Hi all,
I’m surprised at the reported lack of quality and variations in dimensions of new carburettors and tuning issues, particularly the Wassells in this discussion.
On the farm where I live I have numerous internal combustion engines from tiny 30cc Honda knockoffs attached to star post drivers, through chainsaws, pumps, generators, bikes and quad up to quite big stuff.
Carburettors are a source of problems as many engines may sit idle for months or perhaps years between usage and modern fuel causes all sorts of problems congealing in fuel systems. The tiny diaphragm carbs on the little stuff is particularly vulnerable. The most microscopic piece of crud can render the engine worthless.
But here is the irony. I can often purchase a perfectly workable Chinese carb off eBay for around $25. Remember these carbs are made to far higher tolerances than is required by our bikes simply by virtue that a 30cc engine uses far less fuel so has far smaller jets etc than our 400cc (approx) cylinders. These carbs are a mass of miniscule springs, diaphragms, valves and jets in something the size of a matchbox.
Recently I purchased an aftermarket CV carb for my Suzuki 250 Quadrunner for $70 that started first piston up and needed no further attention.
So the the point is, with modern computer design and manufacture I would imagine it should cost practically nothing to produce a dimensionally perfect and materially robust carburettor. It should present no problem at all. As there are so few basic Amal designs and worldwide a lot of old Brit bikes surviving i thought it would be a no brainer to reproduce our carbs, simply by ’emailing’ the drawings to some hideous factory in Middle Kingdom whose workers don’t even know what they are making but still have it work better than the best hand fitted carb from the halcyon days of British track domination
Of course it would be Chinese but if it worked perfectly and provided long service who cares. After all, nothing is more basic or has less parts than our Amals.
just a thought
al
