Tickler sticks open when hot

I did a search and couldnt find an answer to this particular problem.

I havent pulled the carb off and opened it to see whats going on inside....im brand new to Nortons so just starting from scratch when it comes to knowing the little issues with them, dont want to tear the thing apart if theres a known fix i can do without taking it apart.


Basically, the tickler works fine when the bike is cold. I tickle them, some fuel comes out and away we go. However, later in the day, sometimes i need to tickle the carbs again to start it ( i think my battery is loosing charge throughout the day, so i have to add some fuel to help with starting sometimes, but thats another issue), and when i tickle my right side carb (left side is fine), whatever opens up the fuel flow inside the tickler gets stuck open and fuel just pours out like a faucet, so i have to keep flicking the tickler to get it to unstick inside from whatever opens it up. The tickler itself is not stuck, the spring action and the movement of it feels just lke the other side, except something gets stuck on this side and its a fuel patty til i get it to unstick by flick tickling the thing til it stops flowing

Is this an open heart surgery on the carb (sound like the obvious situation), or is there an external fix? wd, adjustment.....?

When it happens again,turn off the fuel.Start the engine and run it until it runs out of fuel.
If there is a small particle lodged on the needle,it's likely to be washed off when you turn the fuel on again.Try that a few times,before you pull anything apart.

Welcome! The tickler pushes the float down, it may be a simple mispositioned gasket, or float needle seat issue. Tell us a bit about yourself... wrenching experience, age (are carbs/points in your past?? or young enough to be HEI/EFI guy?) How much carb experience in general do you have?

Sound like dirt in bowl.

Yeah, my first thought was dirt/particle causing the problem, but sometimes with machines like these its wise to ask the vets before i go nuts and take things apart. I like the idea of running it dry and try washing a possible particle down, ill try that first before i get crazy.

Thanks for the welcome!

Im 40, been wrenching on my own cars/bikes since mom let me at it... this might sound strange, but mom was a tough cookie and could set the idle or dwell on anything. I was actually an ASE master technician in my 20s but quickly realized that working on machines for a living sucked, so i moved on.

I made a living rebuilding carbs for my buddies hot rods all through college so im ok at it and definitively not an "EFI guy", even though i do know it well and can generally fix issue with EFI cars/bikes that are pre 2000s or so, after that technology got way ahead of me...i just prefer good ol carbs, points, etc. Ive never owned a brit bike, or a bike with a carb that required tickling or anything of the sort this is a new thing for me, its awesome...i love the process of starting my Norton, makes me feel like i deserved the ride after all.

im sure some of you might know this bike, i know it was advertised here when it was for sale.

Welcome. Does sound like the float is sticking down, for whatever reason.

Nice cycle. Very nice. Entirely stock nice ?

i tried that, but it just comes up with the old ? in a box when i do....usually works for me on other forums, not sire what im doing wrong this time.

than you!

yeah, my initial thought was to buy a bike in 80% shape and do a full resto on it, but once i saw this one, the beauty of it as it is works great for me. I think ill leave her alone, fix the little issues and go like that for now, maybe do the full on resto way down the road when my kid is old enough to help....make him deserve his graduation present.

Edited - pic link works.

Sticking FLOAT . needs visual inspection - remove the Bowl . Should have ' viton ' tipped needles . . Or troublesome .



http://amalcarb.co.uk/monobloc-stayup-f ... e-kit.html some will get hysterical seeing ' monoblock ' the ' stay up ' may be more to the point . :wink:

If you fit new viton -tipped needles,make sure they are aluminium needles;not brass.The brass needles are too heavy and will change the fuel level in the bowl,depending on how full your tank is (fuel pressure will affect the bowl level,by about 1/8").

Ah! Great tips guys thank you!

Now that u mention fuel tank level, in want to say that it does always happen after refueling, ridding and then trying to restart it.

I'd at least pull the bowls and check out everything in there for sure and maybe buy new floats and float needles. Don't need not stinkin' gas leaks.

i think im buying this needles and floats regardless of whats going on inside.... doubt that its whats in there now so might as well put them in while its apart.