Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Hard Starting

Any one have any ideas to improve the starting on these engines? Mine sounds like it has to suck fuel into empty carbs before it will fire, w/ or w/o the choke, it takes about 3-5 seconds of running the starter to get any action and occasionally backfires. It just came out of the shop and runs v. strong once it's started.

I have a 2002 BA and over the 7 years I have found that my bike will fire quicker when I have just trickle charged my battery over night. I have an alarm installed on my bike that slowly discharges the battery over a week or two if not ridden.

What year is your bike? How old is the battery? EFI or carb? - Give us some more information. Eg. If it's EFI you need to turn the ignition on and wait a few seconds for the fuel pump to prime before starting.

+1 to Nukeranger's advice whatever your answers to the above.

I find with this cooler weather if I turn the idle adjust knob richer it starts right away on my 07 speedy.

It's an '05 SM w/ stock carbs, 8200 mi., AI removed, TBS intact, Dunstall Rep. pipes, all else stock. Battery age?, but starter seems lively, no difference w/ active charge overnite. Richer A/F mix might be worth a try. It's like there's no fuel in the carbs when I start it, even if I did a long ride the previous day. Once it starts, it runs great!

Are ya cranking on the throttle while ya start?

I wonder if your enrichener circuit (choke) is plugged or disconnected somehow. Haven't heard of anyone having this problem. Try this, with your engine running, pull the choke knob to see if the engine revs up. If it does, the circuit is ok and you have another problem.

Another item you failed to mention. Do you shut off your petcock after you ride? This might be the problem since the fuel in the bowls might be evaporating and on start up the bowls have to refill before starting. Leave the petcock on overnight. See if this helps. If it is the prob, you might have to get into the habit of turning on your petcock and waiting for a minute before starting.

Any other guesses????

I don't touch the throttle until it starts firing,choke works as intended including increased idle speed, petcock remains open always.

Most of the time I don't need to choke unless it is really cold out. If you choke it, then close the choke right after it starts and the engine runs fine, I would try using less choke. If I need to use the choke, I will press the starter and slowly pull the choke knob while cranking to get that sweet spot. Once it starts, I will tap it in to slow down the idle speed.

Nukeranger

I noticed after having the idle set perfect with help from a sniffer, that starting is a bit harder. No problem, I just have to wait until the engine is fully warmed up before taking off. The choke is a must.

Mine starts up much easier and the choke needs to be on for a shorter time since installing Thruxton needles and disconnecting the TPS plug