Should it take this long to warm up?

[snark]

My 1981 GS450L runs great when she's warmed up...it just takes almost 10 minutes to get there. I put the choke on and she fires up first try and idles at about 4000 RPM. After about a minute and a half I take the chouke off and she dies. I don't wnat to let it idle that high for too long so I usually just sit there and hold the trottle just enough so it doesn't stall. This goes on for about 5 minutes. Then I start riding and she hesitates and cuts out when I come to a stop for about another 5 minutes. After that it runs great. I know the temperature has been hovering around 30 degress, but I thought warming up wouldn't take this long. Any ideas?

[scotty]

my 1100 was a cold mother- it seems to be typical of many machines. Start it, let it run for a couple of minutes and go with the choke adjusted as necessary. Lots of folks ride this way. my buell runs thaht way--my yammy did and my honda does also. I think it is a mistake for anyone to start a bike and just let it run till it is warmed up before going. On my kz1300--liquid cooled, I let it run with me on it till the needle starts to move and then go.

[Evil Hobbit]

My GS1100 is cold blooded, too. I had the same concern a year ago and Scotty put my mind at ease with nearly the same post he left for you.
You'll find these folks are a font of knowledge to drink from and they are alway willing to help offering their experiences. Good luck with that bike. Ride safe.

[Anonymous]

I've nearly eliminated this problem on my bikes by going up one size on the pilot jets. It makes them start easier in cold weather, It makes them warm up faster, and almost eliminates the use of the choke, other than that first start up in the morning, in warmer weather. Some have said this will make the jetting too rich at other ranges but I have found that not to be true. The one size larger on the pilot is not nearly as big of increase as one size larger on the main. I've never seen this tiny amount of change change the plug readings nor preformance at all

[scotty]

A richer fuel mixture makes the engine run cooler. i dont see how that mod made it warm up faster.

[nabrams]

Yeah, my GS450L takes forever to warm up also. When I can't wait, I'll ride with a bit of choke at first (like others here have suggested), but I prefer to let it warm up - it just seems to ride smoother after a long warm up.

[Poot]

Alas, mine is cold-blooded too.

I usually keep my hands on the block until its at least very warm, and then its not really a problem to go.


poot

[Eliseo Monteverde]

Alas, mine is cold-blooded too.

I usually keep my hands on the block until its at least very warm, and then its not really a problem to go.


poot

Me too; specially in winter

[Jethro]

scotty Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 12:16 pm Post subject:

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A richer fuel mixture makes the engine run cooler. i dont see how that mod made it warm up faster.

I agree Scotty. But it worked for me too. With the stock size pilot I had a terrible time starting the bike in the morning. I would go with full choke, then hit the starter and intantly it would fire then die right out. Then, no matter where the choke is, I had to crank the bike for a good 30-60 seconds (not good for the battery or starter clutch!) while fluttering the throttle and it would finally, very slowly, come to life. Then I had to nurse the throttle for a good 5 minutes (again, no matter where the choke was) and finally she would idle perfect. The rest of the day it would light right up every time. Then I went one size up on the pilots and no problem starting what so ever. I can go full choke and it starts right up, and I can leave full choke for a few minutes while I get my helmet and gloves on and everything is tickity-boo.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Go up one size on the pilots. The motor doesn't "warm up" faster, it just gets more fuel. It's hard to burn cold A/F mixture with little fuel. It takes an even RICHER mixture to start in cold weather, say 30 degrees vs. 75 degrees ambient.

I did this on my Yamaha thumper and my SV650S. Starting/warmup time greatly improved. WAAAYYY too lean they are jetted stock from the factory.... :P

[Anonymous]

Going up one size on the pilot jets helped solve the cold-starting problem on the 1100G. Now she fires right up!

Now the 1000 is a cold-blooded thing (like the mother-in-law ) and even after rejetting must be choked and allowed to warm up a bit before it will even consider leaving the drive. :?

[scotty]

no doubt that the pilot jet solved your cold start problems. It just could not help the bike warm up faster. thats all i am saying

[snark]

She starts up first try, that's no problem. Taking forever and a day to warm up is the pain. Thanks for the info...at least I now know its nothing unusual. A little choke a little longer sounds like the fix.

[AOD]

I didn't read all the replies or posts, but sometimes a carb cleaning will resoslve the cold-bloodedness of these things. I got my 550 running 'okay' when I saved it from a barn a few years ago, but it would take a long time to warm up. After the carb clean it's ready to go in a minute or so if I wanted.

Too rich of a pilot jet is going to affect your part throttle cruising. After my carb rebuild my pilots are super rich and you can feel it at part throttle.

~Adam

[focus frenzy]

no doubt that the pilot jet solved your cold start problems. It just could not help the bike warm up faster. thats all i am saying

Dom, it helps because cold fuel does not atomize well, the liquid gas is not flamable, it is the fumes that are flamable.
when cold the lack of atomization makes the mixture very lean and you get a engine that dies and stubles and generaly does not want to run.
the droplets of gas that dont atomize just go out the tail pipe.
going to a larger pilot jet lets more fuel in and therefor more atomized gas so the mixture is richer and bursn better giving you a better running cold engine.
you can get presition mini drill bits and drill the choke jet (the tube that sticks down into the side of the bowl and get better results, but changing the pilot jet works well and is simple to do.
also these bikes came jetted lean all over and going up one size on the pilot (or leaning the air bleed) helps all around performance.