Topic: Thoughts on a cold start? What's your method?

[gregripko]

When I cold start I engage choke, turn throttle screw 3-4 times, hold the throttle cracked, and start her up...I then disengage choke and turn throttle screw back to 1100 rpm once warmed up (cb550)... What's your method?

[Honda550k]

Basically like yours but without cracking the throttle. Mine usually starts in one kick. Unless it's been sitting for a week or so. This in a 78 550.

[bjbuchanan]

When I cold start I engage choke, turn throttle screw 3-4 times, hold the throttle cracked, and start her up...I then disengage choke and turn throttle screw back to 1100 rpm once warmed up (cb550)... What's your method?

I would get used to just nursing the throttle/working the choke, stop fiddling with your knob you will go blind. And stall at stop lights too

[Stev-o]

What year is your 550, Greg?  My '76 won't start if given any throttle til it starts (my K4 too).

Petcock on, full choke and crank it till she fires, then reduce choke and hold fast idle two mins till warm.

I don't play that "adjust the idle" game, I keep idle slightly higher though. 

[gregripko]

I actually don't play with my knob...... I wait till it warms up, set it and forget it 1976 Cb550K

[Carver]

on my 750 it's full choke open the throttle a bit, kick, let off the throttle  but still give it a tiny bit, lower the choke a bit and let it warm up on about 3/4ths choke

[gregripko]

Not sure if my bike would allow that method without stalling... It seems to require a few throttle screw turns but once it's warmed up and return the idle to 1,100 it requires no more play with choke or throttle screw... I honestly just use the screw to relieve having to hold the throttle to keep engine alive on startup

[Patrick]

When my 750s are running really well, I pull the choke open full and hit the starter button - no throttle. I lower the choke as the bike starts to idle without it. When my carbs need a little adjustment, my bike needs a bit of throttle to start.

When you give the cold engine a little throttle you do two things: you are drawing more air and you are letting the engine get gas from the main jets instead of the slow jets. I'm thinking your slow jets are a little dirty or your air screws are not adjusted well. That, however, is a non-seeing, no hands on, haven't read the plugs kind of seat of the pants shot in the dark guess.....

Patrick

[Stev-o]

And Greg's bike has a MotoGP exhaust......that I want!

[gregripko]

Steve-o not sure if I'm stirring up a can of worms with this but Steve Carpy was quoted saying

"He doesn't make any of his pipes at all, he has them made by a company called Power Pro's in Anaheim, he has never made any pipes himself at all, they make all his exhaust systems , just phone them and ask."

In reference to the guy who makes the pipes under motogpwerks... I looked up power pro racing exhaust and it in fact exists as a company... I have yet to call to verify this claim but I'm a little curious if motogpwerks outsources the pipes manufacturing to this company...

[TwoTired]

I set the idle screw for proper idle RPM after warm up and then leave it there.
I also don't believe in a stationary idle period.  None of my 550's have ever needed that.  Suit up for ride, gas and choke on full, about 1/8 throttle and start.  Adjust twist grip for about 2000 RPM and the choke gets positioned where I can drive off without the engine stumbling under power.  Since I drive with my hand on the throttle all the time, I can keep the engine operating no problem.  While driving, I can reach down as needed to bump the choke toward off as the needed to allow higher RPMs while driving.  The engine warms up much faster when it makes motive power.  So it takes about 2 stop lights or about about 1-2 miles when the choke can be fully off and the idle knob setting is right where it should be.  Kinda depends on just how cold it is outside.

The 77 and 78 550Ks are even easier with their choke knob.  Just pull the knob out all the way and start it.  Push in enough to keep it from racing too high and drive off with it positioned where the engine doesn't stumble when power is needed.  The idle is coupled to the choke position, with a "fast idle" cam.  It took some reiterative tweaks to the fast idle screw to get the choke and idle bump speed to allow easy cold driving.  But, once properly coordinated, cold driving is no big deal and you won't have to worry about holding the twist grip for extra RPM, not that it's really and great hardship.

That typifies how the stock bike configuration works.  Of course, customization mods can aberrate normal behavior.

[Carver]

When my 750s are running really well, I pull the choke open full and hit the starter button - no throttle. I lower the choke as the bike starts to idle without it. When my carbs need a little adjustment, my bike needs a bit of throttle to start.

When you give the cold engine a little throttle you do two things: you are drawing more air and you are letting the engine get gas from the main jets instead of the slow jets. I'm thinking your slow jets are a little dirty or your air screws are not adjusted well. That, however, is a non-seeing, no hands on, haven't read the plugs kind of seat of the pants shot in the dark guess.....

Patrick

Possibly. I haven't seen the inside of the carbs yet. just got them off. The PO also put pods on them for take that for what its worth.

[Carver]

Steve-o not sure if I'm stirring up a can of worms with this but Steve Carpy was quoted saying

"He doesn't make any of his pipes at all, he has them made by a company called Power Pro's in Anaheim, he has never made any pipes himself at all, they make all his exhaust systems , just phone them and ask."

In reference to the guy who makes the pipes under motogpwerks... I looked up power pro racing exhaust and it in fact exists as a company... I have yet to call to verify this claim but I'm a little curious if motogpwerks outsources the pipes manufacturing to this company...

Carpy doesn't make his own either I don't think. You can buy the exact exhaust he is selling for a lot cheaper if you buy it direct from the guy who does make it for him

[Stev-o]

No worms here, that was known. Heard they may have bought the tooling and will be making them in house. 

Carpy doesn't make his either.....

[gregripko]

Yes and most stuff can be found fortunately on eBay for way cheaper (lights, gloves, etc) just have to search but it's the same exact product even though I happen to love the biz that dime city and carpy are in....cool guy

[Jay Ace]

Isn't that what most places do? Buy components from different places and resell them. Especially exhaust systems. Obviously there are places that make their own but not majority.

Anyway, couple of small turns of idle screw, full choke, throttle crack, choke off and slowly turn down idle screw after few seconds then check it at the next stop light.

[gregripko]

People shouldn't claim that they manufacture the exhausts if they don't... Just my opinion... It's kind of an artform/elevated skill to weld the pipes... The first time I read about this outsourcing I felt pretty ripped off because these guys were claiming it their own work and probably charging a hell of a lot more... It's just always best to go straight to the source... Those are the guys that deserve the handshake