
April 25, 2020

Thanks all. This is great info and easy to follow. I’ll rig up a light setup like mike p5xbx suggested.
i have a new regulator ordered but it’s coming from Rex Caunt in the UK so will take a while to get to Australia with the current situation.
safety certificate inspection got pushed back to today. In about 2 hours. Hopefully a pass and I can at least open it up on the road for a good running test. Bit of kick back when starting so it’s likely the timing in out a little bit that should be reasonably easy to fix. Is clockwise advance and anti clockwise retard or the other way around?
1969 BSA Bantam B175
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster
1998 Suzuki DR350
2007 Suzuki DR650SE
Grand Prix 160cc Victa Mini Bike

June 23, 2013


February 24, 2015

Before you mess about with the timing...I would take out the crankcase drain to see if there is any build-up of fuel inside the crankcase as this can cause kick back.
Timing is quite critical...you never know without checking if its right as it is....there is a procedure....bit fiddly but worth doing.
My Bantam video https://www.you.....jpOFmzRZRI

April 25, 2020

Thanks Cocorico.
passed the safety certificate and got my license plates. We are road legal!
got a bit on tomorrow so it’s likely to be Friday or the weekend before I’m checking the stator but I do intend to take it for a short ride tomorrow afternoon and see if anything else pops up.
got the bushman stand refitted this morning too and removed the centre stand. The bushman stand came with the bike but was bolted on the wrong angle and really barely worked. Some new holes sorted that. Will weld up the others at some point.
edit: nickjax I have already drained the crank case. It definitely isn’t that. I also may have set the points slightly off but I doubt it.
1969 BSA Bantam B175
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster
1998 Suzuki DR350
2007 Suzuki DR650SE
Grand Prix 160cc Victa Mini Bike

February 24, 2015

Well done....here in the UK we dont need that sort of test anymore on cars bikes over 40 years of of age....we also can fit plates from yesteryear...nice old black ones...I love them.
Yes points gap will knock the timing out...to small a gap retards...to big advances.
My Bantam video https://www.you.....jpOFmzRZRI

November 16, 2011

cocorico said
For points on the right, the crank rotates clockwise, so advance would be to the left (ACW), retard to the right (CW). Unless it's the other way round 'down under'.![]()
I`m Strine & seem to remember water goes down the plughole the opposite way around to here in the NH, so you could be onto something....
Nick, My D14 sometimes kicks back even with timing bob-on. Ok, its a bit more tuned than the B175, but a kickback issue isn`t always ign timing related, sometimes its kicking technique, eg follow-through, carb setting/fueling/throttle position. Even known a faulty condenser cause such a reaction.
Blue

February 24, 2015

Yes thats right a duff condenser will do that.
My Bantam video https://www.you.....jpOFmzRZRI

April 25, 2020

Cheers guys.
had a try for my test ride today but only got as far as the end of the driveway.
surging and then dying. I drained the float bowl and checked the screen (all good) plug is new. Fuel is new. Might have to go through the carb although it was running pretty well previously so I’m not sure what’s brought this on all of a sudden.
managed to get it out on the road and up to the corner and back. Surging and coughing like I would expect from a lean condition where float bowl isn’t filling etc. don’t have a gasket kit handy so I shall have to leave that for now 🙁
Pity, I was looking forward to a nice maiden voyage. It started 2nd kick. I took this little clip of it idling and then it made it about 15m before giving my trouble.
1969 BSA Bantam B175
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster
1998 Suzuki DR350
2007 Suzuki DR650SE
Grand Prix 160cc Victa Mini Bike

February 24, 2015

Dont sound like timing thats for sure.
Start with the easy stuff...will the engine idle ok...if it does the slow running circuit sounds ok.
As SM says make sure plenty power ion the batt...starting 2nd kick it sounds ok but what volts in the batt engine not running.
As somebody said yesterday...a duff condenser causes all kinds of probs.
I had a rough running engine last year....went through all sorts....purely by accident I notice the ground terminal was broken at the batt lug but looked intact....engine vibrations were enough to make it run interminably...was like riding a bucking roo.
Could be a dodgy wire/connection anywhere...HT out of coil/into plug lead faulty plug...
Try hot wiring the coil....a wire direct from batt to the coil bypassing everything.
The Ground on my bike is connected to the frame at the petrol tank to frame with its big long bolt...check that joint.
P.S. I had a look at a guys bantam a few years ago...said as soon as he pulls away it starts misfiring...I rode it...it was terrible...then I noticed the choke was on...it was summer so I had not put it on nor he he said...but what he didn't realise was that what he thought was off with the choke was in fact on.
In his D14 the lever is pulled back toward the rider to be off...as it is on my B175.
My Bantam video https://www.you.....jpOFmzRZRI

January 9, 2013

OK Nick this is Bantam fun racking your brains in the shed with a tin of you faverit brooooo [ TEA ] for some , batams chep to mack & twise a hard to sort out so going throw the list your going to mack will keep you out of the sun [ you luky man ] my first tip it to list all you lern on the garage door this way you wont loose the list 2nd remove the sump plug thay will run but you you wont get far well done its a great bantam have fun Sunny

April 25, 2020

Hi all, all good information. A few things I had already tested.
battery is fully charged 6.4V Plenty of juice.
choke is off. (Properly off with tension on the cable) tried running with fuel cap off. Tried tickling while running.
I had an idea after coming back into the house this afternoon and think I have it solved. (Need to test tomorrow). I replaced the fuel line and in line filter yesterday. I bet I put the filter in backwards!! Hopefully it’s that simple.
1969 BSA Bantam B175
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster
1998 Suzuki DR350
2007 Suzuki DR650SE
Grand Prix 160cc Victa Mini Bike

April 25, 2020

Forgot to mention the mix is 25:1 motul semi synthetic. Bike is fresh rings and the modern oil probably contribute to the little smoke.
also ordered a personalized license plate. In Australia they are reasonably cheap (comparatively) if you use two numbers followed by 3 letters or vice versa. After trying a few combos that were already taken I ordered “83ESA” - (BEESA) in black with white lettering.
1969 BSA Bantam B175
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster
1998 Suzuki DR350
2007 Suzuki DR650SE
Grand Prix 160cc Victa Mini Bike

April 25, 2020

OK, Still running badly. I'm thinking it has to be the carb but open to advice. (I'm shelving any charging issues until I have it running well again)
- Using starting procedure of fuel tap on/tickle carb/2 or 3 kicks with ignition off/ignition on and kick. It fires first or second kick.
- I've tried hot wiring the battery straight to the coil with no difference at all.
- Brand new fully charged 6v 4AH battery installed. Good solid connections including earths. (Solid earth available at full voltage at various locations around the frame.)
- Tried it with the fuel filter reversed with no difference. Removed the filter and ran a straight fuel hose with no difference.
- Checked points (Seems like they are hard to get the gap right on, the inset that they pivot on seems slightly off and doesn't let the upper plate run properly on the little screw's arc. Probably re-pop parts of low quality) set at 12thou.
- I can see the points spark when opening.
- Plug has a good blue spark
- If I tickle it while running it wants to stall
Things already ruled out a couple of days ago.
- Fuel is fresh and mixed at 25:1
- Runs the same with fuel cap off
- Sump plug has been pulled (only about 10ml drained out)
- No change if running on "E"
It starts second kick and usually idles fine after starting although sometimes it will surge and die straight after starting the bike.
Either way once setting off it will cough and die before surging a little again and then spluttering and dying. I can sort of keep it running by giving the throttle a bit of a twist but only just.
After I was going over the above today I kicked it and it ran nicely. Made it about 300m before it started playing up again. Then it gradually reverted back to the above and I nursed it the few hundred meters back home.
I'm thinking its a blockage or partial blockage in the carb which is shifting sometimes but being sucked in under the vacuum of accelleration. Likely happened when I cleaned the little float bowl screen? I can't really think of much else.
I haven't pulled the carb as I don't know Amal's at all.(Much more at home with Mikuni's, Webers and Solexs) am I likely to be able to salvage the gaskets? I don't have a set and they will be hard for me to source locally.
I guess it could also be the condensor.....
1969 BSA Bantam B175
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster
1998 Suzuki DR350
2007 Suzuki DR650SE
Grand Prix 160cc Victa Mini Bike

January 9, 2013

hi Nick i go for fual /carb i have a nasty habit of cleaning the fual line & filters with limescale remover and also the tiny jet holes in the carb with it just a drip and very qwickly & wash out within 1/2 a MINIT 30 seconds clean 3or4 times weth WD 40 0r petrol ,. this way you willnot have to strip the carb OR move the setings its my first thing if the carb looks like it has that gray podery feel to it ,. tha t stuf wiil eat away the aloy so you MUST be QWICK wen useing it

July 1, 2018

Choke lever is definitely the right way?Lever towards your heart so if you crash it impales you 👍🏼
What's the mixture screw set at?A d14 is 1 3/4 out from memory not sure on yours as the carbs are jetted different but try starting at 1/2 turn from all the way in and try adjusting from there.
What's 7/16 in mm again?

August 8, 2014

I had similar problems a year or two ago. Bike started fine but when tried to move off, it just spluttered and died.
Turned out to be the carb needle/needle seat had come adrift in the carb. Refitted the needle and seat and all was well!
Defo sounds like carb/fuelling. Strip carb, clean out and blow out all the drillings, check float is ok and needle valve works and does not stick and hopefully all will be well!

February 24, 2015

The carbs are very simple...no a lot to go wrong...but if the idle circuit is blocked or part blocked...its a drilling it will run like «censored»...but I think your will tick over idle so the should rule that out.
I get the feeling yu still haven't changed the condenser...that should have been step 2...they can have horrendous effects...but not always the same.
Mine was bucking like roo some months ago...think I have mentioned it...it was a broken cable ground cable terminal making and braking....it would start great but as soon as any speed up on the road the virbs made it break.
Is the ground to the frame tight/clean....go for easy stuff first.
Have you swapped the plug....checked the HT lead at both ends....take it out of the coil end...is it making a good cont inside the coil....like wise at the plug cap.
My Bantam video https://www.you.....jpOFmzRZRI
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