Odd symptoms - no idle and mostly no start

[Moto63]

. Daft!

Good health, BillR

Aye... possibly, but still entertaining so please don’t stop 👍🥃😉

[iansoady]

Strange that the screws are seized given that you replaced the diaphragm recently....

I'm sure that this is grannies and eggs but I used to really struglle with the cross-head screws on Japanese bikes till I discovered that they were not Phillips but JIS which have a subtly different profile. Obce I got a set of the proper screwdrivers - which weren't cheap but a Xmas presnt from my dear wife - they very rarely defeat me unless throughly bodged by previous attempts.

[Moto63]

I don’t think you’ll be the only person on this site to have made that mistake Ian. Think most of us thought they were Phillips stew heads 🤦🤦

[Itsme]

Gentlemen you are both right; the screws weren't seized just wouldn't yield to my ill fitting Philips. A tap with a hammer on the screwdriver did the job and will have to suffice until my wife gets the hint and buys me a nice pressie,

Ian

[iansoady]

This looks like a decent set at a reasonable price. The ones I have are made by Vessel and although excellent were a bit expensive.

https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/screwdrivers-and-hex-keys/sealey-4pc-jis-screwdriver-set-453366.html

By the way apologies for my appalling typing recently - suffering from shingles which is quite unpleasant

[Itsme]

Thanks Ian for the suggestion and I hope the shingles clears up quickly as I believe it is very nasty.

Ian

[themoudie]

Aye Ian,

Thank you for the Hafrauds link.

Sorry to read that you are suffering from the shingles. Up here once you are 70+ the jag is free on the NHS. Ironically, I attended my surgery for a flu jag and noted the poster on the wall and asked if I might have the jag there and then at 67 years of age. "No", was the answer, so had the flu jag and banter, with the nurse. Next morning I had an itching welt, about 2" x 3" in the middle of my chest and after sending an image to the Doc, he confirmed that I had shingles!  Calomine lotion and a silk handkerchief taped over it to prevent rubbing, helped, but the internal pain through my chest to my back was very unpleasant. All in it took about a month to calm down and clear up. I'll be getting the jag next year!

Hope you improve and can be chipper for Xmas/ New Year.

Good health, Bill

[iansoady]

Thanks both. The jab is available in England as well to over 70s - including me - but our local GP practice isn't very good about telling people about such things otherwise I'd have had it. Oh well. What can't be cured must be endured.

[CrazyFrog]

Sorry to here this Ian. I can remember my Mom having shingles when she was in her 70's and it was pretty unpleasant. She ended up with neuralgia too as a result of the shingles.

[Itsme]

Hi All

If you've read my post about what I've done to try to get my GN250 running you will know that a) I have tried all of the usual suspects for a non-starting bike and b) I have nearly given up on the bike yet again. However I hate being beaten.

I thought as I have tried all the obvious ignition and fuel problem sources I would widen my explorations so I checked the valve clearances. As the GN is a fairly rattly motor I usually set the clearances at the bottom end of their range. I reset the clearances to the maximum specified and I now get a promise of starting! Unfortunately due to multiple attempts at starting yesterday the battery went flat very quickly so it is now on charge.

I'm not confident that I have solved the problem, but this is the nearest I've got to a start in months. If the bike starts I might give it a full strip anyway to make sure everything is as it should be as I would want to know if the valve clearances were the issue for a reason.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Ian

[Moto63]

I for one Ian will definitely be keeping my fingers crossed 🤞
I’d hate the MM to be shoved in the corner of your workshop under a dust sheet and forgotten about 🤦.... here’s to a positive result, best of luck 👍
Cheers, Michael

[iansoady]

There's a saying in Guzzi (and no doubt other) circles that a rattly engine is a happy engine. Loose tappets don't usually cause much harm but tight ones can be the devil.

In other news I now have the neuralgia Pete mentioned so still suffering although better than before. The worst bit is that spending any time in the garage makes it worse......

[Itsme]

Hi Ian and Michael. Sorry to hear your health is still being a nuisance Ian and thanks Michael for the good wishes. Sadly I have to report no change whatsoever this morning with a fully charged battery. Whatever I thought I was hearing yesterday just didn't turn into any positive results.

I appreciate your sentiments Michael but I don't think I can pursue this problem any further, at least not for now. Apart from the fact that I am now totally baffled as to why the bike won't start, it has become what my wife terms a time burglar. In other words I have projects that I want to get on with but the MM is taking up all of my time. And of course it is in danger of becoming a money pit.

In a strange way I think it has committed suicide; think about it, it played up on a ride out with my mate, got me home and hasn't run since despite time and money being spent on it. Whatever, it is now covered up until I do or don't get a surge of enthusiasm in the future.

Ian

[themoudie]

Oh Ian,

Give the poor wee bugger a cuddle from me, cover it up and await some spring warmth, when like a pheonix, it may arise from it's slumbers. 

Yesterday the Boy Bros, which inspite of a carb refurbishment, has always been a reluctant starter after being left cold for a while ( no electric fuel pump, just a microlight diaphragm replacement!) due to fuel evaporation, took its time to fire up! Clean the plugs, re-gap, then afore trying again, heat up the last plug with the MAPX blowtorch to red heat and fire it in!  Still a bit dottery, but a wee juggle of the choke and throttle got it fired up, it's a close thing between too much choke and flooding it. You'll crack the MM woes I'm sure. 

Good health, Bill

[Itsme]

Thanks Bill. This is why I love Thumper Club; you give up on a seemingly pointless project and along comes someone with an encouraging word or two and suddenly things don't seem as bad. I know deep down that I love the MM and will never totally give up on it, but sometimes I need to pretend I've had enough to bring me to my senses.

Watch this space!

Ian