Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Hard Startin' Hardley

I was listening to my neighbor trying to start his Hardley this afternoon and having a laugh. After about two minutes of cranking and only a few "pops' and it kicking back against the starter a couple times, it finally kept running. Then he had to keep revving it to keep it running. After about a minute of this he let off the throttle and it died! LMAO!

So much for Dyna Glide!! He'll be gliding it back into his garage, where it probably resides 95% of the time anyhoo

If it's cold enough and you forget to work the choke properly, your Triumph will do that too. My vote goes for defective operator. If he does seem to know what he's doing, tell him to toss the japcrap carburettor they all been coming with lately and get an S&S.

Don't think the weather had anything to do with it, it was in the upper 60's and he's been riding long enough and had the bike long enough to know to choke it. My BA fires in about 2 or 3 seconds even in the upper 30's to low 40's. I know this 'cuz thats what the temps were in the mornings last week when I took it to work a couple days. I just like ripping on Harleys!

Can't imagine not really knowing how to choke, when it's freezing @$$ cold outside, normally the thing just cranks really slow, but fires right up.

In that case, ask him if he wants the address of S&S. When it is over 55F, the OL's piglet and the old ironhead I used to have start on the first kick (or starter grunk on piglet) with 1 finger width of choke and 3 twists of the throttle. 45 - 55F, it takes ahlf again the choke. Below that, the bikes stay home.

Do our carbs have an accelerator pump? It seems the carbs I had on my cars (holley 4 barrel) always had an accelerator pump to lose the lag when throttle opened quickly. Is there one on our bikes?

The stock carbs do not have a pump. Relies on vacuum and the venturi effect.

Here's pretty good read on these types of carbs:

http://justkdx.dirtrider.net/carbtuning.html

I hope you have an easier time starting your bike over your neighbors Harley. We have Carb heaters, for lords sake. Turn the key on, let the carbs heat up and crank 'er over.


Fryguy