An itch I have to scratch I

I gave up biking 2 years ago at 68 partly because I dropped my triton and hurt myself with a hole in my foot, and partly because she who must be obeyed said I was a silly old fool for thinking I could regain my lost youth by doing what young men do !!! so the triton went to a new home, and ever since I have lusted after another but decided firmly on electric start so I am in the process of negotiating on a1975 Mk3 interstate which is running but not very well ! it has been stood for a couple of years and I am hoping it is carburation , it starts easily and runs but on low revs a cylinder is missing once up to 2500 rpm it seems to be running on two but I cannot be sure because it is not under load and from the video I have seen even while missing no smoke anyway I hope to be seeing it in the flesh by the end of the week and if we agree on price I will be reverting to my foolish hobby, apparently it has a new starter fitted with receipt and does start on the button but apparently the switch is hit and miss is this a common problem or simply remove clean and replace, also could someone let me know the correct carbs and jets and if there are known improvements on the market and if so what they are, has anyone had any problems with this new diluted fuel that has been forced upon us and is the Esso premium still free of this because I looked at a premium pump the other day and it had a sticker with a 5 on it which I took to mean ETHANOL Many thanks in advance for your help and advice and if all goes well you will be hearing from me more often Chris

Its mandatory to have E5 or E10 on the pump as it could contain up to 5 or 10% ethanol but in most parts of UK (Scotland and the SW are the exceptions) then Esso premium is still E0 despite the label.

What’s in our Synergy Supreme+ 99 premium petrol​

Our Synergy Supreme+ 99 petrol has more cleaning power than our regular petrol – and includes molecules whose job it is to reduce the friction in your engine helping the moving parts work more efficiently.*
Although our pumps have E5 labels on them, our Synergy Supreme+ 99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland). Legislation requires us to place these E5 labels on pumps that dispense unleaded petrol with ‘up to 5% ethanol’, including those that contain no ethanol, which is why we display them on our Synergy Supreme+ 99 pumps.
There’s currently no requirement for renewable fuel, like ethanol, to be present in super unleaded petrol although this could change in the future, in which case we would comply with any new legislation.​

Running on one cylinder up to 2500 then the second pot chiming in is possibly the pilot jet blocked on the bad cylinder, fixed with a 16 thou drill mounted in a WD40 red plastic nozzle and the pilot jet drilled out. 20 mins work, could be other faults but common in a laid up bike due amongst other things Ethanol.

chrisf1 said:

pparently it has a new starter fitted with receipt and does start on the button but apparently the switch is hit and miss is this a common problem or simply remove clean and replace,...

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The switch is extremely basic and probably needs the contacts cleaning or it could be the solenoid in which case it is easily replaced.

chrisf1 said:

...also could someone let me know the correct carbs and jets

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"Correct" could depend on the type of air filter (assuming it has one?) as the original airbox and black cap silencers could have been replaced requiring different main jets so I suggest you hold on for now.

I've had no problems with 'E5' so far.

Good for you,
Buy the dam thing and let good sense be dammed!
yes, it might kill you but so could worrying about all the things in the world that could also do the same.
Providing it has nice even compression on both cylinders the the fact that it is running poorly down low probably works to your advantage as a negotiating tool.
People more expert than me will provide good advice on the starter but I believe that improvements have them operating far better than when new.
Good luck and have fun!
Alan

Good on ya mate , better than sitting in a rest home , It will keep your brain thinking and your body in balance , "your a long time under ground" , make the most of it , Cheers .

Buy it , pull the carbs for an ultrasonic cleaner bath , or as suggested the pilot jets and passages are blocked from congealed old fuel. Or buy newer improved Amal carbs.

Go for it ! Distorts Shelby-Right…we’re a long time dead…ride like you stole it !

damn spell check…Ditto Shelby-Right ..soz

Well I’m at 69 now and not ready for the retirement home anytime soon. However you want an electric start motorcycle, maybe a new Triumph twin is a better choice. The Commando electric start might be a bit of frustration…weak starter, broken sprag gear, etc.

Run with the big dogs ! Buy the Norton

ILLF8ED said:

Well I’m at 69 now and not ready for the retirement home anytime soon. However you want an electric start motorcycle, maybe a new Triumph twin is a better choice. The Commando electric start might be a bit of frustration…weak starter, broken spray gear, etc.

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Nothing wrong with the starter situation. Just hand your money over to CNW and Dyno Dave and Iwis. Problem over . Ride on.

I agree with earlier suggestions to get the carbs cleaned in an ultrasonic bath. I do not know about UK fuel but the only issues I have had with ethanol gas here in NZ is if you let it dry out in the carb you will get a dry powder blocking things up. Plus it doesn't last long in the tank before losing volitiles and becomes hard to start. More than a couple of months and you may need to change it. It's a good idea to turn the gas off and let the carbs run dry if you leaving it for a week or more. When you have the carbs off for cleaning blow carb cleaner through the opennings and check the two small holes before and after where the slide sits are clear.

So far as jetting is concerned it depends on the aircleaner and mufflers fitted. The Mk111 had different jets than the Mk11 but the bike may have the earlier peashooter mufflers fitted. Most do. Best to get a manual - available online - once you know the setup.

My own experience with bikes that have been laid up a while is that the electrical connections may have corroded and have high resistance. Especially things like the kill switch if fitted connections under the tank and the main switch. I went through mine with a multimeter and found three poor connections.

I beleive CNW have an upgrade to the standard Mk111 Norton starter. This may be a good idea for old legs. I fitted the complete CNW starter to my Mk11 and its very good.

I had a dark green MKIII Commando Roadster once but alas it is lost to time and good memories. They are fantastic bikes. You should be pleased once you get it sorted. As has been stated before, it sounds like a plugged up pilot jet.

I never had any issues with any of my Nortons running ethanol laden fuel. I did notice that my 750 would gum up when I ran to bowls dry. I know it shouldn't but a few tests confirmed this. I just left "em full and tickled them to freshen the fuel when the bike was siting.

Chris,
Check your "conversations" [aka private messages]. Make sure you are signed in then click on the envelope icon at the top/right of any page.

Torontonian said:

Nothing wrong with the starter situation. Just hand your money over to CNW and Dyno Dave and Iwis. Problem over . Ride on.

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True.

Chris,
Manual is on its way. Since you are in the UK, contact dobba99 via private message. He can help you get that Prestolite starter working great. Also, replace the stock battery cables with heavier gauge units. dynodave carries these. You can either fit a LiFe battery into the stock battery tray [$$ but saves weight and improves power to the starter] or change out the Mk III battery tray for one from a 71- 74 Commando. That will allow you to fit an 18 Amp/Hour Harley battery [requires use of earlier "Ham Can" air filter and adds weight]

Agree Dobba99 (MR P S) is the man to speak to in the UK if you want the Mk3 starter and drive gear as good as anything out there. As for other Norton suppliers this side of the pond, apart from AN, RGM and Norvil have an excellent range of kit too (ducks for cover here!!)
A new solenoid (Morris Minor?) should go with the new cables, and I've found that a 14amp Motobatt AGM battery is more than adequate to spin it all over, no mods needed and doesn't mind long periods of rest either (no battery tender needed )
IMHO, of course

EstuaryBoy said:

Agree Dobba99 (MR P S) is the man in the UK if you want the Mk3 starter as good as anything out there. As for other Norton suppliers this side of the pond, apart from AN, RGM and Norvil have an excellent range of kit too (ducks for cover here!!)
A new solenoid (Morris Minor?) should go with the new cables, and I've found that a 14amp Motobatt AGM battery is more than adequate to spin it all over, no mods needed and doesn't mind long periods of rest either (no battery tender needed )
IMHO, of course

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Those motobatts seem a complete gamble
I have had one that lasted just over a year
And another that's coming up 5 years old still fine both bought within a couple of months between them for different bikes

baz said:

Those motobatts seem a complete gamble
I have had one that lasted just over a year
And another that's coming up 5 years old still fine both bought within a couple of months between them for different bikes

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Maybe they're being 'counterfeited' ?????

EstuaryBoy said:

Maybe they're being 'counterfeited' ?????

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Maybe
But think I bought it from the same place
Can't remember