Old Seagull Amal 416 question

[dave_gibsea]

I had need to dig the old, back-up Seagull out last weekend. It fired up (eventually) but I seem to remember that on "flooding" the carb a small flow of fuel would serve to indicate this had been achieved. On my motor no flow of fuel appeared even after holding the "tickler" down for quite a while. Is there an overflow outlet somewhere on the Amal 416 that I need to clear I wonder? Looked last night but couldn't see one :-(

Thanks, D

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I had need to dig the old, back-up Seagull out last weekend. It fired up (eventually) but I seem to remember that on "flooding" the carb a small flow of fuel would serve to indicate this had been achieved. On my motor no flow of fuel appeared even after holding the "tickler" down for quite a while. Is there an overflow outlet somewhere on the Amal 416 that I need to clear I wonder? Looked last night but couldn't see one :-(

Thanks, D

I don't know, but I know who does! Try Saving Old Seagulls. Certainly what you say is true for the Villiers carburettors fitted to older Seagulls; if yours has an Amal carburettor it is relatively young!

Actually, I had a similar problem when starting an old (1955/56!) 40 minus for the first time in my ownership. The problem was a slight blockage either at the fuel tap or at the union with the carburettor. It went away when I undid the union at the carburettor and allowed a little fuel to leak out.

 

[VicS]

I had need to dig the old, back-up Seagull out last weekend. It fired up (eventually) but I seem to remember that on "flooding" the carb a small flow of fuel would serve to indicate this had been achieved. On my motor no flow of fuel appeared even after holding the "tickler" down for quite a while. Is there an overflow outlet somewhere on the Amal 416 that I need to clear I wonder? Looked last night but couldn't see one :-(

Thanks, D

I think you should see fuel dripping from the air intake but check for a good fuel flow reaching the carb. If not check the filter in the tank. If fuel is reaching the carb Ok check the filter in the inlet connection.
diagram of carb here:
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/faq/amal_carb.htm

If still no joy check that the fuel needle valve is not stuck.

Then post your question on the Saving old Seagulls forum http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/phpbb3/

 

[Tranona]

I don't know, but I know who does! Try Saving Old Seagulls. Certainly what you say is true for the Villiers carburettors fitted to older Seagulls; if yours has an Amal carburettor it is relatively young!

Not quite right. The Villiers carb was fitted to the smaller 64cc engine used in the 40 types (except for a short period when Bings were used). The Amal is fitted to the 102cc powerhead as in the Century models. Age is irrelevant.

I think Vic is right. The Villiers has a small bleed hole at the top of the float chamber but the Amal bleeds out of the air intake.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Not quite right. The Villiers carb was fitted to the smaller 64cc engine used in the 40 types (except for a short period when Bings were used). The Amal is fitted to the 102cc powerhead as in the Century models. Age is irrelevant.

I think Vic is right. The Villiers has a small bleed hole at the top of the float chamber but the Amal bleeds out of the air intake.

Well, according to SOS, the Amal was fitted to the Silver Century, from 1966 onwards. Earlier Century machines had the Villiers carburettor, I think. 1966 is relatively late in the story of Seagulls - which started in the 1930s!

See http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/i_d_your_seagull/i_d_your_seagull.htm and http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/i_d_your_seagull/i_d_letters.htm

 

[Tranona]

Well, according to SOS, the Amal was fitted to the Silver Century, from 1966 onwards. Earlier Century machines had the Villiers carburettor, I think. 1966 is relatively late in the story of Seagulls - which started in the 1930s!

See http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/i_d_your_seagull/i_d_your_seagull.htm and http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/i_d_your_seagull/i_d_letters.htm

Yes, you (or SOS !) are right about the Century. As their notes suggest there was a lot of poor or irrational numbering and production records - never mind having no drawings for many components.

There is no secret why a Bing carb was used on the 64cc powerhead in the late 70s. Villiers had gone out of business, not helped by Seagull changing from their magneto to Wipac. The biggest impact on Seagull was that Villiers made the crankshafts so the contract went to a local engineering firm. This was a nightmare as most of their machines were knackered and they then went belly up. Fortunately Villiers was resurrected and the crankshafts returned to them, plus supplies of the carb started again, hence the switch back in the early 80s.

All this (and many other problems) coincided with my time there. Big learning curve on how to deal with potential disasters.