Smoke test 100% successful.

[John Schmidt]

Jeff came over and helped install the headers since I can't get down on the floor. Actually, getting down is no problem, it's getting up that creates the real trouble. Those shiney new chrome headers bolted up with very little expressive talking to them. I decided to siphon some gas out of the Valk into my tune up bottle, hung it from the overhead door, took a deep breath and hit the starter. Nothing happened at first, needed time to get fuel into the system, then suddenly a couple loud pops and away she goes. I had squirted a lot of oil in the cylinders during assembly so when it first fired we definitely had smoke. The headers need to be snugged up more and there's still some smoke from all the oil. But after the first start, hit the button again and it's BANG....right now it runs. Guess I can relax, sure is noisy without any mufflers. 

I'm happy!

[Flrider]

Whohooooooo............   

Way to go, did you take any video ?

[John Schmidt]

No video, but will tell you it was a close race as to who had the biggest grin....me or Jeff. The right side is tight, no oil leaks. The left has a problem and not sure if it's leaking at the valve cover or the header isn't pulled up as tight. I had squirted a good amount of oil in each cylinder for early lube and if the header is still loose it may be blowing out there. Still needs some tuning with the carb but appears to be close. I didn't let it run long enough to warm it enough to kick out the choke. But it runs and for now that's a big milestone. Where it leads I'll just have to see.

[FloridaValkRyder]

Happy to help John. I'll tell you, if my grin was any where near as big as yours..we both win!! You looked like a high school kid on prom night, guess I did too. I never doubted for a second that it would start. Your attention to detail is legendary and it showed today. Your right, that was a loud SOB without the mufflers being hooked up. Still pretty loud when we just slid the mufflers on to see how it sounded. Thanks for letting me be there for the inaugural "firing-up".  Jack is right, we should have taken some video. 

[John Schmidt]

I have a camcorder but no way to download at the moment. Seems my old XP 'puter did fine, but Windows 7....not so much. I can't get it recognize the camera, haven't tried slapping it to get its attention. 

[larue]

Great job guys, main test has been accomplished 

[IamGCW]

Crawl, walk, run.  You are on track.  Great news.

Gil

[Valkahuna]

Never had a doubt! Congrats! Jeff, you are great to help out.

[John Schmidt]

Never had a doubt! Congrats! Jeff, you are great to help out.

Most definitely. He helped me reinstall the engine, wouldn't have been able to do it alone this time around. I R&R the engine on the Valkyrie I restored a couple years ago, but I was doing it with two good hips at the time. This time around, not so much and really welcomed the help. We have a new neighbor lady and her young daughter, she's probably wondering what the heck she got herself into this time. It was really rattlin' the windows with those open pipes.  

[flsix]

Let those windows rattle John. It's the sound of success. I'm really glad she fired up.
Good on you Jeff.

[Grumpy]

That is great John, another step closer to being on the road. 

[TJ]

 

[BCoy]

Great news!   

[Dougger]

John, you did start it durng daylight hours?

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

The Great Sound Of Success, When You Get To Hear It Run For The First Time. Congratulations On Your Progress On The Old Time Machine.

[John Schmidt]

John, you did start it durng daylight hours?

Oh yes, about midday as I recall. My wife would have been the first to let me know about it if it had been after hours. 

[John Schmidt]

The Great Sound Of Success, When You Get To Hear It Run For The First Time. Congratulations On Your Progress On The Old Time Machine.

You're right Bert, especially after the engine hadn't run for quite a few years. It's the one where the bike recycler in Ft. Myers said it was running fine when he got it to part out. I called him a bold faced liar since it had swallowed a valve, the only thing running was his mouth but not his conscience. I bought a set of used pistons that were well within specs so used the same rings and bearings in the one piston I replaced. Put it all back together and hoped for the best...which apparently turned out ok. So far at least. Today I ordered some new valve cover gaskets, these are so hard they don't seal at the bottom, gave me quite a leak on the left side. Right side minimal.

After putting an engine back together and spending time and money to do so, it's really a good feeling to hear it run for the first time regardless of how poorly it runs. That can be fixed with time and patience.

[John Schmidt]

I was able to get the bike to run but not idle, would only run at high RPM. The carb has an idle cutoff and an electric choke and I had furnished 12v to both. Personally I have no idea how the idle cutoff is supposed to work. While doing some electrical repairs on it today I got to thinking(dangerous)....the metal carb is bolted to a plastic manifold which to me meant there was no ground. Normally it's bolted to a metal manifold and to the engine block, giving it a ground, but the PVC doesn't realy conduct the juice. So I attached a ground wire to the carb body and hit the starter. BINGO....sucker fired right off as before but this time it idled down and just sat there breaking the sound barrier(still no mufflers). To test it, while it was still running without me touching the throttle, I removed the ground wire and it started to die. I hit the throttle and again it would only run at high RPM. I replaced the ground and the old girl settled down to a nice idle. Another feel good moment.  

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Another Day Of Accomplishment , Glad To Hear That It Is Getting Better. Now We Need Pictures. As You Know Inquiring Minds Still Need To See Pictures. Oh Yea, Did I Mention We NEED PICTURES, LOL.

[Pappy!]

John.....I think those idle solenoids were during the days of carburetors and air-conditioning.
When the compressor kicked on the idle solenoid was engaged as well so that when you let off the throttle it would not idle down to the normal low idle RPM. Would idle fast enough to keep the cold air flowing for ya' and not stall the engine.
Should be adjustable if I remember correctly. May not be needed in your application either. 

[Grumpy]

My  trike has dual solex carbs with the same valves. they are idle cutoff valves, designed to cut off the low speed circuit when the ignition is turned off. Prevents the engine from dieseling or run on after shutting the engine off. VW air cooled tend to run fairly hot and will run on with out that circuit.

[John Schmidt]

Bill, I wonder why it wouldn't idle before attaching a ground to the carb body. Is it energized while operating, thereby opening a circuit not otherwise open and in doing so allows it to idle? Guess I need to find out just how it works because if it craps out on the road it seems to me you'd be in some deep doodoo....without the tall boots. 

[Grumpy]

Bill, I wonder why it wouldn't idle before attaching a ground to the carb body. Is it energized while operating, thereby opening a circuit not otherwise open and in doing so allows it to idle? Guess I need to find out just how it works because if it craps out on the road it seems to me you'd be in some deep doodoo....without the tall boots. 

Low speed circuit is part of the idle passages in the carb, valve cuts off that passage when power is removed.

[Pappy!]

I stand corrected !! Didn't know it was a Solex.

[John Schmidt]

OK, that answers my question, guess that also answers the question why it wouldn't idle without a ground. Still looking for some Sportster or "Glide" mufflers, I've been told by those in authority at this address that mufflers are to be my next search. Funny how you can tell the seriousness of the comment by the tone of the voice. 

It is kinda noisy.

[FloridaValkRyder]

OK, that answers my question, guess that also answers the question why it wouldn't idle without a ground. Still looking for some Sportster or "Glide" mufflers, I've been told by those in authority at this address that mufflers are to be my next search. Funny how you can tell the seriousness of the comment by the tone of the voice. 

It is kinda noisy.

kinda noisy ??