Reluctant Guzzi

After decades of whining I finally got my brother to give me his Moto
Guzzi California 3 (he 59 me 47) Its been dry stored for 5 years with
all essential fluids drained off. Ive put it back together filled it
all up, but just cant get it to fire. I,ve done all obvious things, in
neutral, turned on , stand up etc, theres fuel going to the carbs
( dellortos) and a spark at plugs, I.ve checked timing. Whats going
on? Patrick

 

You are Grampa Abe Simpson AICMF.

--
TD
1991 VFR400R NC30 (black and red)
2001 ZX-9R (red and black)
1999 M5 (neither black nor red)
Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, Lardy tourer

 

Try heating the plugs with a blowlamp.

 

Surely your not saying the valves have welded themselves to the head,
the engines turning over ok.

 

Tried that, but thanks, its not possible floats have got stuck up the
top of chamber is it

 

I thought Cathodic Migration was like the Irish leaving for America

 

Well, yes. If the carbs have got drain plugs, remove them and see if
fuel dribbles out. Are the plugs getting wet?

 

When you or he drained the petrol tank, did you also drain the carbs?
Chances are there's a gummy deposit in one or more jets.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

"It's a moron working with power tools.
How much more suspenseful can you get?"
- House

 

In communiqué

But is there compression ? Always follow the mantra:
Compression, ignition, carburation.

The problem with electric start only bikes is that a lack of compression
is not always immediately obvious. In the old days you could soon start
checking for tight valve clearances, burnt valves or stuck rings if you
could kick the engine over too easily. TBF, even with a good battery, a
big Guzzi lump with good compression should sound as if it is almost
struggling to turn over when cold.

Tried brand new plugs ? Really strong spark, or feeble ?

As TOG says, are the plugs wet ? I have some experience of little used
Dellortos, Despite having been drained of fuel I wouldn't be surprised
if the idle jets and possibly starter jets ('choke') are furred up.



--
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Gummed up pilot jets.
It's easy enough to take the carbs apart, then just give them lots of
blasts with aerosol carb cleaner.
Alan

 

Ok thanks I think thats worth a try.

 

A /very/ crude test for clogged carbs is to take the plugs out, drip
just 2-3 drops of fresh petrol down the plug holes, then refit the
plugs and try to start again with varying throttle settings. If it
fires then stale fuel or a clogged fuel system is the likely culprit.

If you've got a Colortune, see if you get a spark actually inside the
cylinder, but don't combine the two tests.

The idea came from the days of priming model engines.

 

The easier way is to spray a load of Easystart into the intake box.
If it fires the carbs are bunged up.

 

And so, you will find, is learning to write in English, snip sigs and
trim posts.

 

Is it now considered acceptable to start a sentence with a conjunction?

 

'Tis. When I want to.

 

And, but, because and so, are words sentences should not be started
with. Unless for effect, of course.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

"It's a moron working with power tools.
How much more suspenseful can you get?"
- House

 

"Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not
put."