Wassup with it?

My SV is running really really bdly in the cold, but only when first started, is this carb icing? I've only ever ben throuh one winter with a bike, the Runner Purejet and that had F.I. s I don't know what symptoms I'm looking for. It won't idle without at least half choke on, even when it should be warm, and misses a lot when it does and also with slight throttle while going. This happens for about 5 miles, during which if I stop at traffic light and it dips below 1.5krpm it dies. Most inconvenient! After wards it clears up, and if I leave it for a bit, say, goign into a shop for 10 minutes, when I come back it runs sweet as. So, is this carb icing? Cheers, Matt

Originally Posted by Saint Matt

My SV is running really really bdly in the cold, but only when first started, is this carb icing? I've only ever ben throuh one winter with a bike, the Runner Purejet and that had F.I. s I don't know what symptoms I'm looking for. It won't idle without at least half choke on, even when it should be warm, and misses a lot when it does and also with slight throttle while going. This happens for about 5 miles, during which if I stop at traffic light and it dips below 1.5krpm it dies. Most inconvenient! After wards it clears up, and if I leave it for a bit, say, goign into a shop for 10 minutes, when I come back it runs sweet as. So, is this carb icing? Cheers, Matt

Sounds like carb icing to me..

Cheers, I read through the other topic but I couldnt see any symptoms, just reasons why it happens and what I can do to cure it. Thanks mate

Symptoms of carb icing.

• Lack of power
  "spluttering"
  Backfiring
  Dying when idling
  Dying when applying throttle from standstill

"Cures" include

• Relocating the carb heaters thermostat so it in the flow of air
  Silkolene Pro FST or Wynns Dry fuel
  Dont ride in Winter

These cant really be classed as cures as you may still suffer from carb icing. They help to alleviate the symptoms a little if they dont cure them completely. This also assumes the carb heaters work in the first place

Originally Posted by mysteryjimbo

Symptoms of carb icing.

• Lack of power
  "spluttering"
  Backfiring
  Dying when idling
  Dying when applying throttle from standstill

Check Check Check Check Check. Cheers guys, I'll nip and get some of that stuff later.

If its when you first start the bike its unlikely to be carb icing,
Carb icing is caused by the velocity of cold air passing through the carbs.
Most people when the bike starts to run rough due to icing rev up the engine this increases the air chill and therefore makes the symptoms worse.

If you stop the bike and the heat from the engine warms the carbs and melts the ice you then start the bike and its fine for a while then starts to run badly when you ride it that would be carb icing.

Can I suggest that it is water in the carbs, caused by a warm engine getting cold and causing condensation

My bike has been suffering exceptionally bad of late. This morning my bike flatly refused to fire on the rear cylinder. I ended up taking the carbs out, giving them a flush through and all was fine after this. It did however make me two hours late for work and I still suffered carb icing troubles on the way home.

What is your idle set at normally?

Much below 1200, and these cold days will see the poor thing stalling at lights etc. but in summer mine will happily idle at 650 revs. Not that I leave it down there!