Cold starting problem. carb heaters?

[Mark_h]

My bike lives under a car port benieth a rain cover. when it's started from cold on a cold day it'll start, run for 5ish seconds then die. I guess it's flooded as it's then a bugger to restart. Once it's started the second time it's good as gold.

Tried all choke positions. Various throttle settings, closed, quarter, feathering, random, seems to do the same thing.

Starts, runs up to about 2.5 - 3k then expires.

To restart have to crank for ages with the throttle set the the point where it seems to be trying to fire the best. Then keep starter going for a couple of seconds after it catches then off it goes.

Used to be much worse before I switched to super unleaded and got an opti-mate (battery was not always strong enough to get it going the second time)

Just had it serviced so new plugs etc, but still more or less the same.

Didn't know if it could be something to do with the carb heaters. Do they come on with the ignition? Worth leaving it with the ignition on for a cople of mins before turning it over?

Anyone got any ideas?

It's a 2001 Curvey with c20k miles on it. Runs and goes fine once it's started.

Cheers,
Mark

[Biker Biggles]

It won't be the carb heaters as they are there just to prevent icing and are not very effective anyway.My curvy behaves similarly to what you describe,but not so badly.It will start and run for a few seconds,then die if I don't keep the revs up.After about 30 seconds it is fine and fully rideable.I always assumed it was just the carbs sorting out their fuel levels after standing,but as long as it runs ok after I don't suppose there's too much to worry about.

[fizzwheel]

Carb heaters come on with the ignition, but IIRC the general opinion of those in the know, ( i.e not me ) is that they are next to useless anyway. I dont think your problem is that your carbs are to cold. I think your problem is more likely being caused by poor fueling / carb setup.

How does the choke lever feel to move ? Does it move freely or is it stiff / difficult to move.

Could be your choke plungers are stuck on the carb's as this is quite a common problem. Could also be something else not right with your carbs. So thats probably where I would start looking.

The other thing you could try is start the bike wait for it stall / die. Then pop the plug out and have a look at it, see what colour is it, is it wet, does the bike stink of petrol etc etc.

I have the same year bike, and I had the same problem when I first bought it (though 5mths old, was still under warranty). Suzuki upgraded the carb heater, and there has been no problem since...

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Carb heaters come on with the ignition, but IIRC the general opinion of those in the know, ( i.e not me ) is that they are next to useless anyway. I dont think your problem is that your carbs are to cold. I think your problem is more likely being caused by poor fueling / carb setup.

How does the choke lever feel to move ? Does it move freely or is it stiff / difficult to move.

Could be your choke plungers are stuck on the carb's as this is quite a common problem. Could also be something else not right with your carbs. So thats probably where I would start looking.

The other thing you could try is start the bike wait for it stall / die. Then pop the plug out and have a look at it, see what colour is it, is it wet, does the bike stink of petrol etc etc.

could you dive a bit deeper about thism ive got a 2004pointy i took it out the other day it was raining i had to leve it uncoverd at work, so i go to go home starts fine then cuts out i think nothing of it and start it up again and ride home, park it on my drive then go to start it again like 10 mins later to put it in the garage and nothing, something reali aint right, like before when i put the key in and ignition it would make this buzz sound for a fewseconds, that jus aint happening nomore, it will fire but not start

ive looked high and low on the intenet, and this is mabye my problem, when i touch my choke it is stiff, is this right am i even checking the right thing

sorry if this is a bit noob but its my first bike

whats the symptoms of this choke plunger thing,how can i fix it, or is it my battery or relays or somethig

please help

thanks

Originally Posted by peahead

could you dive a bit deeper about thism ive got a 2004pointy i took it out the other day it was raining i had to leve it uncoverd at work, so i go to go home starts fine then cuts out i think nothing of it and start it up again and ride home, park it on my drive then go to start it again like 10 mins later to put it in the garage and nothing, something reali aint right, like before when i put the key in and ignition it would make this buzz sound for a fewseconds, that jus aint happening nomore, it will fire but not start

ive looked high and low on the intenet, and this is mabye my problem, when i touch my choke it is stiff, is this right am i even checking the right thing

sorry if this is a bit noob but its my first bike

whats the symptoms of this choke plunger thing,how can i fix it, or is it my battery or relays or somethig

please help

thanks

The buzzing is your fuel pump priming its self! I didn't think that FI bikes had a choke

Originally Posted by BILLY

The buzzing is your fuel pump priming its self! I didn't think that FI bikes had a choke

probly hasnnt lol, like i said its my first bike only had it about amonth, what could it be, i have checked every fuse i can see i am doin the correct start up procedure it jus aint startin, and sometimes my alarm beeps about 5 times when i try and dissarm it, normaly its 1 time, is this indicating a alarm error or simply the battey is not giving enough power or what please help, the longer it broke the less money i earn lol self employed

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by BILLY

I didn't think that FI bikes had a choke

2004 SV's dont, but Liz's 749 has something similar caled a "Cold Start Lever"...

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by peahead

like before when i put the key in and ignition it would make this buzz sound for a fewseconds, that jus aint happening nomore, it will fire but not start

If the fuel rails not priming then no it wont start... you need to find out why its not priming the fuel rail and I dont know enough about that model bike to advise you further.

What does it say on the dash of your bike ? does it have anything that looks like "Check" or "F.I" on the digital display what lights are on before you go to start the bike ?

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

If the fuel rails not priming then no it wont start... you need to find out why its not priming the fuel rail and I dont know enough about that model bike to advise you further.

What does it say on the dash of your bike ? does it have anything that looks like "Check" or "F.I" on the digital display what lights are on before you go to start the bike ?

no fi error think it says check the goes off, all the lights and indicators etc works it sound like it starts the fuel pump or something but not the sound (buzzz) i used to hear, and i think ive herd clicking noises from where all the fuses and battery is located, as ive said ive checked all the fuses

and thaks for the rapid replys so far