Amal wear symptoms

Status
Not open for further replies.

baz

VIP MEMBER
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
7,133
Country flag
What exactly are the symptoms for wear on MK1 amals ?
I fitted a new pair of new old stock mk1s about 10,000 miles ago
They have been brilliant up until very recently
My bike idles around the 1100rpm mark
But recently when I have been sitting at traffic lights the revs start to climb to around 1900
Other times it'll stay between a 1000 and 1100
This is without me twisting the throttle
But also it does it completely randomly,as if it has a random air leak
I haven't the time to look at it yet
But I would have thought if it's wear on the slides it'd do it all the time?
Cheers
 
It's random when the wear first appears and then increases, catch it early and anodised slides will save the bodies from further wear.
 
Stick your finger down the intake and attempt to wiggle the slide at varying heights. If it wiggles more than just a tiny bit any any height, it's showing signs of wear. The slide bodies also wear, so just replacing slides doesn't always help. The bore-and-sleeve with dissimilar metal slide is the best solution other than MkII's or Premier's.
 
Drifting idle is certainly one of the symptoms. Mine did that years ago, and I found myself carrying a screwdriver and twiddling the idle at stop lights. Had the carbs sleeved by Lund and that went away.
 
I keep my Amals in a box where the operation is absolutely flawless.

I never got more that a few thousand miles out of Amals with the P11. Went through two sets. Vibration and heat killed them quick. My P11 solution is irrelevant for a Commando.

If I had a Commando, I would take the Amals and stock intake manifolds off, box them up, put them on a shelf, and get this set. Tight under the tank, and I would imagine vastly superior performers to Amals of any flavor. Not cheap, but probably close to bolt on and ride without any BS. Easy for me to say, cuz I'm not married to keeping anything original. Not trying to offend anyone. I just like stuff to work, and that's the approach I would take.
 
Remove the slides, inspect for wear.
I've found the replacment hard annodized slides to be a little tighter in the bore.
I would never run the old non-coated slides again.
 
Have you thought of needle and jet wear? Other areas like manifold and carb connecting tube?
Had my amals resleeved by B.Cheswell for $75 CDN each last year. Lots of good reports here on having that done.
 
75 each I suppose is half of new ones? If so remember that new ones come with everything else new as well. So far
the Premiers have worked well for me and yes I do run a stock air filter ham can type. Clean(er) air is good(er) air! :)
 
Its looking like my amals need new anodised slides then
And probably needle jets
The shame is the bike run's superbly apart from the erratic idle
I may well re fit the single TM 40 I have on the shelf
The only reason I went back to the amals was for ease of starting when my knee went
But now I have an electric start , hopefully it'll start ok with the TM
 
75 each I suppose is half of new ones? If so remember that new ones come with everything else new as well. So far
the Premiers have worked well for me and yes I do run a stock air filter ham can type. Clean(er) air is good(er) air! :)
New sets, premiers, run closer to $400 to $500 CDN here after taxes and delivery etc.
 
Hello!
In my case, it was the advanceunitsprings not keeping the timing stable.
The unstable idle disappeared, when the advancesprings were fixed!! :)

Bengt L..
 
Symptoms of worn Amal’s mainly as above mentioned. As the slides wear air gets passed them and the idle speed goes up.

Here we go again with those who do and don’t like Amal Mk1.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top