why doesn't my sv like the cold?

[aermacchi]

Been using my sv ( curvy)for a daily commute without any problems in the recent "mild" weather. Today it's somewhat colder, bike is reluctant to start, try a bit more choke which makes it even more reluctant to run, after a few minutes of warming up without choke on, it stutters and feels like its misfiring, whats wrong with the **** thing now?

[Alpinestarhero]

have you checked carb balencing?

and also, how long do you commute for? If the engine dosnt get up to tempurature properly, then condensation can remain in the engine, making it hard to start next time.

Try some fuel additive, or flush through with V-power. I found my bike to run better with expensive fuel in the winter, especially when the engine is still cold

Matt

[aermacchi]

Just tried it at lunchtime, seems to start ok. Maybe it thinks it's a Ducati and should exhibit a bit of latin temperament

[Lucas]

if you have been riding in the heavy rain over the last few days, it is possible that:

1 - water/moisture got into the front spark plug and shorting it.

2 - pour some water over your tank, then open the fuel cap and check the edge to see if there is a small pool of water, if so you may water in the fuel, caused by a blocked drain pipe.

both common causes for misfireing, it happened to me :-?...

[aermacchi]

heavy rain? where? for once we havent had any rain in Scotland

[Lucas]

heavy rain? where? for once we havent had any rain in Scotland

or washed your bike ;)

[aermacchi]

cheek! spent hours cleaning the chain, back wheel, swinging arm now its all covered in chain oil!

[chris8886]

cheek! spent hours cleaning the chain, back wheel, swinging arm now its all covered in chain oil!

only one solution to that!! and it's the jambo solution.............................. don't wash it!! lol :smt065

[northwind]

It was pretty damp this morning... But not exactly freezing cold. You should only need a really small amount of choke to start on days like this, and not for very long either. Any chance you were using too much do you think? I used to do that all the time

[jambo]

only one solution to that!! and it's the jambo solution.............................. don't wash it!! lol :smt065
I would like to point out that my bike was cleaned in April. This might have been due to how it looked in the photos from Silverstone in March, but hey;)

[Alpinestarhero]

It was pretty damp this morning... But not exactly freezing cold. You should only need a really small amount of choke to start on days like this, and not for very long either. Any chance you were using too much do you think? I used to do that all the time

theres a point; i've noticed when the air is damp (and this goes for foggy), my bike has a hard time starting...

[Lucas]

theres a point; i've noticed when the air is damp (and this goes for foggy), my bike has a hard time starting...

That will be carb icing, yep, it can happen to bikes fitted with Carburetors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carburetor_icing

Silkolene Pro FTS (fuel treatment system) or similar will sort it :thumright:

[Dangerous Dave]

It was pretty damp this morning... But not exactly freezing cold. You should only need a really small amount of choke to start on days like this, and not for very long either. Any chance you were using too much do you think? I used to do that all the time
+1, this sounds like the problem! Carb icicng doesn't effect the starting of the engine it only happens when the engine is run for a brief time in cold conditions, for this I recommend a small measure (less than stated on the bottle) of Silkolene PRO FST. I keep a Panda pop bottle of it under the rear seat in winter and I have never had a carb icing problem with the SV since way before 2000!

[northwind]

Yep, carb icing can't affect starting at all (it's caused by the pressure drop in the carbs, which lowers the air temperature, so no engine, no carb icing)

[sv-robo]

Manual choke & carbs icing?....and some people still insist curveys are better=;.

[northwind]

Yes, I'm sure all that extra wear and tear on my thumb from the tortuous task of working the choke lever will put me in an early grave :D Carb icing's a pain but easily sorted, and not as common as people think (it only happens when the temperature and conditions are just right- it has to be cold and wet, when it gets really cold the humidity drops too far for carb icing. Freezing fog is the only time Pro FST can't sort it, and frankly if you're riding in freezing fog you've got bigger worries than carb icing!)

OTOH, you can't buy anything in a bottle that will make the pointy frame look nice :cool:

[St0rmer66]

I had the same problem in February sort of time I think it was. When it was cold (not feezing) and very damp. I was on a tank of petrol from an outback Total garage which had probably been sitting in their pumps for a while. I filled up on BP unleaded (not the Super stuff) and it cured it. So I'm guessing it was carb icing and an additive in the BP fuel helped sort it..

[Lucas]

OTOH, you can't buy anything in a bottle that will make the pointy frame look nice :cool:

:smt043

[northwind]

Carb icing can't cause starting problems btw. Carb icing's caused by the change of air speed in the carbs, which causes a rapid pressure drop and accordingly fuel drop. In other words, it can only happen once the engine's going ;)

[aermacchi]

It was pretty damp this morning... But not exactly freezing cold. You should only need a really small amount of choke to start on days like this, and not for very long either. Any chance you were using too much do you think? I used to do that all the time

It was pretty cold in my part of town! I use as little choke as possible, too much and it justs fluffs and stalls. I'm much more used to starting a high comp single- couple of kicks with choke on, no ignition, choke off ,start and then give it as much choke as it needs none of this electric start malarkey just bruised calfs!

[simonthepost]

OTOH, you can't buy anything in a bottle that will make the pointy frame look nice :cool::smt084

[Dangerous Dave]

OTOH, you can't buy anything in a bottle that will make the pointy frame look nice :cool:
So true!!!!! :smt045 :smt045 :smt045 :smt045 :smt045

Only an idiot would buy a fuel injected bike and say carb icing was part of the decision!

[sv_rider1990]

So true!!!!! :smt045 :smt045 :smt045 :smt045 :smt045

Only an idiot would buy a fuel injected bike and say carb icing was part of the decision!

Aahh you could buy some really strong acid or something and melt all them horrible points and turn it into a curvey :D!

[yorkie_chris]

OTOH, you can't buy anything in a bottle that will make the pointy frame look nice :cool:

http://www.kh-security.com/pics/normal/01102.jpg

hehe

[Lucas]

OTOH, you can't buy anything in a bottle that will make the pointy frame look nice :cool:

or

http://img.redwolfairsoft.com/upload/product/img/G-07-045-L.jpg

:smt043