Thanks for the help so far.

Haven't had too much time to look at it today, and the only place open round here couldn't find a condenser. We have replaced the fuel line from pump to carb and added an inline filter, checked the rest of the lines over and they seem to be OK. Cleaned carb/jets out again, little bit of crap in the float bowls but the jets were clean. Had the sender out and cleaned the pickup, and cleaned the little filter in the carb. Checked the timing again with the strobe and it seems to be OK.

One thing we have learned is that with the choke out it's great, runs lovely right through the revs. As soon as you try and move away with the choke in, kangarooing and popping.

We're still going to try swapping in a new condenser when it arrives, but we're a bit suspicious of the carb having been faffed with now. What size should the jets be in this, just to check?

Thanks again, and sorry I still never thought to get any pictures.

Are you sure you had all jets in the carb??? Sounds to me like you missed the jet from second stage.. If it runs "nicely" on choke then it is the carb definitive... Did you take the carb apart?? Lose the 6 bolts on top and take the upper part away (carefull).. then you will find another jet or 2 you can clean... Also take a look at the bottom of carbs were the petrol stays... probably debrie down there and sometimes another jet.....

When assembling the upper part take car of the chokeflap, otherwis the choke will block the whole time...


fingers crossed..

Please take a look at the floaters too in the carb if they are at the right height (opening and closing the fuelintake.. otherwise you have the same symptoms you describe..

I'm not ruling out that we have done something that daft, although everything is back where it was when we started. We have had the top off to check/reset the float height, and have cleaned the 2 jets in there. Have also cleaned out the other jet that's in the bottom of the float bowl you mention.

I'm not sure of the history of the carb, so it might have the wrong jets in (or jets in the wrong places). I'm going to have a check of some diagrams now, thanks.

Edit: Yeah, the floats were set a bit too high, but we have reset them now.

Yep then the next thing is to check the jets.. but sorry I don't have numbers for a Ami 8 at the moment.. maybee Ken.... so Ken come in please...

Sorry, been watching Guy Martin having a go at Pike's Peak hill climb with his turbocharged 1300cc 'mongrel' bike.
The problem he had with his bike sounds a bit like this Ami; it wouldn't run properly with the throttle wide open...

Anyhow, if the Ami still has its original carburettor, it should be the 21-24 version of the 26/35 Solex ( look for the numbers 21 & 24 cast or stamped into the offside float bowl ), then that would have had a 120 or 125 primary petrol jet and a 70 secondary.
These are the jets at the bottom of the float bowls, those at the top are air corrector jets and don't get blocked.
Sounds as though the primary jet may be partially blocked and to get at it you need to remove the hexagonal access plug on the nearside, then use a long thin (4mm) screwdriver to undo the jet.
A cocktail stick is useful for lifting the jet out and also to park it back in position.

Also, the best way to clean things out is with a compressor and blow gun, pointing the nozzle of the gun down through the air corrector jets so that the petrol jets are 'backflushed'.
Using cloth or absorbent paper will tend to leave fibres and strands which may partially block the smaller drillings.

Lastly, if the Ami 'blower' is in place, a 125 primary jet works best with unleaded fuel.

Cheers Ken, will let you all know how it goes.

Hi adam
Just had something very similar to this problem when putting a Dyane back in service after thirty years. Turned out to be a faulty plug breaking down under load, very easy to check, just swap in a new pair of NGKs, 5mins to check before you completely strip the carb
Good luck
Boggy

Today's progress (or lack of) - blew out the primary jet which was a bit blocked, put it back together to achieve the same effect. Still seems to get fuel starvation when you quickly press the throttle. If you're gentle, it'll rev and just about move around all fine, and as I say it goes fine with the choke out.

Seems to have the right jets in the carb, we will probably have another good go at the weekend and try changing the condenser.

Thanks again.

the accelerator pump diaphram mayby split
or the jet on the carb bridge blocked
remove the filter box, peer down the lefthand choke then depress the throttle
there should be a fine squirt of neat petrol emitting from the bridge jet