Blowing her to start?

[Guest]

My bike lives outside during the summer. I cover it I'm not riding for a few days or chance of rain. so far this summer it's started right up without choke. It's been a hot summer. But after having it sit this week-end, and lots of rain and cooler temps, I had a hard time starting yesterday, even with choke. I had to blow some air into the carb vent to get her to catch. I noticed a bunch of white smoke after while warming up. After that, and the rest of the day she was fine. This has not happened all summer . Was the smoke and hard start due to condensation?

Today, she just need a bit of choke, there was Lots of dew on her and was much cooler out (left her uncovered last night). Took a few cranks though.

My valves were recently checked and my carbs are in order. So what up?

[Ed Vrolijk]

Well, a good blow always gets me started..........

Sorry

Ed

[TheCafeKid]

My bike lives outside during the summer. I cover it I'm not riding for a few days or chance of rain. so far this summer it's started right up without choke. It's been a hot summer. But after having it sit this week-end, and lots of rain and cooler temps, I had a hard time starting yesterday, even with choke. I had to blow some air into the carb vent to get her to catch. I noticed a bunch of white smoke after while warming up. After that, and the rest of the day she was fine. This has not happened all summer . Was the smoke and hard start due to condensation?

Today, she just need a bit of choke, there was Lots of dew on her and was much cooler out (left her uncovered last night). Took a few cranks though.

My valves were recently checked and my carbs are in order. So what up?

How recently? Its been rather chilly at night around here too, last couple of nights ive left work, there was dew on my seat (bummer, or rather, cold wet bummer...heheh) I had some trouble getting her to start the first chilly night, but I had hit reserve when i got to work, and the temp drop likely caused the gas to compress in the float bowls, so it took a couple more cranks than normal. But last night, with a full tank, she fired right up. What you speak of as far as white smoke is surely condensation from MY guess. Mine does it when its chilly too. But it gone as soon as she runs a minute or two. If its been more than 3000 miles since your last valve check, Id think about checking them again, as this is a classic symptom of being in need of a valve adjustment. (hard cold starting) Also, something else to try, next time this happens, put the petcock on PRIME for a few seconds, and see if it makes a difference. Like I said, if the temp drops, and i dont know if this actually happens or not, but it makes sense that it would, the fuel in the line and float bowls might contract, and she's not got enough to fire untill some vaccum pulls some more into the bowls. PRIME may aleviate this issue.

[bonanzadave]

Might try some new NGK spark plug caps. Thats a quick, cheap and easy project. If your issues are moisture related Id start there.

[maro]

How recently? Its been rather chilly at night around here too, last couple of nights ive left work, there was dew on my seat (bummer, or rather, cold wet bummer...heheh) I had some trouble getting her to start the first chilly night, but I had hit reserve when i got to work, and the temp drop likely caused the gas to compress in the float bowls, so it took a couple more cranks than normal. But last night, with a full tank, she fired right up. What you speak of as far as white smoke is surely condensation from MY guess. Mine does it when its chilly too. But it gone as soon as she runs a minute or two. If its been more than 3000 miles since your last valve check, Id think about checking them again, as this is a classic symptom of being in need of a valve adjustment. (hard cold starting) Also, something else to try, next time this happens, put the petcock on PRIME for a few seconds, and see if it makes a difference. Like I said, if the temp drops, and i dont know if this actually happens or not, but it makes sense that it would, the fuel in the line and float bowls might contract, and she's not got enough to fire untill some vaccum pulls some more into the bowls. PRIME may aleviate this issue.

Recently, as in 1000 miles ago. Maybe even less. Did them about 2 months ago. I did hit prime for about 20 - 30 sec, but still didn't catch. I coulda kept on cranking, but I get fearful of killing the battery. Blowing into the vent worked, but that seems like last resort. and yeah, the smoke was only for about 30 sec.

Just wanted to be sure it wasn't some weird carb issue. I hate those weird carb issues

Might try some new NGK spark plug caps. Thats a quick, cheap and easy project. If your issues are moisture related Id start there.

already gottem on there. heh.

thanks for feedback guys.

[Jethro]

Well, a good blow always gets me started..........

Sorry

Ed

Funny, it always puts me right to sleep!

[Killer2600]

If your bike likes getting blowed it's probably not a "she/her"

[maro]

If your bike likes getting blowed it's probably not a "she/her"

maybe, but I refuse to say I woke up this morning and blew HIM to start.....not that there is anything wrong with that...eh hem


SPEAKING OF WHICH...

I had to Blow start my girl AGAIN this morning. WTF is going on.

[maro]

been a few weeks since this original post. It's been going down to about 50 every night this week ,and ever morning I have to blow into the vent tube to get her started. Once that happens, she is fine for the rest of the day.

Priming does not work. choke does not work. This only happens when sitting overnight in cold conditions. and yes...valves are clear.

According the TCK, " if the temp drops, and i dont know if this actually happens or not, but it makes sense that it would, the fuel in the line and float bowls might contract, and she's not got enough to fire untill some vaccum pulls some more into the bowls."

I agree that this is the problem. So ,what else can be done to alleviate me having to blow the side of my bike every morning?

[rudy]

been a few weeks since this original post. It's been going down to about 50 every night this week ,and ever morning I have to blow into the vent tube to get her started. Once that happens, she is fine for the rest of the day.

Priming does not work. choke does not work. This only happens when sitting overnight in cold conditions. and yes...valves are clear.

According the TCK, " if the temp drops, and i dont know if this actually happens or not, but it makes sense that it would, the fuel in the line and float bowls might contract, and she's not got enough to fire untill some vaccum pulls some more into the bowls."

I agree that this is the problem. So ,what else can be done to alleviate me having to blow the side of my bike every morning?

I don't know if you could say that fuel contracts THAT much, besides, as soon as you hit the starter button the petcock turns on anyway and the fuel flows to fill up the bowls. I think you could throw this theory out the window anyway because you said you used "Prime" and it had no effect. Though it might be a good idea to check your petcock for correct operation: flow with vacuum, flow on Prime, that there is GOOD flow on both.

If valves are all correct tolerances, should be no problem there. You say it runs fine other than a little trouble starting sometimes when it's cold. It IS an old bike with old technology, so don't expect it to work perfectly all the time. There's a reason why manufacturers went to fuel injection. Old bikes are quirky, and sometimes the bestest thing you can do is find what works to coax them into operation. If a little blow in the morning is what she likes, that's what she gets. I'd say don't worry about such trivial things if she doesn't leave you stranded in no-man's land somewhere in the backwoods of Maine. Is that a banjo I hear? Nothing against folks from Maine.

[tkent02]

It IS an old bike with old technology, so don't expect it to work perfectly all the time. There's a reason why manufacturers went to fuel injection. Old bikes are quirky, and sometimes the bestest thing you can do is find what works to coax them into operation. If a little blow in the morning is what she likes, that's what she gets.

Some of them do work perfectly all the time, if all is well they will always start just fine in very cold weather. Quirkiness is just an excuse for something not being right.

They went to fuel injection because it's gotten cheaper than carburetors, and passes emissions tests easier, easier starting is not an issue as these bikes started fine in the cold when they were new, and still do when they are working properly.

I don't know exactly what is wrong with the bike in question, could be several things around the fuel/carburetion areas, but there is something you could do that would fix it.
You just need to find out what.

Or keep on giving it head and hoping for the best.

[ned37]

i'm gonna guess you're turning it to reserve instead of prime, or the inner filter screen is plugged.

[maro]

You just need to find out what.

Or keep on giving it head and hoping for the best.

Well, that is why I am posting these issues on these here boards. LOL


I replaced the petcock last year. and yes, I am turning it to prime, not reserve. I know there is gas in the bowl, because when I blow into the vent...gas leaks out of the bowl gasket slightly. It doesn't leak under normal circumstance as I have set my float height correct. Just happens when I blow into the vent.

thanks for all the help thus far. i know there is something here to fix, just not sure what....

[DanTheMan]

It's flooding out. Make sure your air filter is unobstructed.....If you crack your throttle open about an 1/8th of a turn, it should admit enough air to start it without giving it a blow job...

[maro]

It's flooding out. Make sure your air filter is unobstructed.....If you crack your throttle open about an 1/8th of a turn, it should admit enough air to start it without giving it a blow job...

Okay, now we are getting somewhere. What do you mean flooding out. What is that process and why or how could a filter obstruction cause that...

what I am looking for when I look at my air filter?

thanks