Choke lever

[coater87]

 I have to sort the jetting out here.

 Is this the correct way for the throttle lever to be when the bike is NOT choked?

 I also take it that if the cable breaks you are going to have some bother.

 Anyway, is this set up kind of right?

 Lee

[ellis]

Yes spot on Coater

That position is showing that the choke is off.   

ELLIS

[coater87]

Thank you Ellis,

 Now for the biggest question, how do you get all these choke pieces, springs and throttle cables to do what you want and fit into the carb body

 Lee

[coater87]

I bet the guy who designed this left work that day with one of two thoughts on his mind.

 1. I really believe i am the greatest engineer alive and the Japanese have nothing on me.

    -OR-

 2. I will teach them to cut my wages and benefits.

 I sure hope it was number 2....

[Rex]

Or 3..."I've just designed a simple and effective piece of equipment that the Sunday afternoon mechanic can easily remove and refit, but doubtless there'll be something better invented in another fifty years or so.."

Seriously, are we still comparing decades-old BSA designs with Japanese stuff?

[Triton Thrasher]

I see it as a relic of the two-lever carburettors of the 1920s and earlier: you had to juggle a throttle and an air restriction (as well as ignition timing) to get good running at a particular rpm.

 Carburettors improved, so the air slide was only needed for cold starts.  The drop-down slide was probably the simplest enriching system in a carb with a round slide throttle. It also left the intake horn free of the visible obstruction of a butterfly valve, which absence appealed to the sporting rider, I expect.

The “problem” nowadays is that the air slide mechanism hasn’t been mainstream for about 50 years.  People who remember cars with chokes think a choke control should be pulled on.  People even buy 60-year old bikes and don’t read a handbook or investigate how the controls work.

BSA weren’t doing anything “wrong” fitting a 1950s cold start system to a 1950s bike.  The part I don’t like is the trigger’s propensity to slip and let the slide drop while you’re out on a ride.

[smellybeard]

Or 3..."I've just designed a simple and effective piece of equipment that the Sunday afternoon mechanic can easily remove and refit, but doubtless there'll be something better invented in another fifty years or so.."

Seriously, are we still comparing decades-old BSA designs with Japanese stuff?

It's an Amal design; not BSA.

[Greybeard]

Or 3..."I've just designed a simple and effective piece of equipment that the Sunday afternoon mechanic can easily remove and refit, but doubtless there'll be something better invented in another fifty years or so.."

Seriously, are we still comparing decades-old BSA designs with Japanese stuff?

It's an Amal design; not BSA.

Hi Smellybeard. First post? If you've been lurking for a while you know what you must do, don't you? 

[smellybeard]

Hi Smellybeard. First post? If you've been lurking for a while you know what you must do, don't you? 

Post.
Non-posting lurkers are culled quite quickly. I decided that this time I'd post something immediately.

[Rocket Racer]

Hi Smellybeard. First post? If you've been lurking for a while you know what you must do, don't you? 

Post.
Non-posting lurkers are culled quite quickly. I decided that this time I'd post something immediately.

close but no cigar

[Greybeard]

Smellybeard, to clarify, please go to Introductions and spill the beans. Pictures, about 1200 pixels wide, are welcomed.

[RDfella]

If that was operating a Mikuni carb, choke would be ON.

[ellis]

Come on we are talking about the Amal here arn't we.

ELLIS

[RDfella]

Are we? Not mentioned in original post, only presumed. Are there no BSA's with a Mikuni? Anyway, I was only pointing out we should not jump to conclusions and - for those who may not be aware - not all chokes are pull for off.
The concentric on my B31 is pull for choke on. I believe concentrics are not uncommon on BSA's so if the person asking has a concentric, then his lever is showing choke ON.

[RayC10]

Just junk the choke...don't need it anyway. The slides arn't that difficult to fit, just a poke and a wiggle, hold the cap down and screw the ring, mind you, on an A you have got to have the carb off so maybe you need 3 hands?