The Superhawk from hell...

Jlovvorn · Post by **Jlovvorn** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 5:04 pm

Update:

Came back to do some work on the 305 after a long diversion with a 160, a 550, and a 750.

Spent the weekend trying to tune and jet the Amal carbs.

I know not everyone agrees with this mod, but for me it felt like someone strapped a jet onto the bike.

Until the swap, the bike always felt sluggish off the line, and a disappointment next to my 160.

So, for the file, in case anyone does this mod, the stock jets and slide in the Amal 626 carbs will work.

But, with a 2.5 slide, 190 mains, a 107 needle jet, and the clip in the middle, this thing starts, idles, and accelerates wonderfully.

If you do this mod, be sure and spent the 30-40$ on different slides and jets.

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:58 am

Glad everything is going well with the Amals. The one thing to watch out for down the road is slide wear (but for me it happened once I had about 15,000 miles on them). Because the slides are made of the same material as the carb bodies, the slides will eventually wear (some say at about 8,000 miles, but I managed 15,000). When that happens, you'll notice the idle becoming very erratic -- not really an issue in terms of the actual riding of the bike, but more of an annoyance, if anything. Amal used to offer chrome plated slides that rectified the situation, but they've discontinued those and now offer hard anodised slides as replacements. I had John install those last winter and everything seems good, and hopefully I won't have to worry about the slides wearing again.

Like you, I'm using a 2.5 slide (I think the stock slide is a 3.0). If you do decide to go with the hardened anodised slides, you have to order them from Amal themselves, as no one in this country stocks them in that size (believe me, I tried!).

If you want to extend the life of those slides, try not to snap the throttle. For these carbs, I was advised to 'roll' the throttle rather than 'snap' the throttle. Mind you, I know guys who have '70s Triumphs with their original 626's, and slide wear was never a problem for them, so go figure.

I agree, great carbs, and all the parts are available new (plus they are period-correct!). Almost 17,000 miles on mine, and couldn't be happier.

sarals · Post by **sarals** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:09 pm

Are the Amals a bolt on, or do some modifications have to be made?

Jlovvorn · Post by **Jlovvorn** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:18 pm

Direct bolt on, which is nice.

BUT, you have to shorten the throttle cable a bit.

There is a post on this, with excellent directions. It's easier than it sounds.

Thanks for the idea for this mod this Vince. Glad you are still running strong.

2_Hawks · Post by **2_Hawks** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:14 pm

Ok this may be redundant but after reading through most of the 24 pages of this thread I don't recall anyone asking if you ever checked the red spacers between the carbs and engine. Are they cracked/missing or damaged o-rings?
The carbs don't need to be bolted on tightly and I remember if they are they can cause problems once the engine is warm i.e. air leaks. They are held on with 10mm nuts and in Hondas world they only needed to be slightly more than snug.

If this was covered I'm sorry to repeat. Best o luck

Jlovvorn · Post by **Jlovvorn** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:18 pm

It's a great point, and it was checked early on with WD40. I wish it was an air leak. It would have been a lot less work!