You will find the new carbs are made in China and you cannot tune them they are made with no drilling through the mixture screw they must be set at the factory to just work problems start when they start to clog up inside, went to two bikes last month you can screw the mixture screw right in and the bike should stop you can take it out makes no difference

email (option): malmotorcycles@gmail.com

From what Amal told me when I was there one day a while back. The castings are made in China but the machining is done here. I have a spare NEW Amal carb and all the tiny drillings are there. I even poked a thin wire in here whilst explaining to someone that a problem can arise if this gets blocked.

I did have an issue with this carb and a brand new concentric two weeks ago, where the slide would stick with the stud nuts barely tightened. I bolted both carbs to a small piece of RSJ and gently relieved them with a fine flap wheel. It seems to me that the carb bodies should be bolted down for the final boring. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I fitted a new 276 on my M20...It took just a few minutes to set up after initial fitting and has run well ever since..I recently fitted a new 289 to my rigid B33...That also started up readily enough after fitting and required minimum fiddling to get it running OK..I still have to do the final adjustments on that one...
People think everything is made in China these days but in fact many of the components from that part of the world are made in Taiwan...A rather different proposition...There is also the fact that parts made exclusively by the Chinese for export and parts made by someone else in factories based in China are not generally made to the same standard...
Has anyone actually determined beyond doubt where the new Amal carb components are made and by whom?...

Wassells are another firm frequently accused of supplying Chinese made components when that in fact is not the case generally...This derogatory description was applied to the Hepolite badged pistons supplied by Wassell on this very forum...In fact they were made by an established Taiwanese manufacturer that also supplies OE pistons to the Japanese car industry among others....

I spoke to the chap that organises production at Wassells and he basically said they sought to bring a reasonable quality piston to market at a reasonable price and it was never their intention to provide something like an Omega or JE piston at a much higher price as few people are actually prepared to pay for that....

So, any definitive proof of where the various Amal components are made or is the China connection just heresay?...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

This is from Burlens website in May this year...You don't buy these sort of machines if you're not manufacturing something..(note out of interest one of the last Royal Signals T140s on the left)...Ian


Job opening for Machine Shop Manager/Programmer.
01/04/2021
Burlen Ltd are world renowned for their specialist engineering and manufacturing of classic vehicle fuel systems and components. Expanding on our successful business is a key part of our future vision, with a commitment to heritage products whilst also expanding into new technologies.
Following significant investment into the latest technology and machinery, we are now looking for the right person to lead our busy machine shop and take it to the next level; a manager who is committed to the success of our investment by helping us achieve our ambitions..
The role focuses on managing workflow through the machine shop, programming, organising our team of operators and maintaining machinery effectiveness.Candidates will be able to show that they have significant experience in managing similar environments and will be able to work with other departments to excel in providing the right solutions for both busy production lines and complex, unique R&D projects.
An in depth understanding of CNC programming and operating is essential and the candidate will be able to show, through qualifications or prior experience, that they are able to confidently apply their abilities to further improve our production capability and capacity.
Those able to show they have a solid understanding of the Siemens operating system and DMG machinery would be at a distinct advantage and previous work with, or knowledge of, other processes such as laser cutting and sheet metalwork would be of interest.
In addition to the above, prior experience or knowledge of additive manufacturing techniques would also be highly advantageous to an applicant. A fantastic opportunity to join a thriving business at a really exciting moment in its broad and interesting history..etc. etc...

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Burlen (Amal) Spitfire House in Salisbury, is about 35 miles from me and I drove there with my mate Graham to buy a new carb for his Norton. We were pissed because it was a wasted trip as the guy behind the counter said we can't sell you the carb you need as we're waiting for castings to arrive from China.

I didn't record it or get it in writing though :smiley: :smiley: Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Raw or finished castings?..:laughing: :laughing: ...Taking everything into account it seems the carbs may be a typical modern product with parts and services sourced from a variety of places...Amal Mk2 castings have been manufactured in Spain for a long time and that doesn't seem to worry people much...

We all know that because it says Harley Davidson or Triumph on the tank or BMW on the bonnet it doesn't mean it all comes from the 'source' countries...Far from it in fact (the Triumph twins are manufactured in Taiwan I believe)...Perhaps it's time to stop worrying so much about origin, reconsider our entrenched ideas of many of those destinations and concentrate on the serviceability of the end product instead...

I bought a beautiful CNC machined sump plate for one of my projects direct from the manufacturer in Taiwan...Great job, good delivery and half the price of any other...What more would I get anywhere else?.. Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

I wish I could keep my workshop floor that clean, but then we work in ours.
About 20 years ago I was at a machine dealer and some company from Germany was looking at machining amal mk1 bodies.
We are a Burlen dealer and we have had to buy unfinished carbs and finish them from our stock.
I guess with the machinery, once they find an operator they should be able to jump in and correct the supply problems.
It's a shame they never purchased a sliding head lathe, that would have been better suited to making carb internals.

email (option): pes.sales@btconnect.com

It appears Amal (Burlens) are going through a process of bringing more of their work 'in house'...Personally I applaud that effort as they are actively looking to solve some of their supply issues. At the end of the day there will be a few more skilled jobs in the UK and I presume, the quality and availability of their products will ultimately improve...

I am currently awaiting delivery of the latest version of the MK1 32mm Concentric which should be available around Christmas...I got a preview of the carb at Netley Marsh and it at least looks and feels very good...The body material must have been changed I'd have thought as it is far lighter than previous Concentrics...Less zinc and more aluminium?...

I wish them every success...After all they are the only people doing it...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Ian you are spot on, Burlen has expanded their machine shop due to supply problem from out sourcing. I had a batch of their new aluminium MK1 30 mil concentrics and weighed them. Old zinc style 990grams and new type 645 grams. They had been supplying the aluminium ones for BSA rocket 3's for some time. Guys complain to me in Australia as they have to wait up to 6 months for a pre monobloc such as a 1950 AJS 500 if not on the shelf in UK. People do not realise that after Grosvenor Works closed down you could not buy the carburetters until Burlen took it up many years later. They also do not realise that the 276 comes in 3 different internal sizes being 15/16, 1 inch and 1 and 1/16 and that the bowls can be top or bottom feed and on various angles left or right. If Burlen closed tomorrow we would be in big trouble. They also come with a 2 year warranty which out of the hundreds of carburetters that I have sold I have only had one returned to me which had a bit of swarf in it so was soon fixed. I visited Ireland and UK about six years ago and did a tour of the factory and watched a guy drill out main jets and then use a go and no go gauge to check them. What a tedious job but he was proud of the fact that his finished product got fitted to motorcycles around the world.