Long cranking time to start.

[Storm Trooper]

Okay,

So, I've serviced the bike over the winter, Replaced the Cam Chain Tensioners with Manual tensioners, Oil, Filters etc.

Drained the tank and filled with High Octane (as it ran on before), but now she seems very reluctant to start. It takes about 10 to 12 or so cranks of the engine to get it started from cold (starts fine 1st time after sitting for a short while or when hot).

And she runs absolutely fine when out and about.

Before she used to start on the 2nd or 3rd.

Everything has been checked and double checked. I have had everything back off to check for any kinks in pipes, choke cable, fuel tap, vacuum pipe, breather pipes, carb diaphrams but all is fine with everything.

It's as if the fuel has evaporated out of the carbs overnight (not likely) and when you go to start it , it has to draw the fuel the whole way back through to the carbs before she will start.

My only thought is that the new fuel I put in is off. I know High Octane stuff has a slightly different smell to normal, but the current tank of fuel smells almost sulphur like.

Any thoughts if this could be the problem or any other ideas as to what it might be?

[benny hedges]

chokes not seized is it??
be a pain to have to strip the carbs off and then find its sumat daft.
might just want a good raggin

[Storm Trooper]

chokes not seized is it??
be a pain to have to strip the carbs off and then find its sumat daft.
might just want a good raggin

Nah,

Checked the choke too. It is working fine.

[gilson]

Jump start it from your car to see if it's the battery. I only bought a new battery before winter and it just wouldn't start the bike. As soon as I put the car battery on, bang, first time....

That's my only suggestion I'm sorry.

[Mick B]

Mine had a similar problem.The way I sorted it was putting the bike on a battery optimiser when in the garage. It fires after 2-3 turns now so it must have boosted my battery over the winter.Mine would turn over fine but took ages to fire but now its spot on.

[VTR Marmite]

Mine was similar after being on the trickle charger over winter, it took a while to start, and would keep cutting out untill it was warm. I had to hold the throttle open at about 2500 revs untill it got warm, like a manual choke-type-man. I gave it a good clean over the weekend and ever since it has started perfectly. Sorry no advice but I know where you're coming from.

[kevg]

Yup, i'd say battery to, i had mine on an optimate from new, then when it got sold it didn't start, but the new owner (mike) replaced the battery and it starts fine again now, the battery was 8 years old and the optimate said it was fine, but it still wouldn't start the bike very well.

[gilson]

Similar to Kev, I'm not a super fan of the claims made by optimate....

[sirch345]

ST,
Seeing as it fires up fine after it's been left for a short time I too agree it does sound like the battery is getting done.

As someone already suggested, try a jump start from another vehicle when it's cold. But DO NOT have the other vehicle running when you try this.

One other possibility is your manual cam chain tensioners are adjusted too tight, making it extra hard work for the engine to turn over when it's cold. But I would have thought you'd have heard strange squeaks coming from the engine when you're trying to start it if that were the case Also if they were that tight I doubt it would tick over properly without it constantly cutting out.

When were the spark plugs last changed

Chris.

[seb421]

had the same trouble, a new batt cured it instantly.

when my batt is low on charge get the same problem, a night on the optimate sorts it out.

[tonyb]

i agree with battery my mate bought a new battery beginin of feb bikes been stood for two weeks and same problem battery is goosed only holds a charge propper for about 4 hours

tony

[Storm Trooper]

ST,
Seeing as it fires up fine after it's been left for a short time I too agree it does sound like the battery is getting done.

As someone already suggested, try a jump start from another vehicle when it's cold. But DO NOT have the other vehicle running when you try this.

One other possibility is your manual cam chain tensioners are adjusted too tight, making it extra hard work for the engine to turn over when it's cold. But I would have thought you'd have heard strange squeaks coming from the engine when you're trying to start it if that were the case Also if they were that tight I doubt it would tick over properly without it constantly cutting out.

When were the spark plugs last changed

Chris.

Cheers for all the advice guys.

but:

The battery is fine. It was new last year and has loads of cranking power. Does not die off even after the 10 -12 turns. Voltage & Amps are okay. (New regulator last year too, hence new battery)

Has been on a CTEK battery optimiser over the winter, and voltage readings with my tester all check out.

Plugs are fine. Iridium and both not that old and look how they should.

CCT's are adjusted fine. Definately not too tight.

Will take it for a really good blast this weekend and fill up with new fuel and hopefully this will clear anything out that possible may have got stuck in carbs or somewhere.

[vtrnut]

ST cheers for measuring your APEs - good to know yours are very similar. Fiddled a bit tonight slackened them to rattle then tightened to stop +1/4 turn. More or less ended up back where I was!

On the starting front mine will take a couple of goes to get it up and running even with the choke and like you I know pluge battery etc good. After the first start it always restarts first go.....until the next morning!
Im just putting it down to lack of recent use combined with build up of cack in carbs. Also might be worth putting new fuel in and getting a good run to blow the cobwebs off her. Ive had mine out a couple of times in the last week and it defo seems a lot better now.

[Pete.L]

I'm thinking big cold engine and thick oil.
It'll take more amps from the battery to turn it over and the spark will suffer accordingly.
Once it's warm the issue goes away cause the oils a bit thinner.
Might be worth checking all the starter leads and connectors between the battery and the startermoter, take them apart and give them a good clean and regrease, might help.

Pete.l

[gilson]

QUOTE:
Will take it for a really good blast this weekend and fill up with new fuel and hopefully this will clear anything out that possible may have got stuck in carbs or somewhere.

The old Italian tune.... good on you.

Not that it adds much performance benefit but it did make my Storm run with fewer vibes, use some high octane fuel (Shell) mainly for the cleaning properties. Perhaps use soem carb cleaner in the fuel too?

The rev the wangers off it...

Good luck and let us know how you get on.