Topic: Hard to start with kicker,electric fine

[acollin]

My 1974 cb 750 is hard to kick star from cold. It is a stock set up. The electric start works fine. Kick starts one kick when warm.

It runs great. I'd like to have that cold kick start option back

Please advise--

Thanks
Andrew

[SONIC]

What are we talking here?
3 or 4 kicks or more in the 20 ballpark?

[acollin]

Plenty, I never counted but I usually tire --- push the button and head out.

[bjbuchanan]

Kinda weird rly. Just a thought tho, maybe your idle is a little low, which if set properly will be for a cold start and because of concentrating on kicking you aren't cracking the idle enough to get the bike to start?

If it needs just a crack of throttle to start and you are hammering away on the kicker without twisting (which is easy enough to do) it probably will take forever, if ever, to start

Easy to work the throttle pressing a little button tho

[mronegear]

some guy told me a routine which works fine when the bike is cold...

1 turn on fuel
2 kick twice with throttle full open, ignition off
3 turn ignition on
4 twist throttle just a little open
5 kick all the way down

really works fine with my cb 550 when cold, max 2 kicks!

[Vinhead1957]

Put choke on , twist throttle, turn key on kick and give throttle at same time. That extra gas should boost it to start

[acollin]

My idle is to spec and stable once warm.

I'll try your suggestions today and report back,but nothing suggested so far sounds all that unfamiliar.

I guess you are all saying more fuel and the proper time.

Thanks

[chewbacca5000]

I posted the same question and the answer can be found here http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=100190.0

Without cracking the throttle my bike won't start at all.  A little choke for a second helps too.

[bjbuchanan]

Not to thread hijack but I went to school up in Syracuse, how do you ever find the time to ride when it isn't pouring out? Or do you always have the wetsuit strapped on.

I was up there 2 yrs ago for the crazy winter, whole campus shut down

[goldarrow]

gotta love the kicker, once you're tired of using right leg, put on center stand and use left leg.  great excercise. 

[SONIC]

gotta love the kicker, once you're tired of using right leg, put on center stand and use left leg.  great excercise. 

Nah when your right leg gets tired you just turn around backwards in the seat.
Everyone knows that sheesh

[goldarrow]

you just turn around backwards.
Everyone knows that sheesh

how does everyone know my secret move that i do with my lady??? 

[chewbacca5000]

Not to thread hijack but I went to school up in Syracuse, how do you ever find the time to ride when it isn't pouring out? Or do you always have the wetsuit strapped on.

I was up there 2 yrs ago for the crazy winter, whole campus shut down

Yeah that is exactly what we do.  And come winter we tie a ski to the front wheel and off we go.  If you think Syracuse is bad try an Oswego winter that is where I went to school.

[Reganator]

+1 on all the crack throttle responses.

My idle is set just above 1k and if I just kick it takes forever to start.  So, what I started doing is kicking it once, then turning the key on, choke, crack throttle maybe 1/8, just a couple degrees of rotation down, then kick again.  Starts every time, even when stone cold.

[crazypj]

I used to start them by hand after service to show owners how easy 750 starts.
Main issue was always attempting to 'slap' start like a 125 MX bike, or, having a 'wire' between knee and elbow, every time kickstart goes down, throttle gets opened too far and floods motor

[bollingball]

some guy told me a routine which works fine when the bike is cold...

1 turn on fuel
2 kick twice with throttle full open, ignition off
3 turn ignition on
4 twist throttle just a little open
5 kick all the way down

really works fine with my cb 550 when cold, max 2 kicks!

Sounds more like four.

[acollin]

All is well---thanks

It seems as if I was not cracking the throttle. My technique could use some work but I'm in the ball park and there is light at the end of the tunnel (no train).Had to travel yesterday, but had some time in the morning and it started pretty easy.

ONE CAUTION: WITHOUT THE PROPER CARE, KICK STARTING IS A GOOD WAY TO CRACK THAT LEFT SIDE COVER!!!!

In response to another line in this thread, I do mount a ski rack to my cb 750 and if I can figure out how to post a picture I'll get it out there. I work on MT Hood in Oregon and we ski and board  12 months. Summer motorcycling and skiing in the same day.

Be well all
Andrew

[volthause]

Three twists of the idle knob (faster idle), choke on, usually kicks over the second or third time from cold.

[Reganator]

I used to start them by hand after service to show owners how easy 750 starts.
Main issue was always attempting to 'slap' start like a 125 MX bike, or, having a 'wire' between knee and elbow, every time kickstart goes down, throttle gets opened too far and floods motor

I did that once and my 750 kicked back a little.  Hurt like a B*$#@!  Good luck on that one though, I won't do it with my hand anymore. 

Three twists of the idle knob (faster idle), choke on, usually kicks over the second or third time from cold.

Isn't this effectively the same thing as cracking the throttle though?  Just thought I'd point that out.  I don't know about you, but my idle screw is hard as the dickens to turn so I take the Ronco approach:  Set it and forget it.

[iron_worker]

It is exactly the same thing but with his way you can get exactly the same amount of throttle each time and you're not trying to hold the throttle still while kicking the bike. I think it's clever.

IW

[Reganator]

I suppose.  Then you have to mess with that idle screw constantly though.  Mine is simply to difficult to get turning.

[bollingball]

It is exactly the same thing but with his way you can get exactly the same amount of throttle each time and you're not trying to hold the throttle still while kicking the bike. I think it's clever.

IW

This may be the reason Honda used the fast idle cam in 78 750 and other years too. You pull the choke full on and it sets the idle to about 2600 gives it a little gas All automatic when it starts to warm up you just start opening the choke. No matter what system you have When it runs about 30 -45 seconds just start going and shut the choke off asap.
Both of you have a good ideas what ever works for you is cool.
Ken

Ken

[chewbacca5000]

It is exactly the same thing but with his way you can get exactly the same amount of throttle each time and you're not trying to hold the throttle still while kicking the bike. I think it's clever.

IW

The only problem IW is playing with that screw just does not look cool in front of the ladys or the Harley pack.  I am getting the whole Fonzie Zen thing down and am happy to say becoming a "one kick wonder" Aaaaaaa

[Reganator]

I don't worry about what they Harley guys think myself.  When they do give me a hard time I say, "Ok, go get a 1972 Harley Davidson anything, or any Harley of any year 72 or lower and then we'll compare notes."

[Vinhead1957]

Hey wait a minute! I'm a Harley guy!


Was a Honda guy in the 70's 80's gave up the need for speed when I had kids.    Fast Forward 20 years.   
Hey I wanna get back into biking. Buy my dream machine. 05 Fatty. Fits my style. 30 to 50 coastline vista. Still going!
2012 need a winter project.  73 750 comes up.  My wife calls it a POS.   what do you want that POS for. I
Think she is blind. I prove her wrong!  The 750 is a part of history. Honda is part of History! The joy is bringing it back to where it was!

I'll ride my Fatty as I always do!   I'll ride the Honda differently, no as fast, not as foolish. I am a motorcyclist!

By the way comparing quality in engines or manufacturing.  I find the Harley's easier to work on! The complexity of more cylinders adds to the riddle.  I like the challenge of solving riddles.   

[dusterdude]

I don't worry about what they Harley guys think myself.  When they do give me a hard time I say, "Ok, go get a 1972 Harley Davidson anything, or any Harley of any year 72 or lower and then we'll compare notes."

what notes do you want to compare,we can compare notes on my 49 pan if you want

[Reganator]

Ok Harley guys ok, I'll back off.

But to clarify, I can sum it up like this:  My original comment had to do with reliability, nothing more.  While I'm not a harley guy myself, I know a few and any Harley guy who is being honest will generally admit that Harleys of a certain year don't exactly tend to be the most reliable machines on the road.

Aside from that, I just think Harleys are a bit overpriced for what they offer.  I needed an inner tube a couple weeks ago.  Cost me 12 bucks at a service shop here in town.  The Harley dealership wanted 27 for the same tube.  I'm glad I waited a day. 

Aesthetically, I'm not that into the sound of their timing or cruiser style bikes in general, so they just don't quite match up with my tastes.

And finally, and I know I can't be the only one who has experienced this, when I'm out on my bike everyone waves... except guys on Harleys.  I always make it a point to wave at them anyway, but if you're going to exclude yourself I say prepare to be evaluated and excluded.

There, I said my peace.  That's all I think on the Harley subject and I've nothing more to say.  Maybe I'll get one some day, but for now things that are a little faster and more performance oriented grab my attention. 

[Vinhead1957]

Harley had its years of poor production methods and quality that opened the door for metric market.  I like the competition. In the end the consumer wins.  If you compare levers to levers brakes to brakes. Japanese bikes were built on a minimalist viewpoint. Minimal wiring gauge, minimal materials. Harley is a Cadillac. Levers are almost twice the size of honda.  Engine covers are meaty. When it comes down to it, the cost of the Harley vs Honda is getting closer. They both are fun to ride. Ride what you want,look for best in both.
That wave thing! Don't take it personal.  Happens on either rider. I wave and its like, Hey isn't great to be out riding. I start with a two finger salute, and if you don't wave back the salute reduces to one finger. I don't have time for people riding their egos.

[mronegear]

some guy told me a routine which works fine when the bike is cold...

1 turn on fuel
2 kick twice with throttle full open, ignition off
3 turn ignition on
4 twist throttle just a little open
5 kick all the way down

really works fine with my cb 550 when cold, max 2 kicks!

Sounds more like four.

damn, now you know that i must have been kicked out of school early