I regret that I've only just seen this thread but want to agree with all of Luddite's first post. I've never run a JAP but have had two or three Matchless's and an Anzani and followed the same starting procedure as Luddite describes; the only difference being that it was the wrist, not the ankle, that suffered if the advance/retard was incorrectly adjusted (assuming one's thumb was not wrapped round the handle!). It was always my practice to turn off isolating cocks on both fuel and oil supply lines if the engine was not going to be run in the next couple of hours or so. As age advanced and memory became less reliable (and use of car less frequent) I hung a reminder card on the ignition switch. I thought when I swapped the Matchless for an S&S I would be spared the 'aggro of antiques'!
Has anyone made any attempt to contact owners of S & S engines in motor cycles or other applications? We could possibly learn from them regarding wet sumping among other topics.
Johnny.
