Cold start issues.

[PolarisX]

Hey all. Own my bike for over a year now. But something has been bugging me all this while. Every time when I start my bike, be it in the morning, afternoon or night, I get a cold start. I use the electric start, and after a few times, and playing with the throttle, where i usually have to rev it a little, then only the bike will come to life, and even then I need to hold on to the throttle for 2-3 minutes at least. Most of the time, I end up opening the choke. When the bike is fully warmed up like ~5 mins later, the rev meter is around 1500rpm when idle. Back when I was new to the motorcycling culture, I thought this cold start issue was normal. But over time, I notice like all bike bros and sisters just hopping onto their bikes, whatever model it may be, and riding off, with no problems with cold starts what so ever. So I really wonder whats up with my bike. I thought could have been some carb issue back then, so had it service like 3 months back, but no difference. The thing is whenever I ride my bike to bike shop for routine servicing, the engine is already hot, so after EO/spark plug change, etc, the bike starts up fine. So the mechs usually will say 'no problem la'. It's only like after the bike is cooled down, then the cold start occurs. Whenever I am heading out or after my bike is parked and cooled for a few hours, I need to deal with this everytime, and it's kinda frustrating. All bike bros and sis, please advise me!!

 

Just some background info, I ride a Honda Tiger (200cc), so far no major issues, maybe just this one. After bike has warmed up, no problems riding it.

[ezzyoiler]

clean your air filter...check for condesation in your petrol lines..for a start.

[crazydj]

If your bike is old like mine, try to increase your idling. For my bike, my idling is about 2k rpm, when the engine is nice and hot.

[PolarisX]

clean your air filter...check for condesation in your petrol lines..for a start.

 

Air filter was washed and cleaned when I went to service my carb. By condensation, you mean water droplets forming a layer over the engine parts on the exterior? I doubt it, cause even in the afternoon, when it is hot and sunny, same problem when starting the bike.

 

I dont think I'll increase the idle rpm. When it's warmed up proper, 1500rpm is just nice.

 

Other inputs bros and sis??

[ezzyoiler]

Air filter was washed and cleaned when I went to service my carb. By condensation, you mean water droplets forming a layer over the engine parts on the exterior? I doubt it, cause even in the afternoon, when it is hot and sunny, same problem when starting the bike.

 

I dont think I'll increase the idle rpm. When it's warmed up proper, 1500rpm is just nice.

 

Other inputs bros and sis??

 

in your petrol check for water or other contaminants like rust, varnish etc...

check and clean and set the gap..of your spark plug.

also use the reccommended plug..

 

as you have the carb serviced..next checked the sparking..make sure that the spark is good and strong..

 

if the above is done...and in good order...then most probably this is a compression problem..ie need to replace rings and/or piston..

 

if your ride is loosing power compared to before this problem arise a sign that you may have compression issues..

 

a weak battery/alternator may also contribute to the cause..

Edited December 4, 2010 by ezzyoiler

[zkers]

try STP petrol injector cleaner. pour into ur tank beofre topping up petrol. Personally find it quite good. even for my car i use it. it basically cleans up ur entire fuel system.

[Lexanez]

If your bikes with a choke, use it when starting your bike cold. If not, check your spark plugs.

 

By the way, it is a bad practice to ride off without properly warming up your bike. Greater wear and tear to your internal engine components when they had to run without proper lubrication in-between.

[crazydj]

I dont think I'll increase the idle rpm. When it's warmed up proper, 1500rpm is just nice.

 

Increase it to 2k at idle when hot. Try it!

[Ah_Pet]

maybe ask ur mech to tune ur air to fuel ratio.

[natgw]

But over time, I notice like all bike bros and sisters just hopping onto their bikes, whatever model it may be, and riding off, with no problems with cold starts what so ever. So I really wonder whats up with my bike. I thought could have been some carb issue back then, so had it service like 3 months back, but no difference.

 

perhaps those bros and sis are riding EFI bikes..

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Hey all. Own my bike for over a year now. But something has been bugging me all this while. Every time when I start my bike, be it in the morning, afternoon or night, I get a cold start. I use the electric start, and after a few times, and playing with the throttle, where i usually have to rev it a little, then only the bike will come to life, and even then I need to hold on to the throttle for 2-3 minutes at least. Most of the time, I end up opening the choke. When the bike is fully warmed up like ~5 mins later, the rev meter is around 1500rpm when idle. Back when I was new to the motorcycling culture, I thought this cold start issue was normal. But over time, I notice like all bike bros and sisters just hopping onto their bikes, whatever model it may be, and riding off, with no problems with cold starts what so ever. So I really wonder whats up with my bike. I thought could have been some carb issue back then, so had it service like 3 months back, but no difference. The thing is whenever I ride my bike to bike shop for routine servicing, the engine is already hot, so after EO/spark plug change, etc, the bike starts up fine. So the mechs usually will say 'no problem la'. It's only like after the bike is cooled down, then the cold start occurs. Whenever I am heading out or after my bike is parked and cooled for a few hours, I need to deal with this everytime, and it's kinda frustrating. All bike bros and sis, please advise me!!

 

Just some background info, I ride a Honda Tiger (200cc), so far no major issues, maybe just this one. After bike has warmed up, no problems riding it.

 

Your engine is the same as mine. The temporary solution is to increase the idling. If your carb is the same as the Honda Phantom TA200 (same engine) there is a huge idle adjustment knob you can tune while stopped at traffic lights.

 

Chop the idle setting 5 minutes later, or if you feel the engine wanting to race away while stationary. (idle will naturally increase as it warms up)

 

Alternatively, run the engine slightly leaner, until it can start without choke or increased idle. But this may make the motor run hotter when it does finally warm up. (Yes, it works like that) Do this if your machine's idle adjustment cannot be done by hand.

 

take a pic of the carb and PM it to me if you want me to advise on the settings. I just need to see if its the same KeiHin carb as the Phantom. If so, I can teach you to solve/manage the damn issue in 5 minutes flat, FOC

 

Finally, do note that an engine that starts on the first crank in the morning is either as aforesaid, an electronically managed one, or it's running WAY too lean. That causes problems in the long run as lean settings at high power on the highway is never a good combination.

[altya]

Hey all. Own my bike for over a year now. But something has been bugging me all this while. Every time when I start my bike, be it in the morning, afternoon or night, I get a cold start. I use the electric start, and after a few times, and playing with the throttle, where i usually have to rev it a little, then only the bike will come to life, and even then I need to hold on to the throttle for 2-3 minutes at least. Most of the time, I end up opening the choke. When the bike is fully warmed up like ~5 mins later, the rev meter is around 1500rpm when idle. Back when I was new to the motorcycling culture, I thought this cold start issue was normal. But over time, I notice like all bike bros and sisters just hopping onto their bikes, whatever model it may be, and riding off, with no problems with cold starts what so ever. So I really wonder whats up with my bike. I thought could have been some carb issue back then, so had it service like 3 months back, but no difference. The thing is whenever I ride my bike to bike shop for routine servicing, the engine is already hot, so after EO/spark plug change, etc, the bike starts up fine. So the mechs usually will say 'no problem la'. It's only like after the bike is cooled down, then the cold start occurs. Whenever I am heading out or after my bike is parked and cooled for a few hours, I need to deal with this everytime, and it's kinda frustrating. All bike bros and sis, please advise me!!

 

Just some background info, I ride a Honda Tiger (200cc), so far no major issues, maybe just this one. After bike has warmed up, no problems riding it.

 

Wow, thats exactly the same problem that i am facing now... I am riding a CBF 150... Just own my bike for 6 months and first 5 months is always ok... Until i went for Boon siew servicing and they request to adjust some engine valve so i let them do it, after that, i face the same prob as urs... As long my engine is cold, once i crank, it will idle for around 3 sec b4 dieing off... I need to rev it around 3-4 mins till the engine is hot b4 i can let it idle on it self... Seriously make me abit sian every morning or evening when i didnt use the bike for more than maybe 6 hours...

[aMiGo81]

I have same problem...zzzz

[skully]

I've got this problem too..could it be battery issue?

[altya]

Wow, thats exactly the same problem that i am facing now... I am riding a CBF 150... Just own my bike for 6 months and first 5 months is always ok... Until i went for Boon siew servicing and they request to adjust some engine valve so i let them do it, after that, i face the same prob as urs... As long my engine is cold, once i crank, it will idle for around 3 sec b4 dieing off... I need to rev it around 3-4 mins till the engine is hot b4 i can let it idle on it self... Seriously make me abit sian every morning or evening when i didnt use the bike for more than maybe 6 hours...

 

Well, i went JB to settle some of my bike servicing stuff and asked the mechanic regarding my cold start issue and he say something to do with the engine "timing" which is tink is the idling speed... He help me adjust and told me to try it tmr morning which i did...

 

And it WORKS, i manage to crank and the engine manage to idle normally like it would 2 months ago and maintain it all the way... Guess this the solution for me so maybe u guys can try it too?

[PolarisX]

Wow, it seems that alot of riders are aparently facing the same cold start problem as me. I will continue monitoring my situation and keep u guys posted.

[Guest Powerbalance80]

If your bike is old like mine, try to increase your idling. For my bike, my idling is about 2k rpm, when the engine is nice and hot.

[PolarisX]

Well, i went JB to settle some of my bike servicing stuff and asked the mechanic regarding my cold start issue and he say something to do with the engine "timing" which is tink is the idling speed... He help me adjust and told me to try it tmr morning which i did...

 

And it WORKS, i manage to crank and the engine manage to idle normally like it would 2 months ago and maintain it all the way... Guess this the solution for me so maybe u guys can try it too?

 

Hey maybe you could share with us the shop you to in JB?

[crazydj]

If your bike is old like mine, try to increase your idling. For my bike, my idling is about 2k rpm, when the engine is nice and hot.

 

If your bike is old like mine, try to increase your idling. For my bike, my idling is about 2k rpm, when the engine is nice and hot.

 

Dude. That was exactly what i said. Word for word.

[altya]

Hey maybe you could share with us the shop you to in JB?

 

its a shop with 2 big "Elf" word on its signboard....

 

Anyway i tink any mechanic that noes his stuff can fix this... According to him and clarification from Boon Siew, apparent when they adjust my engine valve, they accidentally adjusted my idling speed and forget to adjust back... So the JB mechanic just help me to adjust back to its original optimum speed and TA-DAH, done!

[azl-128]

I heard you all mentioning about increasing the idle RPM, how do I do that for my S4?

[Raptor]

Valve clearance issue.

 

Not enough clearance.

[arthur_chan]

Valve clearance issue.

 

Not enough clearance.

 

can explain in more details?

[Stylo]

I heard you all mentioning about increasing the idle RPM, how do I do that for my S4?

 

Not recommended to increase the idle RPM when hot will reach 2k. That will cause gear shift problem like too power he motor/engine will jerk. That will cause chain and sprocket spoil faster.

Best is to tune the carb. When engine hot max is 1.5k. Most bike idle RPM is 1k~1.5k max. Any below 1k rpm engine will stop. Try to tune the engine RPM 1.2k +/- 0.1k.

[Raptor]

can explain in more details?

 

Over time and thru wear and tear... valve seat is worn down and valve clearance closes up.

 

When valve clearance is too close... valve opens early and closes early... which is almost the same as advancing the timing of the ignition.

 

When you advance the timing... rpm will go up.

 

Heat causes metal tot expand and that affects valve clearance which in turn retards the valve opening timing which in turns retards the timing.. which in turn brings the rpms down.

 

Dun understand me?? Nevermind... send your bike to the shop for valve clearance check.