1950 VB trouble starting

[bevanclark]

Hi folks,
Just a follow up from my original posting.
Firstly, thanks very much for the helpful advice. I did carry out all the recommended checks and found nothing needing adjustment.

The only thing I have changed is to thoroughly clean and blow out the carb and float bowl (there was no sign of any crud - I have an inline fuel filter) and lap the carb flange flat as it was definitely warped.
I took it for a 25 minute ride today in very warm and windy conditions and it performed faultlessly. Hot started 1st kick several times.
When it refused to start a few weeks ago, the plug was bone dry, even though the carb was dripping fuel. Although I may be mistaken, at the moment I am tending to think that an air leak was the culprit.
Time will tell if in fact it is actually the mag that is failing. That would be really disappointing given how few miles i have done since having it professionally rebuilt by a guy with a very good reputation.
Thanks again for your assistance.
Cheers,
Bevan

[Gui.dorey]

Hi Bevan,
I never liked fuel filters. In my experience they cause more problems than they‘re worth, like air locks for example, so I never use them. Maybe there lies the problem…

Glad to hear she‘s running well again.

Cheers,
Gui

[paul.jameson]

Interesting comment Gui. I know a number of Ariel owners who swear by fuel filters. Personally, apart from the ones fitted as standard items by Ariel, I have never needed a fuel filter and I must be approaching 200,000 miles on Ariels by now.

[nevhunter]

IF you ride in rain much you'll inevitably get a bit of water in the carb, and some crud in the Lowest part of the fuel line. The bottom of the bowl gets a build up on it. It doesn't take much to block up the idle passages in the Jet Block. Nev

[bevanclark]

In case it is of interest, here's a video of the VB out and about today - doing a test ride, in part to learn how to use a GoPro. Haven't found/bought any decent video editing software as yet, so there is nothing flashy. The sound is a bit muffled due to a foam "windsock" I fitted over the camera:

https://youtu.be/smhUdBrjVoE?si=4B6m6WJJDGPyOWim

Not the most exciting countryside, but if you fast forward to around 8 1/2 munites, you'll see the Rakaia river gorge. The climb back out is pretty steep, but the old slogger managed it in top gear - amazing what 16 HP can do .

Cheers,
Bevan

[Brian_Walker]

Great video! Great Ariel...

[chris.shearwood]

I really enjoyed watching your video and "riding" along with you. Have you checked the accuracy of your speedo? It seemed like you were going faster than indicated although that may be just an effect of the camera? I envy you having those smooth roads and such little traffic. Thanks for posting!

[Mike Nash]

That was good. And no potholes! And no traffic either. I see you hit 50mph and all was well, but that all the road signs of speed and distance are in metric. Ah, well.

Regarding the horse power you must remember that VB horses are different from OHV horses. The latter are race bred, finicky and temperamental and only like working when they're running fast, but VB horses are like Shire horses that are BIG and strong, and don't like to run fast but can pull like mad when hardly moving.

Regarding the countryside, I only know modern NZ from the "Brokenwood Mysteries" (where the police are only sane ones and all the locals are just a couple steps from being barking mad) so seeing some good touring country was a treat.

Regards from MikeN.
PS I see it was dustbin day in Methven; did you remember?

[bevanclark]

I've sent you a pm so as not to hijack what is i guess supposed to be a technical forum.
Cheers,
Bevan