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

[Skonnie Boy]

So, on average, how many kicks to start your bike on a cold morning?  Here in Chicago, we've had overnight lows in the 50's and 40's.  Owing to a gimpy electric start, I'm finding it takes 15-25 kicks to start my bike in the morning.  My bike is unfortunately stored outside with a cover, owing to a lack of garage.

Without getting into side issues of carb tuning, electrics, etc. (my bike runs quite well once warmed up, thanks) is this in the range of normal?  Haven't had much experience with the bike up north.  Just curious what's in the normal range as far as cold starts go.

[seaweb11]

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

Explain that you need to get to work / school in a good frame of mind and that this would really help you out



Seriously though..........

    My K8 starts in the 1st couple of seconds with the elect in the winter, my wife is lazy so what am I to do?
sorry, I'm in a  mood tonight

[fuzzybutt]

before i tore into the motor this last time, it took 2 or 3 kicks max on a 40 degree morning. just takes a long time to warm up and come off the choke when it gets that cold. lucky it's only like that for a month or so.

[Skonnie Boy]

Seems like a bad start to a romantic ride, making a woman kick your bike for you.  But you have a wife, seaweb, so who am I to argue with your methodology?

My poor Texas bike is having a hard time adjusting to the midwest.  Had 115 jets on, went down to 110 jets on the last carb rebuild.  But it could be anything, I suppose. 

Still, I'm all ears if there's a simple fix/adjustment for this.  Being a Wisconsinite by birth, I have no problem riding in the cold, assuming I can start the damn bike to begin with. 

[78 k550]

I would say that is a little much. I would run my 550 through winter here and never kicked it more than a couple times. they all have there little trick's. Try choking it, kicking it 2 times with the stop/run switch in the off position build up a little fuel. Turn run switch on, kick and maybe fire right up. You should find what it like's.
Have you checked for vacuum leak's?

Paul

[754]

Should not take more than a few in reasonable tune.

Plugs are critical, if they are bad, they wont get better, and these bikes are sesitive to crappy plugs..

When you said cold I thought you meant a bit colder ..50 should be fairly easy.. 40 and under gets harder.. if it stays under 40 and is in the 20,s and 30,s try a lighter weight oil.

[Skonnie Boy]

I'll try that.  The kill switch in the off position, that is.  Anything to avoid the usual passersby comments like, "sounds like its flooded".

Damndest thing, really.  All the pipes run at the same temp after a few minutes, so I doubt its an ignition issue or carb tuning issue (just tuned them, actually).  Just a cold blooded bike, much like I've heard from others.

[Skonnie Boy]

Should not take more than a few in reasonable tune.

Plugs are critical, if they are bad, they wont get better, and these bikes are sesitive to crappy plugs..

When you said cold I thought you meant a bit colder ..50 should be fairly easy.. 40 and under gets harder.. if it stays under 40 and is in the 20,s and 30,s try a lighter weight oil.

Might actually try cooler plugs, hadn't occurred to me till you mentioned it.  Thanks.  As for oil, I switched from 20W-50 to 10W-40 upon arrival here in IL.  Not sure I should go much lower than that. 

I always say this, but I swear it has something to with the engine being bored out.  I think the PO put an 836 kit in (its a 750K6 engine), and its always run rather hot and had problems starting.  Just have this feeling about it, you know?

[Hush]

Note from the CB650 guys: just be grateful you have a kicker!
We don't.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Wife or girfriend doing the first 10-12 kicks? Are you high?    Seriously, 40 degrees equals about 3-4 kicks.  You might be lean on the idle circuit.  Have you considered fixing your electric starter?

[andy750]

Too many kicks for sure (and thats just seaweb  ). I live in Boston, MA and this morning the bike (CB750K4) started in 38F after the 2nd kick - but then I am running rich...minimal choke was used. This also applies to my K2. As others have said get a new set of plugs, make sure your spark plug caps are good and go easy on the choke. I have mine up for ~5 secs. My bikes (both of them) are not cold-blooded - thats a myth for the earlier bikes with regular carbs-  my apply to the later carb models but I have never found it for the early K bikes.


cheers
Andy
 

[eldar]

In ok tune, 2 -3 kicks when it is like 30 out. How warm does it get during the day? If not too warm, maybe try a d7 plug. Might help a little bit. As for cold blooded, it warms very fast with the dyna-s.

[cafe750]

If its ass-numbingly cold, no more than three kicks. When it's warm out, one.

[UnCrash]

38 degrees for me here in Portland Maine and my 750 started on the first kick with full choke and a quarter turn of the carb screw.

[PJ]

I'll try it this morning, I did leave it out last night I would think that at 40* your battery should have enough juice to crank the electric after just one night. I know mine will. If the battery is questionable, have it checked! The best way to kill a charging system is by trying to charge a constantly dead battery, Make sure the system IS charging to begin with, it may not be charging much at all, Your slow electric start may be an indication of a greater problem. Low voltage may be the reason it takes so many kicks in the first place. Good luck!
peace
PJ

[Honda_Nut]

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.

[Skonnie Boy]

Fix the electric start?  What fun would that be?  Seriously, the battery and starting unit are fine, it just grinds the gear so that's the winter project.  Not something I want to waste precious riding time on now.  Colder plugs would be a good, cheap place to start.  Or would hotter plugs work better?  Time for me to hit the FAQ section.

[speedy gonzalais]

So, on average, how many kicks to start your bike on a cold morning?  Here in Chicago, we've had overnight lows in the 50's and 40's.  Owing to a gimpy electric start, I'm finding it takes 15-25 kicks to start my bike in the morning.  My bike is unfortunately stored outside with a cover, owing to a lack of garage.

Without getting into side issues of carb tuning, electrics, etc. (my bike runs quite well once warmed up, thanks) is this in the range of normal?  Haven't had much experience with the bike up north.  Just curious what's in the normal range as far as cold starts go.

Any more than 5 and there must be a problem some where.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

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.

That was the secret to my kick only shovelhead.  Anything more or less and it would whack my calf with all 1300cc's and literally bring me to my knees.  I love Honda's.

[kach_me]

1 kick here (maybe two) with full choke and heavy throttle.  This will be my first winter with a working elec. start, so I'll be curious as to how that will work. 

I have more trouble with the elec. start on short jumps (running errands) than I ever have with the kick.  Don't know why...

[Kev Nemo]

Your bike wants to come back to Austin! Just send it here when it gets to cold/snowy there and I'll babysit her...

[Skonnie Boy]

Your bike wants to come back to Austin! Just send it here when it gets to cold/snowy there and I'll babysit her...

Ahahahaah.  Don't you have your hands full as it is with your SS?  You don't want my bike in your garage.  Any gasket within a 20 foot radius of it starts leaking.  Serious.

Open throttle and choke before ignition, Check.  Maybe I'll leave it in gear for an extra quick getaway.  Could be a real timesaver in the morning.

 

[Operator]

Full choke for the first kick and it goes on the second or third. Until I changed out my plugs I was kicking it 8-10(possibly 12-14) times at least before it would go (running roughly) and eventually it only ran on three cylinders. Changed out the plugs using D8EA's....it's cool here in Canada 10C 50F and most of my trips are short hops to work, and it is running smooooooth! It's like brand new all over again. Never questioned or realized how much effect crappy plugs could have.

Good Luck!!!!

[DavePhipps]

Just wanted to ad my 2 cents. On my previous CB550 it took 3-5 kicks at  13-28 degrees Farenheit with full choke. I  switched to lighter wieght oil for the winter 5w30 I  think. Also I changed the plugs at the begining of winter.

[andy750]

1 kick here (maybe two) with full choke and heavy throttle.  This will be my first winter with a working elec. start, so I'll be curious as to how that will work. 

I have more trouble with the elec. start on short jumps (running errands) than I ever have with the kick.  Don't know why...

Sounds like a battery issue...when battery is low its harder to start (with electric)...happened to me...battery was near dead and would not start with electric but could kick it ok...just couldnt run home with lights on  ....I got a new Gel battery and bike runs amazing....

good luck
Andy