Clears it up nicely......holding down get a good charge into the carb....which is what we are after. I have tried both on my bantam.....holding down give a far better cold start. After I get a few drips on flooding.....I continue to keep the tickler press....so get plenty of fuel where its needed. Of course we have to be sensible.....flood it to much is counter productive. I have it timed to a fine art. Great Vid Paul.
Thanks for posting this. I'm commenting from USA. I am now retired, watch you for good tips and info which I did not discover during my ownership of 2 successful motorcycle shops. I agree with your technique...I have successfully started hundreds, possibly thousands of British bikes using the jab method to tickle the carb(s). I have witnessed riders holding the tickler down until gasoline (petrol?) poured out the intake(s), soaked the air filter(s), then ran down onto engine cases and other parts of their bike. This is not good practice for several reasons. If bike pops back through the intake while being kicked over, there is a danger of a fire starting directly below your gas tank! Flooding the intake also can drown the spark plug, and wash cylinder walls clean of residual oil which is much needed during startup. Further more, it is the gasoline vapors which provide the flammable mixture to enable the engine running...not the liquid. So when it comes to tickling, I've found a little goes a long way, as we say here in the colony. I'm surprised that you watch the two US guys who have certainly made a career out of that Cub. Just kicking a bike over hundreds of times and hoping it will eventually start doesn.t entertain me much. I've had mechanics in my employ who used such time wasting and ineffective techniques, and sometimes faced problems with customers over the resulting bills. I wonder if those two are just making the job look difficult to tally up views here on YT? Anyway, by now I imagine they may have developed a problem related to the wear in the kick starter mechanisms and their viewers can expect another 10-12 episodes on that repair. All the best to you...
From personal experience, it makes no bloody difference. You do it your way, I'll do it my way. If it starts, you're doing it correctly. Not an argument worth fighting
One idea I heard not to jab the tickler was in case it damaged the float?? Never heard of anyone damaging a float that way but just thought I would add my two penerth to the discussion!! Personally I do what is comfortable to me and expect everyone else to do the same!
Some bikes like to be flooded so you press it down until it runs out of the top of the tickler. Other bikes wont start if you flood it, so after owning the bike for a while you work out if 4 quick jabs floods it, and it wont start first kick. So you try one short jab, followed by two, until you figure out that 3 short jabs gets it fired up first kick. This is all dependant on how many people are watching of course.
Both of my Ducati Darmah I had used Dellorto carbs with ticklers, it made no difference whether you pressed them down and held them until fuel came out or repeatedly pressed them it makes no difference at all.
Haha! This is like asking what kind of oil should I use in my classic bike... or how to hang the toilet paper roll. You're a professional Paul, you shouldn't have to defend your methods. Really enjoying your vids, keep up the great work!
Not something I have had to worry about. All my machines have had either a press down lever or the pull up knob. Except my 650 Interceptor that is injected.
I have concentrics and just press mine until the fuel just comes out of the tickler, I don't let it flood out, and mostly get a first kick start ( Norton Atlas with single carb, Vincent twin)
If you had a down sloping carb it’s possible you could flood the bores before any fuel came out by the tickler. If you jab it’s more likely to show before it fills up half the bore. Having said that I’ve done both ways with a strong bias to repeatedly pressing the button and in forty odd years that’s never been the cause of a non starter.
Here's a worry...it's been so long since I had a bike with a tickler(and I've had load) I genuinely can't remember which I did! That must be the damage 4 star has done!😂
Nice one Paul. I am a jabber, but was watching the American site that you mentioned. Frank was on one side of a Commando, and Kevin was on the other, one jabbing one carb, the other holding the tickler down on the other,so it must be a personal choice, but I'm with you on this one. Great site.
Such fun, my CZ 125 has a tickler but I just tend to press it for a second or two, then the fun begins, if it doesn't catch first or second kick its now flooded so you wind the throttle open to weaken the mixture and try again, it's a fine art starting old bikes and as a form of anti theft knocks the spots off any immobilizer😂.
I dont like when fuel runs out all over the place.(stains) I try to minimize that amount by doing it the jab way. Also holding it down blocks your view of the very bottom of the tickler on my bike anyway (small tickler). Its like the old parlor trick when someone says hold your thumb and pointer finger one inch apart then holds a dollar bill between them and says "you can have the bill if you can catch it when I let it go." Fuel is everywhere. Also by jabbing the tickler you can control how sloppy you want it to be. I think part of the design of the tickler was to control the over spill. Plus pumping the button seems like its freeing things up..like Paul said.
Hi Paul, I just like to hold the tickler better rather than "pumping" (= opening and closing the neadle valve), just to prevent extra wear by the movements, especially because we have to deal with classic bikes that we try to keep going as long as possible. Holding the tickler gives the fuel quicker (as you saw) as well, and that procedure is mentioned in the original manuals (that I have read since 1978 when I started rebuilding my BSA B33/M20). Another one maybe: For the same anti-wear reason, I do not move the throttle "unnecessarily" (?) when idling or clutch pulled in, which I see many people do, just for the sound I think. Thanks for your video's ! 👍
Spot on ! I've seen floats with deep wear marks from being prodded to death ! Just hold it down until it's done what it's designed to do and release it, surely. And yes , don't get me started on the rev, rev, rev throttle action that some have😂. Even Michael Dunlop does it when he leaves the line at the TT ? It looks very naff and is unnecessary. But, each to his own .
Lovely gassed up leather glove fingers ! Those were the days , thank goodness I never had to manually adjust the ignition timing as well . Yup , jabbing is what I was told . To see what happened with Dellorto accelerator jets , I set things up much as your efforts Paul . Kinell , more fuel spurted out than I ever imagined and it went over ten feet through the air ! One way to get things going eh !
I think your reasoning is sound Paul. Holding down IS more likely to lead to flooding. I'm a tickler myself but I haven't tickled in 50+ years. I need to get m'self a classic...
Like you, I jab the button although not quite so quickly. I know that it takes about 10 or 11 jabs to flood my AJS so that it starts reliably, first or second kick. This was useful a while ago when I experimented with an extra in-line filter but found the engine was less likely to start and run well when cold. I noticed that it was taking at least 22 jabs to flood it. I wasn't happy with that so I took the filter out and starting returned to first or second kick. I might not have noticed if I was just holding the button down.
Mash it mash it tickle tickle! ! Hiya Paul I was wondering if you see this message if you can give me some advice please ? With a bantam and applying a wassell electronic ignition on it ? Thank you 👍
@paulhenshaw4514 ah blydi hell! But I was wondering if the W electronic system MK1 I believe it is fits on a bantam ? Or if so are the new wipac replica coils any good ?
@paulhenshaw4514 hey cheers Paul! I think il just buy a new replica wipac cool for the D3 for now! The old one the tab has come out a bit loose so will just renew thank you for the reply and advice! :)
Good explanetary video, I jab too but if the carb is bone dry after a rebuild I hold it down. Thereafter I jab it. Does petrol in the oil on a four-stroke cause sludge? I thought it would evaporate when the oil gets hot. My GS 1000 used to get condensation ie milky looking oil seen on the oil level glass. Never used it on short journeys after that.
With no scientific method , I mainly hold them down and count for like 6-8 seconds , especially on my T160, i do tickle a little sometimes in case there is a air bubble locking the flow , who cares anyway whatever works
![PASULOL รามเกียรติ์ ตอนที่ 4 นนทกพบรัก [Ramakien Ep.4: Nonthok in love]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMUQgmZzf_A/mqdefault.jpg)
Clears it up nicely......holding down get a good charge into the carb....which is what we are after.
I have tried both on my bantam.....holding down give a far better cold start.
After I get a few drips on flooding.....I continue to keep the tickler press....so get plenty of fuel where its needed.
Of course we have to be sensible.....flood it to much is counter productive.
I have it timed to a fine art.
Great Vid Paul.
Thanks, Paul. You proved me, what I was always thinking about pumping vs. holding down... Tickling is far more precice.
I've always plunged the tickler button on a British bike with zero problems in nearly 50 years
Thanks for posting this. I'm commenting from USA. I am now retired, watch you for good tips and info which I did not discover during my ownership of 2 successful motorcycle shops. I agree with your technique...I have successfully started hundreds, possibly thousands of British bikes using the jab method to tickle the carb(s). I have witnessed riders holding the tickler down until gasoline (petrol?) poured out the intake(s), soaked the air filter(s), then ran down onto engine cases and other parts of their bike. This is not good practice for several reasons. If bike pops back through the intake while being kicked over, there is a danger of a fire starting directly below your gas tank! Flooding the intake also can drown the spark plug, and wash cylinder walls clean of residual oil which is much needed during startup. Further more, it is the gasoline vapors which provide the flammable mixture to enable the engine running...not the liquid. So when it comes to tickling, I've found a little goes a long way, as we say here in the colony. I'm surprised that you watch the two US guys who have certainly made a career out of that Cub. Just kicking a bike over hundreds of times and hoping it will eventually start doesn.t entertain me much. I've had mechanics in my employ who used such time wasting and ineffective techniques, and sometimes faced problems with customers over the resulting bills. I wonder if those two are just making the job look difficult to tally up views here on YT? Anyway, by now I imagine they may have developed a problem related to the wear in the kick starter mechanisms and their viewers can expect another 10-12 episodes on that repair. All the best to you...
Looking forward to your next experiment on which oil is the best..😂
EVOO
From personal experience, it makes no bloody difference. You do it your way, I'll do it my way. If it starts, you're doing it correctly. Not an argument worth fighting
One idea I heard not to jab the tickler was in case it damaged the float?? Never heard of anyone damaging a float that way but just thought I would add my two penerth to the discussion!! Personally I do what is comfortable to me and expect everyone else to do the same!
The old copper and brass floats used to get dented by jabbing didn’t they….i just hold the tickler down to raise the fuel level slightly, works for me
Some bikes like to be flooded so you press it down until it runs out of the top of the tickler. Other bikes wont start if you flood it, so after owning the bike for a while you work out if 4 quick jabs floods it, and it wont start first kick. So you try one short jab, followed by two, until you figure out that 3 short jabs gets it fired up first kick. This is all dependant on how many people are watching of course.
@@thra5herxb12s totally agree. You have to learn what you're bike needs for an easy start. No more than 3 kicks when you get it right
Both of my Ducati Darmah I had used Dellorto carbs with ticklers, it made no difference whether you pressed them down and held them until fuel came out or repeatedly pressed them it makes no difference at all.
I think you are doing it correctly. It’s called tickling because that’s what it looks like.
I had a Norton Commando, and the hand book stated press the primer up and down a few time's,
I'm a jabber primarily because I want to also feel the float return to the top and not stick !
Haha! This is like asking what kind of oil should I use in my classic bike... or how to hang the toilet paper roll. You're a professional Paul, you shouldn't have to defend your methods. Really enjoying your vids, keep up the great work!
Not something I have had to worry about. All my machines have had either a press down lever or the pull up knob. Except my 650 Interceptor that is injected.
I have concentrics and just press mine until the fuel just comes out of the tickler, I don't let it flood out, and mostly get a first kick start ( Norton Atlas with single carb, Vincent twin)
If you had a down sloping carb it’s possible you could flood the bores before any fuel came out by the tickler. If you jab it’s more likely to show before it fills up half the bore. Having said that I’ve done both ways with a strong bias to repeatedly pressing the button and in forty odd years that’s never been the cause of a non starter.
I do both, doesn’t seem to make any difference to starting my bikes.
Sloppy Tickle the movie. Frank and Big K will be impressed 😊
Thank you for your due diligence, Paul.
Thanks Paul.
Here's a worry...it's been so long since I had a bike with a tickler(and I've had load) I genuinely can't remember which I did!
That must be the damage 4 star has done!😂
Nice one Paul. I am a jabber, but was watching the American site that you mentioned. Frank was on one side of a Commando, and Kevin was on the other, one jabbing one carb, the other holding the tickler down on the other,so it must be a personal choice, but I'm with you on this one. Great site.
I hold down on Bantams concentric. Starts in 3 kicks, even in sub zero conditions.
Me too! but I have to confess it does flood occasionally and have to drain the crankcase.
My 92 year old dad asked my son how on earth did he get in to tickle his Yamaha fjr1400
Such fun, my CZ 125 has a tickler but I just tend to press it for a second or two, then the fun begins, if it doesn't catch first or second kick its now flooded so you wind the throttle open to weaken the mixture and try again, it's a fine art starting old bikes and as a form of anti theft knocks the spots off any immobilizer😂.
I guess that's a Jikov carb, try 3 quick jabs instead of one long press.
@thra5herxb12s jikov is correct, off a 175, I have a clear filter and can see the fuel flowing in, it works for me but thanks for the feedback 👍
I dont like when fuel runs out all over the place.(stains) I try to minimize that amount by doing it the jab way. Also holding it down blocks your view of the very bottom of the tickler on my bike anyway (small tickler). Its like the old parlor trick when someone says hold your thumb and pointer finger one inch apart then holds a dollar bill between them and says "you can have the bill if you can catch it when I let it go."
Fuel is everywhere.
Also by jabbing the tickler you can control how sloppy you want it to be. I think part of the design of the tickler was to control the over spill. Plus pumping the button seems like its freeing things up..like Paul said.
Hey Paul, thanks for that info!
Hi Paul, I just like to hold the tickler better rather than "pumping" (= opening and closing the neadle valve), just to prevent extra wear by the movements, especially because we have to deal with classic bikes that we try to keep going as long as possible. Holding the tickler gives the fuel quicker (as you saw) as well, and that procedure is mentioned in the original manuals (that I have read since 1978 when I started rebuilding my BSA B33/M20).
Another one maybe: For the same anti-wear reason, I do not move the throttle "unnecessarily" (?) when idling or clutch pulled in, which I see many people do, just for the sound I think.
Thanks for your video's ! 👍
Spot on ! I've seen floats with deep wear marks from being prodded to death ! Just hold it down until it's done what it's designed to do and release it, surely. And yes , don't get me started on the rev, rev, rev throttle action that some have😂. Even Michael Dunlop does it when he leaves the line at the TT ? It looks very naff and is unnecessary. But, each to his own .
Lovely gassed up leather glove fingers ! Those were the days , thank goodness I never had to manually adjust the ignition timing as well . Yup , jabbing is what I was told . To see what happened with Dellorto accelerator jets , I set things up much as your efforts Paul . Kinell , more fuel spurted out than I ever imagined and it went over ten feet through the air ! One way to get things going eh !
I think your reasoning is sound Paul. Holding down IS more likely to lead to flooding. I'm a tickler myself but I haven't tickled in 50+ years. I need to get m'self a classic...
Like you, I jab the button although not quite so quickly. I know that it takes about 10 or 11 jabs to flood my AJS so that it starts reliably, first or second kick. This was useful a while ago when I experimented with an extra in-line filter but found the engine was less likely to start and run well when cold. I noticed that it was taking at least 22 jabs to flood it. I wasn't happy with that so I took the filter out and starting returned to first or second kick. I might not have noticed if I was just holding the button down.
I am convinced.
I find I get more firing and smiles tickling as opposed to jabs…..
It would be interesting to have it connected to a cylinder to
see what happens when it gets kicked over.
I've always as you put it "Jabbed" a still finger is not tickling, ask any lady!
I hold It until It takes too long to flow, then I tickle 😁
Would it be called a push button if u had to hold it down if thats the case why is it called a tickler name says it all for me
I've always jabbed, same as my old boy did, but if either way works, who cares. Stuff the pedants
Tickle it! 😎🏍👍😁
yep, I agree that tickling like you it can free a suck float, found that on my bantam, vindicated at last haha
Gawd..the row I had with a "hold down" evangelist,followed by "I've got 40yrs experience"!......bloody glad I didn't marry his daughter....
Mash it mash it tickle tickle! ! Hiya Paul I was wondering if you see this message if you can give me some advice please ? With a bantam and applying a wassell electronic ignition on it ? Thank you 👍
That 'W' word - I have known two such ignitions start fires. Good luck if you go ahead!
@paulhenshaw4514 ah blydi hell! But I was wondering if the W electronic system MK1 I believe it is fits on a bantam ? Or if so are the new wipac replica coils any good ?
I don't know sorry. I fitted something called an 'Atom' to our D7 engined field bike and that is brilliant.
@paulhenshaw4514 hey cheers Paul! I think il just buy a new replica wipac cool for the D3 for now! The old one the tab has come out a bit loose so will just renew thank you for the reply and advice! :)
Good explanetary video, I jab too but if the carb is bone dry after a rebuild I hold it down.
Thereafter I jab it.
Does petrol in the oil on a four-stroke cause sludge? I thought it would evaporate when the oil gets hot.
My GS 1000 used to get condensation ie milky looking oil seen on the oil level glass. Never used it on short journeys after that.
With no scientific method , I mainly hold them down and count for like 6-8 seconds , especially on my T160, i do tickle a little sometimes in case there is a air bubble locking the flow , who cares anyway whatever works
Holding it down gives the risk of flooding the bike.Tickling is more controlled.
This video tickled me . Sorry 😂
Jab = control & Hold = diluted oil!👍
Jab is fab.
But is that why they call it a tickler you tickle it not a,holderdowner button😜
Well if you don't jab, jab, jab you can't say it's tickled.
A hundred years of tradition down the crapper.