My Shooting Star Caught Fire

[Andyhosie]

Hi everyone, was trying to finally get my bike started last night when it errupted into flames, my heart jumping out my chest. I grabbed the fire extinguisher that friggin fast, luckily it has minimal damage.
So what I am after is a ORIGINAL end cap for my maggy (manual advance, clip on type) I had a repro one on and it doesn't fit right, petrol just dripped straight in, hence the fire.
Can anyone help me out here, I need it urgently
Cheers
Andy

[bonny]

do you have one of those stainless steel drip trays that sits beneath the carb to divert dripping petrol away from the mag ? you could try dave linsay the magneto man, he advertises in the back of the classic magazines.

[LJ.]

First of all... sorry to hear of your mishap and congratulations for being prepared (having a extinguisher handy!) and putting out fire quickly.

Bonny is correct, you need a drip tray fitted between the carburettor and cylinder head port, this will give some protection. The main question is why was there so much petrol dripping? I think work needs to be done in this area first, even with a new original clip on mag end cap, you still do not want petrol dripping onto the magneto.

[muskrat]

 G'day Andy, sorry to hear that. Would've put the wind up you.
Make a drip tray, should be easy for a bloke like you.
 Will have a look tomorrow, may have one.
Cheers

[Andyhosie]

Thankyou all for the input. Two drip trays present (see pics). My stupid fault really. The carbs were leaking from the overflow after they had been primed, I stupidly stuffed a rag under the drip trays to soak up the petrol, (paranoid about my new paint I suppose)  from there it run down and found it's way inside the maggy. I have a repro maggy end cover...and it is shit...doesn't fit properly, this is why i need a genuine old one. I have given the 276's the flick for now. I just need to get it running and registered before the ABR.
Thanks
Andy

[a10 gf]

congratulations for being prepared

Yes!

[*nick*]

Andy for the cap try Gayle at Blue Spark Magnetos 9716 3230 (Whitlesea) or Peter Scott in Sydney (02) 9624 1262
I presume you're probably asking around the Beeza club tonight, i couldn't make it due to work. Good Luck, it' about time you got some mate! -Nick

[LJ.]

The carbs were leaking from the overflow after they had been primed

The needle in the float chamber is not terribly successful at shutting off the petrol flow, engine needs to be running soon after correct level is reached. Sometimes dirt accumulates at the bottom of the float bowl, you'll need to check this. With 276 carbs many people make the mistake of over tickling the carb so that petrol spurts out the top of chamber. Actually the hole at the top of chamber is only there to allow the air to escape while chamber is filling with petrol. Carb tickling should stop when you can see the petrol run around the bottom union nut on the carburettor itself, this is excess petrol running out of the overflow hole on side of carb. Try lowering the float on the needle as well, one millimetre is usually enough to make a markedly difference, the idea is to have the petrol level in float chamber just under the overflow hole on carb. Also bear in mind that these types of carbs do not like the bike to lean on side stands especially at any sever angle, keep bike vertical if possible.

[wilko]

Well put LJ. The carbs will keep leaking until they go back to the correct level.Took me ages to work out a leak on a single trying to seal up the union nut, but then it all clicked!