the
bowls off and the low speed jets were clogged. Cleaned 'em up and it ran
good enough to go around the block but smoked pretty good. Also noticed
an oily plug. Last Sunday I pulled the heads (solid copper head gaskets)
and the right bank gasket was on backwards which I assumed from the
quart of oil that hit me when I pulled the valve cover off. Chrome bore
was good on the right. Left side had flaky chrome so I put on a jug I
had lying around. Bike ran much better. No charge from the Marelli
system until I put on the ford regulator. The kid had talked about the
shifter being really tight and staying wherever it was last positioned.
That ended up being the linkage rod tightened in the wrong position
throwing sideward pressure on the shifter. I loosened the locking nut
and it turned in to position and is fine now.
Tires were shot so I replaced them along with tubes. Starter switch was
fried and had to be fixed. Ran real lean so I up the jet sizes and now
it purrs. It's a tad rustier than the pictures but looks in nice fair
shape. I may even chance it to the Iowa rally on it.
JB