problems starting cold - revisited
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:34 pm
this might very well apply to all bikes, but i'm posting it here hoping 125cc owners learned something particular about these engines..
a couple of months ago i had my dust collecting, rust growing bike cleaned out and reinspected.
it got a brand new battery, spark plug, fuel filter, and had its carburetor and air filters cleaned.
off the back i had some issue with it when it would only start on a full battery, and only if i didn't use the choke at all.
the mechanic advised that i cover the air filter completely (??) to get better luck if it gives me trouble.
i brought it back to properly install a battery charged GPS on it, as well as try putting in a higher CCA battery,
and he found an air intake adjustment by the engine, and adjusted it (i'm guessing thats why CLOSING the airfilter seemed to work in the past).
also the idle had to be readjusted because somehow it was set so that when i moved the steering all the way right, the bike accelerated (!!).
with all this discovered and re-done i was able to ride fine for a while with the warm temps around.
now that its cold again, on a full charge, without bothering the choke, the engine will start and run for 1-2 seconds and die.
If i try to start again, the electric motor is squealing, and the exhaust is puffing, but only while i keep my thumb on the starter.
I think the puffing is only happening because of the compression by the electric starter, and no ignition is actually taking place (correct me if i'm wrong)
opening the choke does not help at all. neither does opening the throttle while starting.
all this while in warm sunny weather the bike starts right up without a problem.
i've been told that an engine with low milage such as this, barely 40 km, may still be needing breaking in.
of course the catch 22 is, i cant ride it to break it in if its not starting..
i've read some advise online to use a drop of starter fluid or even a dorp of gasoline on the tip of the spark plug, but then i also read a lot of 'no-no' comments about this elsewhere.
anyone have any insight
any orthodox to unorthodox ideas are highly appreciated.
a couple of months ago i had my dust collecting, rust growing bike cleaned out and reinspected.
it got a brand new battery, spark plug, fuel filter, and had its carburetor and air filters cleaned.
off the back i had some issue with it when it would only start on a full battery, and only if i didn't use the choke at all.
the mechanic advised that i cover the air filter completely (??) to get better luck if it gives me trouble.
i brought it back to properly install a battery charged GPS on it, as well as try putting in a higher CCA battery,
and he found an air intake adjustment by the engine, and adjusted it (i'm guessing thats why CLOSING the airfilter seemed to work in the past).
also the idle had to be readjusted because somehow it was set so that when i moved the steering all the way right, the bike accelerated (!!).
with all this discovered and re-done i was able to ride fine for a while with the warm temps around.
now that its cold again, on a full charge, without bothering the choke, the engine will start and run for 1-2 seconds and die.
If i try to start again, the electric motor is squealing, and the exhaust is puffing, but only while i keep my thumb on the starter.
I think the puffing is only happening because of the compression by the electric starter, and no ignition is actually taking place (correct me if i'm wrong)
opening the choke does not help at all. neither does opening the throttle while starting.
all this while in warm sunny weather the bike starts right up without a problem.
i've been told that an engine with low milage such as this, barely 40 km, may still be needing breaking in.
of course the catch 22 is, i cant ride it to break it in if its not starting..
i've read some advise online to use a drop of starter fluid or even a dorp of gasoline on the tip of the spark plug, but then i also read a lot of 'no-no' comments about this elsewhere.
anyone have any insight
any orthodox to unorthodox ideas are highly appreciated.