Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge russian cycle story

or, "how I am an idiot, sort of". Last year I posted here about how I had bought a Russian Military bike with sidecar, a Dnepr, (with a Ural motor) When I got it, it was in horrible running condition, and I figured out one tuning thing after another. The previous owner must have known nothing. Every time I found something wrong, it ran a little better. Still, after using all my tricks, it would only run 50 to 55 mph top speed. Didn't have a lot of power, and started cold fine, but was a very hard "warmed up" start. Still, I managed to ride a couple of thousand miles on it, and had a good time. I just figured the low power was a natural part of the "antique" engine style and 32 HP rating.
Then, today, I was giving it a close lookover to see how hard it would be to change the "main seal" between the engine and tranny (leaks a little). I was looking real close at the case area, and around the carb intake area, when I noticed a little metal clip just behind one of the hose clamps, between one of the carbs and the air cleaner. (Think BMW motor) Hmmmmm, I thought, what is that, a broken air hose clamp or some such? Wait, it moves back and forth, top to bottom, and it looks like some kind of ball detent attached to the clip.....WAIT!...you don't think... I took off the carb hose and looked in and what do ya know, It was a manual choke mechanism! The original carbs evidently didn't have a choke built on to them like my retrofitted Mikuni's. And guess what, THE DANG THING WAS SET TO FULL CHOKE THIS WHOLE TIME! Jeeeeez, did I feel like an idiot! But, on the other hand, you could barely see the darn thing, even with all the attention I had given the carbs. So I had been riding all this time with both carbs choking to death! I opened the mechanism, and WOW, the engine pulls a lot better in every gear and pulls cleanly up to 65 or better! DUH! Another great D.A. story to tell on myself for many years to come.

That's a GOOD story Rich. Very cool...I love those "TaDah" moments in life.

How could you know? Must be like riding a whole new machine now! Good story!!

What is amazing is that you have been able to ride it all this time like that... those must be some mad "tricks" you got there.

Any pictures to share?

Thats a result, and the least expensive increase in horsepower you will get.

Wow Rich! How funny is it that you've so recently found that this choke issue was the problem with your bike!!!

(...'cause coincidentally this seemed to ALSO be the very same reason for the recent lackluster performances of LeBron James, AND the whole Vancouver Canucks hockey team!!!!!)

Did you post pics of the bike?

You could not have a better first name for this story Rich, get it running rich. Sorry had to do it. JH