Author Topic: Spitting back  (Read 1374 times)

Offline RoyC

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2017
  • Posts: 1179
  • Karma: 10
Spitting back
« on: 22.04. 2018 17:56 »
Went to the Stafford show and the bike pulls well but occasionally misses and spits back through the carb.
Any thoughts on what the problem might be ?
New Champion N3c plugs fitted.
My bike is a 1958 A7SS
Staffordshire UK

Online Triton Thrasher

  • Scotland
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 2004
  • Karma: 23
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #1 on: 22.04. 2018 18:40 »
First, do a service on plugs, points and valve clearances.

Then suspect weak mixture.  If it was ok before, but is now spitting back, there may be an air leak into the inlet manifold. Get it idling and spray WD40 or something at the joints between carburettor, Tufnol spacer, manifold etc.  If the engine speed changes, there’s a leak.

Could also be a loose carburettor top or dirty pilot jet.


Offline RoyC

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2017
  • Posts: 1179
  • Karma: 10
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #2 on: 22.04. 2018 19:00 »
First, do a service on plugs, points and valve clearances.

Then suspect weak mixture.  If it was ok before, but is now spitting back, there may be an air leak into the inlet manifold. Get it idling and spray WD40 or something at the joints between carburettor, Tufnol spacer, manifold etc.  If the engine speed changes, there’s a leak.

Could also be a loose carburettor top or dirty pilot jet.

Thanks for that Thrasher.
New plugs set to .020". I haven't touched the points and valve clearances yet.
This was it's first run out since I purchased and restored so don't know what it ran like before.
I have had the carb off so will do the WD40 trick first and work through the rest of the list until it runs OK.
My bike is a 1958 A7SS
Staffordshire UK

Online Triton Thrasher

  • Scotland
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 2004
  • Karma: 23
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #3 on: 22.04. 2018 19:14 »
If the bike is newly on the road, it could be too-big slide cutaway, too-low slide needle position or pilot air adjuster screw set too weak.

Offline RoyC

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2017
  • Posts: 1179
  • Karma: 10
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #4 on: 22.04. 2018 19:51 »
If the bike is newly on the road, it could be too-big slide cutaway, too-low slide needle position or pilot air adjuster screw set too weak.

The only thing that I have done with the carb, besides taking it off when cleaning it, is to adjust the pilot jet.
I do run the carb dry when I run it in the garage.
I will do as you suggest, check for air leaks and richen the pilot air adjuster screw for starters.
My bike is a 1958 A7SS
Staffordshire UK

Offline Greybeard

  • Jack of all trades; master of none.
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 10008
  • Karma: 51
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #5 on: 22.04. 2018 21:37 »
Your problem is caused by the sidecar; take it off and throw it away.
Greybeard (Neil)
2023 Gold Star
Supporter of THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE https://www.gentlemansride.com

Warwickshire UK


A Distinguished Gentleman Riding his 1955 Plunger Golden Flash

Online Klaus

  • Valued Contributor
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 454
  • Karma: 10
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #6 on: 22.04. 2018 21:45 »
Hi Roy,
have a look at the inlet valves. You told the bike is new restored so I guess there are new valves in. After a the first running the valves get in to her seats and he clearance get to nil.


If you think, everything is under control, you are not fast enought.

BSA DB34 Goldstar, BSA A10 Road Rocked, BSA A7 Shooting Star, BSA M33, BSA M24, Kawa W650

Offline RoyC

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2017
  • Posts: 1179
  • Karma: 10
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #7 on: 23.04. 2018 08:36 »
Hi Roy,
have a look at the inlet valves. You told the bike is new restored so I guess there are new valves in. After a the first running the valves get in to her seats and he clearance get to nil.

Thanks Klaus, Engine was OK, so not restored.
My bike is a 1958 A7SS
Staffordshire UK

Offline RoyC

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2017
  • Posts: 1179
  • Karma: 10
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #8 on: 23.04. 2018 08:41 »
Your problem is caused by the sidecar; take it off and throw it away.
Cant ride it with no sidecar fitted.
Went to Stafford show, getting used to riding it a little now.
It rides and pulls quite well.
Got best sidecar outfit award.  *red*
My bike is a 1958 A7SS
Staffordshire UK

Offline Greybeard

  • Jack of all trades; master of none.
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 10008
  • Karma: 51
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #9 on: 23.04. 2018 09:47 »
Your problem is caused by the sidecar; take it off and throw it away.
Cant ride it with no sidecar fitted.
Went to Stafford show, getting used to riding it a little now.
It rides and pulls quite well.
Got best sidecar outfit award.  *red*

Fantastic! You must be very happy with that!  *smile*
Greybeard (Neil)
2023 Gold Star
Supporter of THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE https://www.gentlemansride.com

Warwickshire UK


A Distinguished Gentleman Riding his 1955 Plunger Golden Flash

Offline RoyC

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2017
  • Posts: 1179
  • Karma: 10
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #10 on: 23.04. 2018 15:02 »
Your problem is caused by the sidecar; take it off and throw it away.
Cant ride it with no sidecar fitted.
Went to Stafford show, getting used to riding it a little now.
It rides and pulls quite well.
Got best sidecar outfit award.  *red*

Fantastic! You must be very happy with that!  *smile*
Couldn't have got there without you lads on this forum.  *thanks*
My bike is a 1958 A7SS
Staffordshire UK

Offline CotswoldsA7

  • Moving Up
  • **
  • Join Date: Jan 2018
  • Posts: 42
  • Karma: 0
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #11 on: 23.04. 2018 16:58 »
Nice comment 👍

Online Angus

  • Suffolk, UK
  • Resident Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2012
  • Posts: 657
  • Karma: 14
  • The A7
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #12 on: 24.04. 2018 15:47 »
Hi I saw Roy bike at Stafford it looks really good in the flesh, Roy was not on the stand at the time. I was wearing my teashirt but did not bump into anybody.
As an aside Roy where did you get crash bars, I had a set on another bike in the 70's and occasionally look for them online but have never found any.
1961 A7 since 1976, 1960 A10 Gold Flash Super Profile Bike
1958 Matchless G80 Project, 1952 Norton Model 7 Plunger
1950 Triumph T100, 1981 Ducati Pantah 500, 1959 AJS model 20

Offline RayC10

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Oct 2017
  • Posts: 51
  • Karma: 0
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #13 on: 24.04. 2018 17:36 »
Didn't Roy's outfit win best sidecar at the show? I love outfits...just so much fun to ride, best drift vehicle  slippery roads  *smile*

Offline RoyC

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2017
  • Posts: 1179
  • Karma: 10
Re: Spitting back
« Reply #14 on: 24.04. 2018 20:32 »
As an aside Roy where did you get crash bars,
Both front and rear are Britax.
Rear bars off ebay.
Front bars are ONS (still in box) from USA and were on ebay, I put in a ridiculous amount to make sure that I got them.
I saved a search and every time any came up, I got an email, I looked at quite a lot until I found any good ones.
My bike is a 1958 A7SS
Staffordshire UK