Cold Start Problems

[horner638]

Can anyone help me? My 2001 SV has been getting harder and harder to start when it's cold. I just did the 15,000 mi service and everything seems fine. When I go to start it if I give it any throttle it dies instantly. So I have to repeately push the starter button until it warms up enough to sustain a pathetic idle! At this point I can slowly feather the throttle to rev it past the "kill spot". I am afraid I', going to ruin my starter or drain my battery. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[racinteach]

how long since carbs have been cleaned? sounds like pilot jets may be getting dirty...how is it when hot? maybe the choke is off a bit...

[horner638]

I bought the bike about 6 months ago. I haven't cleaned the carbs in that time. I have thought about a jet kit maybe this would be a good time. The bike is great when it is warmed up however.

[Darth Lefty]

There is a cold-weather procedure in the manual... hold the throttle open while you crank it and for a few seconds afterwards, then ease it off. After 10 seconds or so of this it will be warm enough to keep going with help from the choke.

If not... well maybe Robert is right.

[horner638]

Any amount of throttle kills the engine when it is cold. After many pushes of the starter button it will finally hold a weak idle at about 800 rpms. At that point I can start to give it a tiny amount of throttle. Once it warms up it idles at about 1300 and runs great.

[Suprachrgd82]

It seems that most twins and singles are a bitch to start when cold. I found that very slight and slow throttle movement will keep it running. Once you turn the thottle too fast and abruptly, it coughs and dies.

[Buck]

What Robert said.

Also, check to see that the "choke" cable is properly adjusted, and they are actuating all the way.

Do you use the choke full on?

I"m betting with Robert. Either the fuel enrichening, or "pilot" jets or passages are clogged, or the valve isnt lifting all the way.

[horner638]

When I get it started I usually put the choke full on. I hadn't considered the choke cable being out of adjustment I will definitely check that. Wouldn't that affect my idle speed though? Your right Supracharged that I have always had a hard time with cold starts it has steadily become worse recently though. Thanks for your input.

[Buck]

You should be putting the choke on BEFORE you start it!

With the engine cold, turn the choke full on, and crank the engine.

As the engine starts, and begins to speed up and smooth out, gradually wean the choke off as the engine warms up.

If you try to open the throttle, and the engine still stumbles and starves, turn the choke back on a little. After the engine warms up, no choke should be needed.

[horner638]

OK Buck I'll give that a try in the morning and let you know how it goes.

[horner638]

Buck I'm a moron. Put the choke full on and it started right up cold. :eek: I wasn't aware that you were supposed to start it with the choke on. I thought you used the choke to warm it up once it was started. Thank you I was about to work on my carbs.

[Darth Lefty]

In the MSF course they teach FINE-C, which is:

Fuel petcock
Ignition (key)
Neutral
Engine cutoff
Choke

Then crank.