I'm still not settled with this old girl yet, as just when I think I have got it right, it goes all crazy again, and I think it has something to do with how hot it gets. So, I have come to the conclusion that it has to be sucking air somewhere. I replaced the O rings in the manifold when I put the carby kit in the old Bendix, however it seemed such a flimsy setup it was hard to have confidence in the design. So this time I am making sure to eliminate the manifold as a problem. My local parts guy supplied me with two hi tech sealing rings (wish I'd asked what they were called) guaranteed to seal anything, and you can see in the pics that they are squarish with elongated ridges on the inner, outer and both side surfaces. Cost $14 each and not cheap, but worth every penny. A comparison of the profile compared to the O ring is in about the 3rd. pic. Very easy to fit, as I stretched them over the outer area of the manifold where the clamp rests, held the manifold in position and simply slid the seals into the channel between the manifold and the barrel. They are a tight fit, and being proud will still compress, filling the gap even more when the clamps are tightened. I now just have to get my square plus small spirit level to make sure I have the carby face exactly vertical before retightening. Love the sound of this old bike, but every time I start it my two dogs race into the house to hide, trembling, so reckoned I won't start it again until I can work out how to quieten it down a bit. But reckon when I get these clamps up tight tomorrow and the Mikuni back on, I won't be able to resist it. Will let you know how they go.

I'm still not settled with this old girl yet, as just when I think I have got it right, it goes all crazy again, and I think it has something to do with how hot it gets. So, I have come to the conclusion that it has to be sucking air somewhere. I replaced the O rings in the manifold when I put the carby kit in the old Bendix, however it seemed such a flimsy setup it was hard to have confidence in the design. So this time I am making sure to eliminate the manifold as a problem. My local parts guy supplied me with two hi tech sealing rings (wish I'd asked what they were called) guaranteed to seal anything, and you can see in the pics that they are squarish with elongated ridges on the inner, outer and both side surfaces. Cost $14 each and not cheap, but worth every penny. A comparison of the profile compared to the O ring is in about the 3rd. pic. Very easy to fit, as I stretched them over the outer area of the manifold where the clamp rests, held the manifold in position and simply slid the seals into the channel between the manifold and the barrel. They are a tight fit, and being proud will still compress, filling the gap even more when the clamps are tightened. I now just have to get my square plus small spirit level to make sure I have the carby face exactly vertical before retightening. Love the sound of this old bike, but every time I start it my two dogs race into the house to hide, trembling, so reckoned I won't start it again until I can work out how to quieten it down a bit. But reckon when I get these clamps up tight tomorrow and the Mikuni back on, I won't be able to resist it. Will let you know how they go.

I'm still not settled with this old girl yet, as just when I think I have got it right, it goes all crazy again, and I think it has something to do with how hot it gets. So, I have come to the conclusion that it has to be sucking air somewhere. I replaced the O rings in the manifold when I put the carby kit in the old Bendix, however it seemed such a flimsy setup it was hard to have confidence in the design. So this time I am making sure to eliminate the manifold as a problem. My local parts guy supplied me with two hi tech sealing rings (wish I'd asked what they were called) guaranteed to seal anything, and you can see in the pics that they are squarish with elongated ridges on the inner, outer and both side surfaces. Cost $14 each and not cheap, but worth every penny. A comparison of the profile compared to the O ring is in about the 3rd. pic. Very easy to fit, as I stretched them over the outer area of the manifold where the clamp rests, held the manifold in position and simply slid the seals into the channel between the manifold and the barrel. They are a tight fit, and being proud will still compress, filling the gap even more when the clamps are tightened. I now just have to get my square plus small spirit level to make sure I have the carby face exactly vertical before retightening. Love the sound of this old bike, but every time I start it my two dogs race into the house to hide, trembling, so reckoned I won't start it again until I can work out how to quieten it down a bit. But reckon when I get these clamps up tight tomorrow and the Mikuni back on, I won't be able to resist it. Will let you know how they go.

It's a trike 😜

I'm still not settled with this old girl yet, as just when I think I have got it right, it goes all crazy again, and I think it has something to do with how hot it gets. So, I have come to the conclusion that it has to be sucking air somewhere. I replaced the O rings in the manifold when I put the carby kit in the old Bendix, however it seemed such a flimsy setup it was hard to have confidence in the design. So this time I am making sure to eliminate the manifold as a problem. My local parts guy supplied me with two hi tech sealing rings (wish I'd asked what they were called) guaranteed to seal anything, and you can see in the pics that they are squarish with elongated ridges on the inner, outer and both side surfaces. Cost $14 each and not cheap, but worth every penny. A comparison of the profile compared to the O ring is in about the 3rd. pic. Very easy to fit, as I stretched them over the outer area of the manifold where the clamp rests, held the manifold in position and simply slid the seals into the channel between the manifold and the barrel. They are a tight fit, and being proud will still compress, filling the gap even more when the clamps are tightened. I now just have to get my square plus small spirit level to make sure I have the carby face exactly vertical before retightening. Love the sound of this old bike, but every time I start it my two dogs race into the house to hide, trembling, so reckoned I won't start it again until I can work out how to quieten it down a bit. But reckon when I get these clamps up tight tomorrow and the Mikuni back on, I won't be able to resist it. Will let you know how they go.

I'm still not settled with this old girl yet, as just when I think I have got it right, it goes all crazy again, and I think it has something to do with how hot it gets. So, I have come to the conclusion that it has to be sucking air somewhere. I replaced the O rings in the manifold when I put the carby kit in the old Bendix, however it seemed such a flimsy setup it was hard to have confidence in the design. So this time I am making sure to eliminate the manifold as a problem. My local parts guy supplied me with two hi tech sealing rings (wish I'd asked what they were called) guaranteed to seal anything, and you can see in the pics that they are squarish with elongated ridges on the inner, outer and both side surfaces. Cost $14 each and not cheap, but worth every penny. A comparison of the profile compared to the O ring is in about the 3rd. pic. Very easy to fit, as I stretched them over the outer area of the manifold where the clamp rests, held the manifold in position and simply slid the seals into the channel between the manifold and the barrel. They are a tight fit, and being proud will still compress, filling the gap even more when the clamps are tightened. I now just have to get my square plus small spirit level to make sure I have the carby face exactly vertical before retightening. Love the sound of this old bike, but every time I start it my two dogs race into the house to hide, trembling, so reckoned I won't start it again until I can work out how to quieten it down a bit. But reckon when I get these clamps up tight tomorrow and the Mikuni back on, I won't be able to resist it. Will let you know how they go.

I need to have the manifold face vertical, otherwise the mating surfaces at the head will be eccentric and not seal properly. Bike is level almost always.

I need to have the manifold face vertical, otherwise the mating surfaces at the head will be eccentric and not seal properly. Bike is level almost always.

I need to have the manifold face vertical, otherwise the mating surfaces at the head will be eccentric and not seal properly. Bike is level almost always.

I need to have the manifold face vertical, otherwise the mating surfaces at the head will be eccentric and not seal properly. Bike is level almost always.

You been quiet Merv, how did you go with the manifold? Sorted?

Bloody hell mate! Bike ok? 😜

That Mic butterfly or slide? Are you cranking with the throttle full open with your hand over it? It was running two weeks ago, what on earth changed 😳

Any chance the ignition timing could now be 180° out Merv? Always a possibility when dealing with an ignition cam or rotor. No backfire through the carb when cranking it?