Making a Matchless less unpredictable
Rick resolves a starting issue after a lot of head-scratching – it’s all about a lack of leaning...
Bernie Gorham brought round his very tasty Matchless G80CS this month... on a trailer. He restored the bike, an import from the States, and really enjoys riding it but had reached the point where he was thinking of letting it go because the starting was so unpredictable. “Thing is, it runs perfectly and often it’ll start first kick, but if you stop out on a run you can’t guarantee it’ll go again. Last time out it I wouldn’t go, so we picked it up in the van and I rang you. I haven’t been able to start it since.”
It’s a cracking looking bike that doesn’t looks like it’s done a lot of work – and I thought it would be a shame for him to get rid of it. So I was determined to try and get to the bottom of the problem.
When I kicked it over it was certainly dead, although my spark gap tester showed a healthy spark. With a new plug, it fired first time. “I don’t believe it!” groaned Bernie – but it wasn’t that simple. After a few easy kicks, it went dead again. When ticking over, I’d noticed that just taking up the slack on the throttle cable caused the revs to drop – a sure sign of slide/body wear. It also wouldn’t start with a closed throttle, leaving us trying to guess how much throttle it wanted. That’s hopeless, so I tried changing the standard 30 pilot jet for a smaller 25. Much better, now it started every time, throttle closed... for a while. Then it took a really hefty kick which Bernie’s dodgy knee couldn’t manage. I noticed that I was kicking it standing alongside. All the while it was vertical, it fired up perfectly; the problem arose every time I got lazy and rested it on the sidestand. Gotcha: this is a fuel level issue and, like altering the standard pilot jet size, means we’re trying to tune our way around a worn out carb. Bernie’s away to buy a new one, but meanwhile, so long as it’s upright, he can start it fine. And no; it’s no longer for sale!
‘AFTER A FEW EASY KICKS IT WENT DEAD AGAIN’