Clattering shovel

[the_monster]

I've just got hold of an 80/81 FXE shovel. When I picked it up it had a few a problems but completed a 100 mile plus run at motorway speeds. I've changed the oil for mineral SAE50 (it looks like it was being run on synthetic or car oil), cleaned the tappet screen (it was full of shit) which quietened the clatter down for a while and put a new oil filter in. It stopped smoking, started on the button and kicker and settled down to give that hum/whine. Today howeverafter about 50 miles it started misfiring badly and a fair bit of white/grey smoke was coming out the exhausts It still starts fine and the plugs are good shade of brown.

It's running solids which seem to have a fair bit of wobble in them at their lowest point and it also has points.

I'm going to check it for the obvious and check the electric conections tomorrow, but anyone got any other suggestions and hints as to what it could be? I'm thinking top end problems but like I say it has been putting in the miles !

Anyone any ideas as to what's going on with it?

[Spen]

You also have a Bonnie that plays it's own tune & you buy a Shovel

You could ask Geof Long he has one

Shame it's not something older then you could ask Dave

But white/grey smoke sounds like it's running extra lean - fuel starvation maybe not necessarily at the carb as it starts Ok but try the tank vent or filter . Or ride it slower

[the_monster]

fuel stravation did cross my mind as I was running about as a couple of times it did hesitate on acceleration so I undid the fuel caps as I was rolling! I have stuck a load of fuel cleaner in it today so I wonder if a load of shit has been shifting around? The rear cylinder seem worse than the front as is the tradition and it has given out the odd plume of black smoke which I'm assuming is unburnt fuel. It did throw a missed beat (just the one) when running back on Wednesday night.

Could it be that the solids are just that little bit too loose ? Obviously I don't want to over tighten then !

[lawnmower]

its a shovel what did u expect ?

[the_monster]

It must have been the rose tinted specs I was wearing at the time ! It must be because I parked too near the T140 and it has a mild dose of Bonvillitus.

[Batman]

As far as I remember , solids should be tightend up finger tight and then a quarter turn on the spanner.

Batman

[fuz]

I have been running solids in my 1978 shovel for 12 years now and if they are too loose they will rattle. Set as follows: Make sure the exhaust valve on the front cylinder is fully open, then tighten the pushrod adjuster for the rear cylinder exhaust valve until it is nipped up with no movement at all, then back it off until you can just spin the pushrod between your between your fingers with no wobble at all, lock off locknut, check for spin again,cos sometimes it can slacken off a bit.
Next set rear cylinder exhaust valve at fully open and adjust front cylinder pushrod as above.
Repeat procedure with the inlet valves.
Good luck.

[the_monster]

Thanks for the advice on the solids, these wobble like a set kid's milk teeth! today's adventure found a number of potential problems. Tightened up the electrics on the condensor and openned the gap on the points to get a stronger spark which got it running again but the odd backfire and more white smoke out of the rear exhaust make me think it looks more like it could be the valves sticking although it runs better when I start it on the kicker another poke about tomorrow so any more advice very welcome

[Hank41]

Just to cheer you up had same symtoms on my 83 flh turned out to be a valve giude going up and down with the valve. check your compresion and if its low get the head of, a new guide is cheaper than a new head if you can find one! Cheers and good luck Hank

[the_monster]

Well I've now got the solids set so that the clatter has stopped and for a brief period it runs so sweet only to stutter again !! The fact that the oil breather had been routed thru the carb doesn't help with the smoking and i've also found out that before the teardrop now on the s&s, it was running a velocity stack and i'm wonder if any rejetting well at all ? the mysteries of the magic that is a shovelhead my gut feeling is you could be right Hank and that it may be worse but al a good excuse for making lots of noise and fiddling about Once this is sorted it'ill be back to fighting with the bonnie (keeps me fit if nothing else !!)