Hi everyone,
Looking for some thoughts on my worsening issue in regard to starting problems on my engine.
So the issue, which started about 4 months ago, is that when starting from cold after leaving for a period of time, the engine has problems starting and won't go to high idle on the electric choke (engages the choke cam though). When it does fire, it sometimes has white smoke from the left bank. If you stop the engine, remove the plugs they are wet (but not oil or water). After cleaning the plugs, refitting the engine may fire up but has a rough idle for about 2 minutes if you keep your foot on the pedal and then will sit at 800 rpm steady and you can open the throttle (from the throttle linkage or accelerator and it sounds great). If you switch off and leave for a few minutes it will start and be OK. If you switch off and start again in about 20 minutes it has a hard time starting.
As the issue got worse, it suffered blowback through the carb accompanied by a flame.
Now for the things I have done. The original 770 street avenger started leaking raw fuel out of the secondary spindle shaft and pooled on the inlet manifold (not good). I spoke with Larry Stock and purchased a new Quickfuel (Holley 650 double pumper based carb with mechanical secondaries) and fitted it this month and still have the same problem…
I have just completed a compression test and all cylinders rate at 168 to 170 PSI cold. I have also spun the engine up with white towels by each plug hole and 'nothing' came out, bar the smell of fuel.
It has new MSD leads, new Autolite 25 plugs fitted and had a new MSD pro-billet 8350 all in one distributor fitted just over a year ago and was fine until about 4 or 5 months ago.
I am hearing the MSD can be unreliable and may suffer if you have had any welding done (I did to put the original seat belt mountings in). Does anyone know if this is the case? I am also hearing I should have fitted a Duraspark based system, again any views?
So I am looking for ideas why the starting is difficult, why there is sometimes white smoke and why on the left bank. Also what is the usual cause of firing back through the carb?
Look forward to some assistance with this one!
Regards
Adrian
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