Cold starting with a little encouragement?

Hi i've had my SV650s for about 4 weeks now. However for the second time in 3 days it has been reluctant to start in what i would concider ok conditions (dry and mild weather). On both occasions the bike then stalled (missed a beat and stopped running) whilst slowly scooting out of the bike sheds where i park my bike at work.

I'm thinking that the stalling might be down to the reduced time i'm letting her warm up. Originally i'd let it idle until at least the tempreture gauge kicks in (20c+). But after reading the manual (like we all do before we start using the bike) it says just to ride off and be gentle until it has reached operating tempreture.

I'm letting the fuel pump charge fully before starting the bike so what could be happening? I've been able to start her with just the button up until now but am now needing to add a tiny bit of throttle to aid starting. I'm thinking that now it's had a few tanks of fuel through it (i use Shell regular unleaded) it might be running leaner or richer than what it did with whatever fuel was in it when i brought it. I think i'm right in thinking that the K3's were the first models with fuel injection so is this just a quirk with the early models or something else you guy's can spot?

Cheers

Chris

did you happen to think it might be an indication it's time for a tuneup, new plugs, clean the air filter, sync the throttle bodies etc.

[jambo]

The fuel type will not affect whether the bike is running rich or lean. When the bike is hot make sure the idle speed is around 1,400 - 1,600 rpm, if it's idling too low it will stall, this is adjusted with a screw on the left hand side of the frame by where your knee / shin would be if you were riding.

Originally Posted by RandyO

did you happen to think it might be an indication it's time for a tuneup, new plugs, clean the air filter, sync the throttle bodies etc.

It was sold by a full suzuki dealer as fully serviced so i can't see a tune up being nessecary.

Perhap the sawdust in the oil has lost its effect ....

I was wondering if this is a quirk as it has started fine up until now and the only tools the bike has seen is when i had new tyres put on it...

Originally Posted by jambo

The fuel type will not affect whether the bike is running rich or lean. When the bike is hot make sure the idle speed is around 1,400 - 1,600 rpm, if it's idling too low it will stall, this is adjusted with a screw on the left hand side of the frame by where your knee / shin would be if you were riding.

Again the bike has been running perfectly in the 3 weeks i've had it and has just 'skipped a beat' and then stalled shortly after riding off from a cold start. The bike then refuses to start unless i add 5 -10% throttle to encourage it to start again.

As has been said fiddle with the idle speed screw if its not running at the correct RPM.

Also how long for/often do you use it as if you are making short journeys/not trickle charging the battery it could make it reluctant to start...could make sense...over the 4 weeks the battery has been losing charge??? In which case optimate/oximiser.

Originally Posted by ASM-Forever

how long for/often do you use it as if you are making short journeys/not trickle charging the battery it could make it reluctant to start...could make sense...over the 4 weeks the battery has been losing charge??? In which case optimate/oximiser.

I think you have a good point here, i'll go and stick my battery charger on it...

Cheers

My 8month old ish K6 does exactly this. Sometimes she's sitting there on cold-start ECU waiting for the temp gauge (dealership told me in no uncertain terms NEVER ride before you see something on the temp gauge), usually within the first 10seconds or so of hitting the button, coughs & dies.

This doesn't always happen, in fact, it's probably somewhere in the region of 99% of the time it's perfectly fine.

Usually it happens, I drop the oil, change the filter, strip the bike down & put it back together, and she runs perfectly.

I think it's the throttle bodies being slightly out that causes it, but when i service it I check that every time anyway & adjust where needed.

Just her way of telling me that she needs some TLC IMO.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Baph

....waiting for the temp gauge (dealership told me in no uncertain terms NEVER ride before you see something on the temp gauge)

I'd argue that point to be honest. While you clearly want to avoid high loads and revs until the engine is warm, when you pull away the engine is under some load and oil supply to the cam shafts and other items actually improves according to the nice people at casterol. They claimed a while back that engines left to idle for extended periods from cold saw greater wear in cam shafts and other areas.

I always start up, leave for a few seconds until it's warm enough to run without choke, and then pull away gently and build revs over a mile or 2.

Originally Posted by Baph

This doesn't always happen, in fact, it's probably somewhere in the region of 99% of the time it's perfectly fine.

Usually it happens, I drop the oil, change the filter, strip the bike down & put it back together, and she runs perfectly.

I think it's the throttle bodies being slightly out that causes it, but when i service it I check that every time anyway & adjust where needed.

Nice to know it isn't just mine that does it. It hasn't done it again since so your 99% theory might be right. I haven't had a fuel injected bike before, so
have never worked on throttle bodies but am good with my tools, is it pretty simple job to do then?