Topic: How many kicks to start on a cold morning?

[dusterdude]

damn,i reckon i would piss you off knowing that my panhead starts on no more than 3 at anytime.

[TwoTired]

A stock 550 that ran yesterday starts on kick 1 to 3 tops, full choke.  Then immediately drive off warming the motor, before any serious RPM is tried, with the choke at about 2/3 to 3/4.  As you ride, bump the choke off in increments until it doesn't need it anymore and idles without a hand on the throttle.
The longer they sit the harder they start.  After two weeks you can kick 20 times before it burbles to life one cylinder at a time.  (I think it's precipitates stuck to the slow jet orifices.) But, if you give it 15-20 minutes of run time, it'll start tomorrow in 1-3 kicks.

The 550 has D7EA plugs which are hotter than the cold bastard D8EA found in other SOHC4s.

Clean plugs are important.  Sooty ones siphon off spark energy needed to start combustion when cold.  Also, cold batteries make less voltage (it's a chemical activity thing).  Leaky points condensers make the spark worse.  Higher resistance spark plugs boots make things worse.

Cheers,

[kghost]

How many Kicks? ALL OF THEM

Seriously tho...I think Lloyds on to something bout the slow jets....sits and its a mother. Start them every other day and its 1 - 3

[Skonnie Boy]

In the manual, it suggests priming the bike on cold mornings with full choke and wide open throttle for 2 or 3 kicks before turning on the key and attempting to start it.

Goddamn, worked like a charm.  Started on the first kick.  What would I do without youse guys?

I knew there had to be a trick.  I got clean D8EA plugs and Dyna S ignition, never go more than 2 days without riding, so I knew it wasn't any of those things.  I'm still gonna put the old 115 jets on and resynch the carbs for more power and mid-range torque.  Fuel economy be damned - I'm unemployed and need something to look forward to each day.

[Hope]

Have you considered asking the girl friend or wife to do the 1st 10-12 kicks?

That's just wrong.

[dustyc]

Have you considered asking the girl friend or wife to do the 1st 10-12 kicks?

That's just wrong.

Yeah.  Should be more like: "Baby, let me know when she's warmed up."

[Jakoba]

Got my 78 750K at work today, 5 Celsius this morning when I left and it started on the 1st kick...always has (Owner of this bike for 1 year). 

For what it's worth ....when she's warm I can start her by pushing the kickstart with my hand!!!   .....Yes I'm still talking about the bike 

Cheers   

[NH_CB550F]

I had a similar experience with my 550 requiring like 25 kicks until I got a new battery. The cooler temps, reduces the amperage and hence the term "Cold Cranking Amps". So my weak battery was even weaker with the cold weather. Now with the new battery there's plenty of current flowing to the coils and plugs she starts after a few kicks like 2 as long as I do the throttle trick and fill the carbs with fuel.

I love my Bike !!
 

[speedy gonzalais]

I know its not a kickstart but my 650 fires up first touch of the button on icy mornings with full choke im sure if it had a kick start it would be 1st or 2nd kick, The c70 goes ont the 2nd 3rd usualy and the cb125 used to go on the first but wont kick at all now days.

[Honda_Nut]

The farther your spark timing is advanced, the harder it is to start. If your bike starts super easy, you can probably gain some hp by advancing your timing a little.

[speedy gonzalais]

the 650 ive got has a auto advance system i think

[Hope]

Have you considered asking the girl friend or wife to do the 1st 10-12 kicks?

That's just wrong.

Yeah.  Should be more like: "Baby, let me know when she's warmed up."

Alright guys,

If the problem is a battery, I suggest you buy a battery for your bike instead of having your girl or wife kick the damned thing 20 times to start the engine...

Otherwise, the next time she needs to get her engine running, she's going to rely her batteries instead of YOU.




Life is full of trade-offs. 

I'd rather be kicking a bike off in the freezing cold than in the gets-none-category!!!

[jason teamshralp]

what floor do you live on? just bring your bike inside your apartment at night.