Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech How quick does your TBA turnover?

In the morning, my bike usually takes a few turns/20 seconds before it starts. I am thinking it should take about 1 second?

I wonder if it is running rich since I haven't made any adjustments after putting new pipes and removing AI earlier this year?

Hmm, Ohio in October, It will help at typical morning temps. there if you wait a bit, maybe half a minute or so, between turning on the switches and cranking the engine. There is an electric heater in the carbs that makes a big difference when given a chance to warm up. Also, if you are cracking open the throttle whilst starting, try leaving it closed. The 'choke' works better then. Mine usually fires on the 3'rd or 4'th compression stroke but, since I live in So CA, mine isn't really a fair example.

When it's like 60 degrees and above, mine ususally starts in a couple of rounds but on the cold mornings it usually takes several and I sometimes have to give it a couple of tries before it stays running. The carb heaters do help though, especially when it's really cold. And I think it also depends on if you rode it the day before, for some reason mine always fires right up on the day after.

Was gonna put my two cents worth in on this one, then I realised that it doesn't get cold enough here in the middle of winter to even come close to qualifying me to talk about it.

Stay warm, you lot.

Matt

If these bikes had fuel injection, 20 seconds would possibly be a concern....
With carbs, let the heaters do their thing for a minute, then try different choke settings. Some days I need full choke, others, almost no choke....

Hey Dwight
As Greybeard and Grump suggest, let the carb heaters work for 20 - 30 seconds first.

If you are already doing this and it still takes as long as you say to fire up, I'd suggest plugs or battery.

When my battery gave up the ghost, it was taking longer and longer to fire up - regardless of carb warm-up.

Good point Adey, the faster it spins the easier for it to start. Never thought about it from that angle.

Good points. I guess hearing a HD start up a few days ago in .1 second (must have been fuel inj.) and leaving work extra early with my neighbors bedroom next to my driveway just got me thinking.

I think I'll let the carb heaters "do their thing" and I always thought the choke was either on/off...didn't realize you could kinda slide it out a bit. duh.

Thanks!

I was talking to JJoje , the Swedish Triumph Tech wiz about pilot jets. If he thought the stock (42) for the America was correct.
Here's his response.


It's possible that you can use a smaller pilot since the mainjet is so much bigger but the only way to be sure is to try. If you don't have a sniffer you can get an idea about the mix from how long you need the choke when cold, should be about 2-3 minutes, if it's less than 1 min I would say the pilots are a bit big.

Any thoughts?
Mike

Hey Dwight
Forgot to mention the choke.
On start-up, I pull the choke out fully and have the ignition on around 15 seconds. Not much longer - I killed one battery already
Fire it up and let it start then adjust the choke if it's running fast.
Ease the choke in slowly to around half and I usually push the choke fully home just as I get on.
If it's chilly or been standing a while, I push the choke home after pulling away and getting into 2nd.

Moe is right, of course, about your engine being lean, rather than rich. All stock vehicles these days are factory set to be as lean as possible (even with cat. converters).

The only other suggestion, that has not been posted yet, is to do what I did: get the heck out of Ohio and move to Arizona!

It depends on how fast you're going when you fall off...

Jan

FYI. The carburettor heaters are controlled by a temperature switch. The switch is designed to apply power to the heaters when the ambiant temperature drops below 'approximately' 10C (50F). The temperature switch is mounted next to the start relay. Above the set temperature, no power is applied to the heaters.
jay

Quote:

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especially when it's really cold.

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You're funny! Cold ? Where you live, you call any of that cold?

Mine starts right up, unless it has sat for weeks in the real cold, then several turns.
Normally even if it's warm, cool, hot --- hit the button and Vroom, off we go. One spin is usually all it takes. NO gas, 3/4 choke, but only for the first start of the day. Then just the button with no gas or choke at all. They should all do that.

My speedy seems to always do the same thing.. The sequence is; turn on the ignition, pull out the choke, hit the starter. It will always fire the first spin, once. Like a big 'blap' and then die. Hit the starter again, maybe spinning it a couple or three times until it finaly fires over. I've tried different choke positions.. rolling the throttle, not touching the throttle.. everything I can think of and it's always the same thing. I just take it for what it is and always expect it to behave the same. Once it's warmed up, it's always a 1/4 second push on the starter before she breathes life, every time.

Note: I don't think temperature is a factor here

Cheers,
Brad

Turn the ignition on, pull the choke (3/4 to full), hit the starter and she goes. The only time I have seen any problem is below 30F.

I had it sitting for 3 weeks due to rains and it took a few tries this weekend. But usually it starts in one or two if it doesnt sit too long. Hey my car would have the same problem.

Has it been cold there? Mine take a lot longer to turnover at 32 degrees vs. 50 or 60.

my tba starts on full choke straightaway/has been now for 3 years!just a couple of turns then giddy up were out of here

I should have never read this thread. This morning it was around 33 degrees and I go out to start the bike, full choke and it wouldn't catch. I ended up wearing the battery down to nothing. Had to drive the 4-wheeler. My question is, does the carb heater come on automatically when it goes below a certain temp or does it have to be activated by turning on the ignition. Someone mentioned above that there is seperate switch by the starter button??? I never noticed that.

The carb heater comes on below a set temp but you have to turn on the ignition switch for it to work. Leave the ignition switch in the on position for about a minute and it should help.
The European and a few other bikes have a headlight switch on the right control housing next to the starter switch but on the stateside bikes there is just a blank to fill the hole.

I try to start my bikes at least once a week. Only time they sit for a week without riding is in the cold and rainey part of out Texas winters. Started both once when it was about 25F in an unheated garage. The America took a few spins at full choke, about 10 seconds, and the SM (carb. set up much more rich) started right up in a couple of turns. I let the carb heater go for about 10 to 15 seconds before hitting the starter on those days below 35 or so. My SM loves the cold, I suppose thicker air to match the more gas, The America likes the cold after she warms up, but the Speedy really excells when it's cold, They are British after all.

I just use full choke and hit the starter and away it goes. If I am still asleep and forget the choke it still starts(just won't run) It does love cooler weather. warms up better.

Thanks Chy. I did what you suggested this morning and she tunred right over.