At the start of this thread Stu Bodycote said leave the throttle alone. My dealer said give the bike a touch of throttle. No-one can say these bikes don't have personalities!
Starting procedure
- Thread starter Fast Eddie
- Start date
After five goes today it didn't seem as if it even wanted to try to start. Then on the sixth go as soon as I touched the starter button it burst into life immediately - so abruptly it scared the hell out of me! I let it tick over for a good ten minutes, shut off and then it fired up straight away again. The trouble is I was messing about leaving the throttle and then giving a little throttle and then a lot I can't remember which one worked! I can see I'm going to have to get the clipboard out and do a series of controlled tests!
BritTwit
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My 2013 CR always required a bit of throttle to start, and some additional to get to a stable idle.
Funny thing I noticed a few years ago when my battery died. After replacing the battery the first stab at the starter button brought the 961 to life immediately, no throttle, no trouble. The idle was rock steady from the start. I let it idle for a few minutes because I was amazed - -It had never idled so well, EVER.
Once the EFI had adapted, it went back to needing throttle to start, and throttle to idle. Go figure.
There really is something not right in the adaptation algorithm in the stock SC Typhoon ECUs.
Funny thing I noticed a few years ago when my battery died. After replacing the battery the first stab at the starter button brought the 961 to life immediately, no throttle, no trouble. The idle was rock steady from the start. I let it idle for a few minutes because I was amazed - -It had never idled so well, EVER.
Once the EFI had adapted, it went back to needing throttle to start, and throttle to idle. Go figure.
There really is something not right in the adaptation algorithm in the stock SC Typhoon ECUs.
Stephen_Spencer
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Worth keeping the voltage on the clocks showing whilst attempting to start/restart, so ya get to know where the voltage is at @ each juncture.
This big old donk seems to love a good, strong healthy battery. Worth contemplating a good quality lithium battery for those extra CCA’s? Especially on those cold mornings - maybe?
We’ve had these discussions before and I suspect the Solihull bikes are now set up differently, but my 2015 starts/idles perfectly each time but only if I do not touch the throttle at all until she’s warmed up.
Yep, no shortage of ‘character’ in these machines!
This big old donk seems to love a good, strong healthy battery. Worth contemplating a good quality lithium battery for those extra CCA’s? Especially on those cold mornings - maybe?
We’ve had these discussions before and I suspect the Solihull bikes are now set up differently, but my 2015 starts/idles perfectly each time but only if I do not touch the throttle at all until she’s warmed up.
Yep, no shortage of ‘character’ in these machines!
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Hello Britwit , This guy has a 2025 961SP …. This is not a Donington bike and definitely not a SC Thyphoon ecu. He really shouldn’t be having any problems. Members that own and ride a TVS might chime in now. I would change those spark plugs pronto ! As an experiment you can determine if your IAC is not opening or not closing properly. Pinch the IAC hose closed with a clamp see how it will start either with or without throttle. Don’t worry about the idle , keep it running with throttle. If it responds to this maybe clean it or replace it. Or go to Stu. !
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Clive
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My experiences with my 2017 euro4 Omex ecu are that if I experience problems starting either cold or hot eg after filling with petrol (throttle body insulators disintegrated and removed so poor hot start) Then it does not run right; the idle is high and sometimes one exhaust seems to run hot. After a minute I stop the bike, restart it and all is ok. I have always wondered that the voltage drop while cranking affects the sensor readings and causes it to run poorly. When it starts ok I have never had any idling issues unlike a lot of owners. I always meant to try a backup battery for the electronics to stabilise the voltage while cranking but recently I have kept it on trickle and it has been running quite well so that project has been demoted and currently sits just below the electric supercharger........
Just to update with the results of my starting efforts.
1. A few days ago I tried starting the bike with no throttle all. After eight attempts, nothing. - So back on the charger.
2. Next day I tried starting after giving the bike plenty of throttle but six attempts proved fruitless.
3. Yesterday I tried again with just a whiff of throttle. The very first attempt produced that jammed starter motor noise, which I find quite alarming to be honest. Gingerly I went on to give four more attempts with just a little throttle and the bike started. So went for a 20 mile ride and it ran faultlessly. I didn't feel like I wanted to risk stopping anywhere however.
4. Today I tried with a whiff of throttle and after two similar attempts and another with a bit more gas, it fired up. So bingo! I'm now where I was last year with the bike starting on its fourth try, which gives me some confidence because, although a slow starter, the bike had never actually failed to start then. I think I've just got to practice my technique.
What I do find a little unnerving is that when operating the starter you never get any sign from the bike that it is actually trying to fire up until it suddenly explodes into life.
When tested there was a fat spark from the plugs, but I will change them if anyone thinks that may help. The engine idles perfectly so I can't see any problems there.
As an aside I have a 2024 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 which I haven't used for a few weeks. A lithium battery, but that didn't prevent it not starting a few days ago - so two bikes, neither of which were going anywhere!
1. A few days ago I tried starting the bike with no throttle all. After eight attempts, nothing. - So back on the charger.
2. Next day I tried starting after giving the bike plenty of throttle but six attempts proved fruitless.
3. Yesterday I tried again with just a whiff of throttle. The very first attempt produced that jammed starter motor noise, which I find quite alarming to be honest. Gingerly I went on to give four more attempts with just a little throttle and the bike started. So went for a 20 mile ride and it ran faultlessly. I didn't feel like I wanted to risk stopping anywhere however.
4. Today I tried with a whiff of throttle and after two similar attempts and another with a bit more gas, it fired up. So bingo! I'm now where I was last year with the bike starting on its fourth try, which gives me some confidence because, although a slow starter, the bike had never actually failed to start then. I think I've just got to practice my technique.
What I do find a little unnerving is that when operating the starter you never get any sign from the bike that it is actually trying to fire up until it suddenly explodes into life.
When tested there was a fat spark from the plugs, but I will change them if anyone thinks that may help. The engine idles perfectly so I can't see any problems there.
As an aside I have a 2024 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 which I haven't used for a few weeks. A lithium battery, but that didn't prevent it not starting a few days ago - so two bikes, neither of which were going anywhere!
Gojuu
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Do you hear the fuel pump when you go to key on?
From time to time I used to not hear the fuel pump prime at key on. In those cases - I could crank it - and flatten the battery in the process - without it starting.
Was early on when i got the bike that it did it and took me a bit to isolate. Either way, my starting proceedure is "did I clearly hear the ful pump prime at key on". If I didn't - I don't crank it - and key it off / on again.
BritTwit
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In that case, what was the actual culprit?
Bad relay, bad pump, loose connection, or other?
Gojuu
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If its any consolation I had a new Norton 961 delivered in February this year , It hesitated on starting up so that evening I fitted a trickle charger the next day the bike was showing enough Voltage to start it up , surprise surprise it didn't it just died.
The dealer sent me a new battery which I fitted again same issue would not start so they arranged to collect it and take a look.
They said it was the starter motor knackered so they replaced it.
the Bike arrived back one week later the guy who delivered it I asked him to start it before he left , again it was dead wouldn't even turn over.
I asked for a refund off Norton who said that was fine or would I like to have another new bike, I agreed The new 961 starts every time no hassle but coming home from a ride it developed a fuel leak so yet again its been back to the dealers and they have fitted a new tank and fuel as the previous one had sealing failures. Finally the bike has been returned and cant wait to get out on it.
I love the new 961 style and how it rides I think its been worth the hassle to get it sorted and I have to say Dan at Norton has been very helpful, fingers crossed
robs ss
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