Bike Hard to start after sitting a week

[GabrielGoes]

so i was away for about 5 days and i got back, put the petcock on prim, choked it, and goto start and it turns over for like a good minute of pressing the button, i was just trying to start it but it would just turn over (pretty well actually) but no start, i tried to push start it a few times and not even close, so i go to start it 2 more times and the third time it just came back to life! after that it just starts everytime and runs how it should but it worries me that it was this hard to start just after 5 days of sitting... what could be going wrong?

[DanTheMan]

The carbs more than likely weren't full enough when you first started the process, even though you put it on prime, or the other option is, that you flooded it. After it sat and the excess evaporated, the bike started.

[Dogma]

After 5 days, the fuel has probably evaporated out of the float chambers. They need to be primed again. Give it 30-60 seconds on prime before trying to start from empty carbs. After only 5 days, the bowls might still be half full, so 15 seconds on prime may be enough.

If you just start cranking, it will eventually sputter to life. It just takes a worrying little while and some extra wear and tear on the starter.

If you're going to leave fuel in it for more than a week or two, put some fuel stabilizer in there to prevent the evaporating fuel from leaving the deposits that gum up the carbs. Of course, do this to a full tank for winter storage too (coming too soon).

[bonanzadave]

I can think of gas flow being restricted.

Good point. Check the easy stuff first. Is your gas cap venting properly ?

[GabrielGoes]

winter storage(coming too soon).

Thank you all for your help i appreciate every bit of all your input, what i can say is that my petcock works 100% and it was on the right settings! flooding is a possibility but i really dont think it was flooded my bowls fill up perfectly on prim imo BUT i think my culprit could be that my idle is set too low? i mean my bike idles at 1k untill fully warmed up it idles at 1.3k just how i like it! but my start requires a little "wrist" when pressing the button all the time, starts like a beast but without a little wrist the bike barely starts and slowly climbs from like 700 rpm and thats when its warm! do you guys think 1500 rpm is too high? i know i dont have starting problems (just tried it today) Regularly when my idle is set to 1500 she starts right up barely pressing the button... overall guys i think my idle is set to low, what do you think?... what do you guys think a real good healthy idle speed is at for our old bikes? imo i really dont like 2k idles it bothers me and makes me feel like the bike is trying to hide a problem by idling at 2k

[SqDancerLynn1]

I would have the battery tested ! Even tho it cranks what you think is good
it may have lost some of it's cranking power

[Steve]

... but my start requires a little "wrist" when pressing the button all the time, ...

Kill the "wrist".

If the valves are adjusted (hint, hint), the ignition is set properly (hint, hint) and the carbs are clean and synchronized (hint, hint), proper starting procedure is this:

Set "choke"
Verify "kill" switch is ON
Insert ignition key, turn to ON
Pull clutch lever (might be bypassed, but still a good idea)
Press starter button
Do NOT touch throttle
Modulate idle speed with "choke" control

Because the "choke" system does not actually use a plate to CHOKE the carb intake like older cars did, you can not use the same procedure. (There is no acellerator pump in there, either.) Our carbs (VM and BS) use an "enrichener" system which opens separate air and fuel passages that rely on high vacuum to work. As soon as you open the throttle past idle settings, you destroy the vacuum and, therefore, the effectiveness of the "enrichener" system.

EDIT: just finished reading the rest of your post.
The manual probably suggests about 1100 rpm for an idle speed. Even 1500 is too fast in my book. No idea why 2000 was even considered or mentioned. I don't even let it get to 2000 when it's warming up on "choke".

A couple other points:
If it is consistently hard to start when cold, your valves need to be adjusted.
If your idle speed changes when the bike warms up fully (after getting it off "choke", you might have an intake leak.

.

[tom203]

Yes to what Steve said.
Make sure your choke cable is working correctly at carb end- my bike requires me to pull up and hold choke- it will start instantly.

[Steve]

Yes to what Steve said.
Make sure your choke cable is working correctly at carb end- my bike requires me to pull up and hold choke- it will start instantly.

Have you tried pulling up and twisting it?

That usually works to lock it in place.

.

[chuck hahn]

gas evaporates and the carbs are vented..put the petcock on prime for about 30 seconds will refill the bowls also..the choke and start per the norm.

[tom203]

Have you tried pulling up and twisting it?

That usually works to lock it in place.

.

I just tried that but it no difference! No big deal-plus it keeps me from twisting throttle during cold starting!