Bought A 2001 Triumph Thunderbird After Not Having A Bike For 20yrs. My How Things Have Changed.

Bought a 2001 Triumph Thunderbird after not having a bike for 20yrs. My how things have changed.
Having problems with starting and fluctuating tick over between 1500- 2000 revs.
Sometimes it starts no problem but always a fluctuating tick over. I have had to increase tick over by around 1000 revs to stop the bike from stopping.
Ive replaced the starter solenoid,
new air box,
checked tank venting.
cleaned carbs and synchronised them,
She seemed ok then. the following day would nt start for a while then eventually started, but the kept stopping increased tick over to keep running but re still fluctuation.
Could the crank sensor be the problem

 

Went to start it this morning, it would nt start at first then started with an erratic fluctuating of the tick over. Then run steady for several minutes and stopped. I started it with the erratic tick over, when I revved it black smoke came out the exhaust. Its settled down with black smoke gradually decreasing. The carbs are worn. It has some old fuel in the tank but I put a gallon of fresh, could it be that I need to drain the complete tank.

 

Thanks Ken
Ive manually cleaned the carbs, I noticed there are signs of friction rub on the diaphragm sliders, is this common. The carbs are Mikuni, are there any common faults or problems with these carbs.

Brian

 

Thanks, I will check. When she first starts she fluctuates then steadies and ticks over fine for 5 min or so. then she slows down and stops. each time she is started from then the time to stalling be comes reduced till in the end she starts having problems starting. each time she starts a cloud of black smoke comes from the exhaust then clears.

woofa

 

Are, that what I thought right from the beginning when I bought the bike she was running rich. I am stupid, why did nt I follow that through.

Let you know.

Woofa

 

Thanks, just went out and checked problem increasingly worse. As she misfires on cylinders there is a thumping or donking noise that vibrates the carburettor. Plot thickening now.

 

Thanks, just went out and checked problem increasingly worse. As she misfires on cylinders there is a thumping or donking noise that vibrates the carburettor. Plot thickening now.

 

Thanks, off to hospital now to get my engine sorted, will check basics again.
Woofa

 

It appears the electrics have been upgraded with fuel injection ignition coils and Triumph at Edinburgh can’t find the carb although it’s standard. Looking at previous bills loads of caberetta and electric work. Did put new plugs in and wreaked the mixture running fine last night. Started it this morning running fine then stalled at tickover. O dear dipare

carbs not flooding

 

What I need is a triumph dealer who really knows carbs so I can identify the right parts. I was going to get a refurb kit but they don’t do one you need to order the individual parts. There are 2 or 3 possibilities. I live on the Isle of Lewis so it’s all got to be done over the phone and email, any one you can suggest.