There are 16-17 pages written by myself and helpful members in an attempt for me to re-start and keep my Shadow
running I've posted on the forum so far. I finally knackered the kick-start spring, an end broke and the new one should be
here tomorrow, so it's back to square one.
Near as my abilities allow, the bike is now timed at 35 degrees BTDC with a rebuilt mag with old ATD that seems to be
in good working order. The new one I ordered had a washer fall out of it, so I returned it and followed the Lucas installation
instructions on just how to tighten up the (old with new springs) ATD: one uses the center bolt and not necessary to 'set' it with a socket as I had previously done. Now, I'm pretty confident the mag/ATD unit is working as it should.
To recap, I got the bike running with the old B-TH, and it was 'missing'...sounded rough. Couldn't re-start. Got it
running with the Lucas, for 30 seconds, sounded great, died, had the Lucas rebuilt, started again, ran for 60 seconds,
sounded normal, died, couldn't re-start. Timed it at 6 degrees BTDC, couldn't start it. Re-Timed at 35 degrees, didn't
start, KS spring broke.
It just 'feels' like the plot is not getting fuel, and having it die after sounding normal seems to point to fuel
starvation. I did check float levels and they sure seem to be within operating range. Have replaced the jets, cleaned
the pilot holes in the jet blocks with a #76 drill, put the parts through an ultrasonic bath.
Thus the bike sits now at 35 degrees, have 'tested' the rear spark plug by holding it on my Britax bar, kicking it over
and see spark. Journeyman Doug Wood went through the mag so as noted, I think all's OK.
Anything else on the carbs I can check to see if I'm actually getting fuel? Shouldn't I see wet spark plugs when I remove
them after trying to unsuccessfully start it?
Compression is 90, and last I checked it years ago, after Bill Jean put spacers under my cylinders (because pistons were
just touching the valves) it was 90 then..and I've ridden it about 35,000 miles since. In between, Glen Bewley did a re-bore, a
top end job and I re-assembled the plot, and it ran per usual.
It's reached the unreasonable point of, 'it ought to start and run.'
Now that I know the machine ought to register in the 150 lb range on compression, I'm saddened Bill Jean had to resort
to installing the spacer plates, and would like to rectify the situation in the future. The point here is it has fired and sounded fine
a couple of times in the last month, and can't locate the gremlin that is making it run out of fuel. And or the one that is keeping it
from getting fuel in the first place. If it's starting on 90 as it had, compression doesn't seem to be the problem, and if it started and
sounded OK momentarily, compression wouldn't be keeping it from getting fuel.
So once again seeking suggestions.
running I've posted on the forum so far. I finally knackered the kick-start spring, an end broke and the new one should be
here tomorrow, so it's back to square one.
Near as my abilities allow, the bike is now timed at 35 degrees BTDC with a rebuilt mag with old ATD that seems to be
in good working order. The new one I ordered had a washer fall out of it, so I returned it and followed the Lucas installation
instructions on just how to tighten up the (old with new springs) ATD: one uses the center bolt and not necessary to 'set' it with a socket as I had previously done. Now, I'm pretty confident the mag/ATD unit is working as it should.
To recap, I got the bike running with the old B-TH, and it was 'missing'...sounded rough. Couldn't re-start. Got it
running with the Lucas, for 30 seconds, sounded great, died, had the Lucas rebuilt, started again, ran for 60 seconds,
sounded normal, died, couldn't re-start. Timed it at 6 degrees BTDC, couldn't start it. Re-Timed at 35 degrees, didn't
start, KS spring broke.
It just 'feels' like the plot is not getting fuel, and having it die after sounding normal seems to point to fuel
starvation. I did check float levels and they sure seem to be within operating range. Have replaced the jets, cleaned
the pilot holes in the jet blocks with a #76 drill, put the parts through an ultrasonic bath.
Thus the bike sits now at 35 degrees, have 'tested' the rear spark plug by holding it on my Britax bar, kicking it over
and see spark. Journeyman Doug Wood went through the mag so as noted, I think all's OK.
Anything else on the carbs I can check to see if I'm actually getting fuel? Shouldn't I see wet spark plugs when I remove
them after trying to unsuccessfully start it?
Compression is 90, and last I checked it years ago, after Bill Jean put spacers under my cylinders (because pistons were
just touching the valves) it was 90 then..and I've ridden it about 35,000 miles since. In between, Glen Bewley did a re-bore, a
top end job and I re-assembled the plot, and it ran per usual.
It's reached the unreasonable point of, 'it ought to start and run.'
Now that I know the machine ought to register in the 150 lb range on compression, I'm saddened Bill Jean had to resort
to installing the spacer plates, and would like to rectify the situation in the future. The point here is it has fired and sounded fine
a couple of times in the last month, and can't locate the gremlin that is making it run out of fuel. And or the one that is keeping it
from getting fuel in the first place. If it's starting on 90 as it had, compression doesn't seem to be the problem, and if it started and
sounded OK momentarily, compression wouldn't be keeping it from getting fuel.
So once again seeking suggestions.