First start tips

I'm not trying to be critical here, but, but. If mine didn't at least give some life, like a poot, after the 2nd one, I'd figure there's something wrong, but if this is the first time since 82 all is forgiven. It sounds good. Don't you love it.

But then it took me maybe 20 tries to start mine first time after years, but I had an excuse, the batt was dead. When I put a good battery in it it went right off.

All I can say is I still have more hair than you at 76. I'm hoping to get mine out tomorrow, today was insane at 65°. Depends on how I feel. I've been in a bad mood lately.

Tighten the exhaust nuts while the bike is running.

Nice job.

I was working the air slides backwards. I thought it was tight for down. I had them pulled up while trying to start the bike cold. Would this make a difference?

Scout63 said:

I was working the air slides backwards. I thought it was tight for down. I had them pulled up while trying to start the bike cold. Would this make a difference?

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Yes, certainly.. if your bike needs the choke when cold. Some do, some don't.

Scout63 said:

I was working the air slides backwards. I thought it was tight for down.

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It's definitely an odd mechanical choice that the enrichments slides "fail" to the closed position. IOW, if the enrichment cable breaks or the tension spring loses some strength, the "choke" is applied while cruising down the road. If it occurs gradually during a ride, as when the spring is weak, the bike slowly loses performance and runs worse and worse. The first thing one usually thinks of is NOT the enrichment lever and you don't notice that the lever is in a different position. This can result in much unnecessary troubleshooting on the side of the road. You can figure out how I know this!

The solution, at least for me, was to remove the enrichment slides/cables/control lever. I've never had any problem kickstarting without the enrichment slides on either ny old '71 750 back in the day or my current 850.

As pointed out some bikes seem to need them some don't
Personally I have never used them ,(on a twin concentric or monobloc carbed bike)
Just tickle the carbs a bit more after its started if it needs it
I have however used a choke slide on a single carbed twin
My choke slides center stands indicators air filter box's etc are all stored in my neighbors garden
They'll go mad when they find out!!!

The way I figure it, they wouldn't be there if they weren't needed. On any carburetted engine a cold start needs a rich mixture (tickle or accelerator pump) and choke. Choke on a car automatically opens with engine temp. Why would it be any different on a bike? Other than maybe most of us don't ride in weather cold enough to require them. For the record, my 850 has always liked the choke from when it was new. Yet my brother's 750 never used them. Dunno why.

maylar said:

The way I figure it, they wouldn't be there if they weren't needed. On any carburetted engine a cold start needs a rich mixture (tickle or accelerator pump) and choke. Choke on a car automatically opens with engine temp. Why would it be any different on a bike? Other than maybe most of us don't ride in weather cold enough to require them. For the record, my 850 has always liked the choke from when it was new. Yet my brother's 750 never used them. Dunno why.

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I agree i ride all year round in the UK if I can
But I don't ride if it's icy anymore but I have never used a choke on a twin carbed Brit bike I've had 4 commandos countless triumph twins etc etc

DogT said:

I'm not trying to be critical here, but, but. If mine didn't at least give some life, like a poot, after the 2nd one, I'd figure there's something wrong, but if this is the first time since 82 all is forgiven. It sounds good. Don't you love it.

But then it took me maybe 20 tries to start mine first time after years, but I had an excuse, the batt was dead. When I put a good battery in it it went right off.

All I can say is I still have more hair than you at 76. I'm hoping to get mine out tomorrow, today was insane at 65°. Depends on how I feel. I've been in a bad mood lately.

Tighten the exhaust nuts while the bike is running.

Nice job.

Click to expand...

I had hair when I started the rebuild.