I Almost Gave Up by the 80th Kick...

[Jeff Higgins]

Thank God it started on the 81st...

My old Ironhead Sportster has never been "hard to start". *After my just completed tranny rebuild, after having sat for three months, it started on the second kick. *My routine is to lift the enrichener (S&S Super E Shorty carburetor), give it three priming kicks, then turn on the ignition. *Usually starts in a kick or two. *Today, however, after having sat for a week awaiting another break in the weather, she defied me. *My usual routine did nothing, so I went through it a few more times. *Then I lowered the enrichener, gave it three shots of accelerator pump, cracked the throttle a wee bit, and tried again. *Nothing. *I alternated these routines several times to no avail.

Finally, getting more than slightly peeved, I said "screw it" and gave her ten shots on the accelerator pump, held the throttle open a crack, and... she fired right up. *Granted, my accelerator pump is turned way, way down - almost off, so it doesn't really shoot much gas at all - but fer crisakes, she's never given me this much of a fight. I was concerned I had flooded (or was going to flood) it, but apparently I would have to try a lot harder to pull that off. *

Absolutely ran like a champ once started. *Just weird. *She sits in an unheated garage, and we have seen teens and single digit temps overnight lately, but it was darn near 40 degrees out today when I got started.

​​​​​​​Just venting, I guess. *I had a fantastic ride. *Really liking the new "C" gear set. *But, man, at 63 years old, I'm getting too old for that nonsense.

[masraum]

I know it's a motorsickle, but reading your story had me picturing this...

[LWJ]

Congrats! I have a new-to-me Dirtbike that I have been tinkering with through the cold. No idea if it will start. Glad it finally fired up for you!

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by masraum

I know it's a motorsickle, but reading your story had me picturing this...

Notice he's holding the handle thumb out... not for nothin'.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I'm also getting weary of pull start engines.
My power washer intimidates me. Spring is coming. A showdown looms.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I'm also getting weary of pull start engines.
My power washer intimidates me. Spring is coming. A showdown looms.

Heh heh. Who will emerge victorious? Time will tell.

[Jeff Higgins]

Ah, one of the sacred rights of Spring - me vs. the pressure washer. I've learned to not only drain the float bowl and gas tank, but to flush the fuel line as well before putting it away for the winter. Seems to help.

The motorcycle, however, has no excuses. It started easier after it had sat longer. Literally the second "live" kick after sitting for three months. Sits for a week, and wouldn't start for love or money. Nor any of the sweet nothings I began muttering in its ear...

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Yeah, your kick start thing hit close to home.

Where I live, it was in the 20's today. Not extremely cold, but I had FOUR different things all go kaput, as if it were negative 20.

It's like everything got spoiled and couldn't cope.

Sounds like you've got a good handle on the bike. 10 shots on the pump 'should' have flooded it. I always think of Jimmy Stewart in "Flight of the Pheonix" when I get to that point.

As for kick starts, my bad leg left me kissing motorcycles goodbye a long time ago. Get some good miles in for me!

[Rusty Heap]

Jeff you need one of these for your brick driveway. don't go cheap and buy a plastic one.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/SurfaceMaxx-Pro-4500-PSI-Rotating-Surface-Cleaner-for-Gas-Pressure-Washers/1000382309

[rwest]

My 6 or 7 year old Toro snow thrower literally started on the first pull this winter.

I drain the fuel out and run it dry each spring, fill it with ethanol free fuel just before trying, choke, three pumps of the primer and one pull!

It is a 4 cycle and stored in a 50 degree garage, so that might help it a bit?

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I've got a tree that's going to topple in the front yard any minute now. Tell you what, when the time comes, I'm da*mn sure going to pull the Stihl indoors and warm it in front of a space heater before I pull that cord. It's new and hasn't even broken in yet.

+1 on etoh free.

[A930Rocket]

If it starts after three months, it’s obvious you started it 11 weeks too soon! 😂

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I've got a tree that's going to topple in the front yard any minute now. Tell you what, when the time comes, I'm da*mn sure going to pull the Stihl indoors and warm it in front of a space heater before I pull that cord. It's new and hasn't even broken in yet.

+1 on etoh free.

Hell, I'd bring it to bed with me. Curl a leg over it, whisper in its carburetor...

[manbridge 74]

My method that has worked for years from easily vapor locked XR650 to many two strokes: put it in gear and back it up until high engine resistance, or slow kick to max resistance in neutral. Then a smooth firm kick for success.

[Baz]

Of 13 motorcycles....only 2 of mine are kick start......



Whenever they give me trouble it's almost always fuel related!

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Baz

Whenever they give me trouble it's almost always fuel related!

Yup. In this case, I was worried about flooding her, and was reluctant to give her more fuel. Turns out that's what she wanted.

Which is part of why we refer to our mechanical partners as "she". Totally inexplicable. Last week, almost no fuel at all, starting on whatever she could inhale via the enrichener. No accelerator pump at all. This week, all the gas I could get into her via an epileptic fit on the throttle. Next week (when the weather clears again, after our ten day forecast of 38 degree rain), she will want something else entirely. Women. And motorcycles...

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Yup. In this case, I was worried about flooding her, and was reluctant to give her more fuel. Turns out that's what she wanted.

Which is part of why we refer to our mechanical partners as "she". Totally inexplicable. Last week, almost no fuel at all, starting on whatever she could inhale via the enrichener. No accelerator pump at all. This week, all the gas I could get into her via an epileptic fit on the throttle. Next week (when the weather clears again, after our ten day forecast of 38 degree rain), she will want something else entirely. Women. And motorcycles...

100%, Jeff. Each machine/carb/fuel system has it's own personality....and you just gotta find out what works.....not easy!

I was out working on my Interceptor fuel tanks this afternoon when my mail carrier arrived with a package.

We know each other pretty good and usually have a brief chat on occasions like this.

Today's chat centered around how working on our cars/motorcycles is such good therapy. His comment....even when it's not going well....it beats the hell out of what's going on in the rest of the world!

[KFC911]

LOL .... sleeping with my first virgin Stihl didn't help me one bit ... and the old gal is still a hoot with proper foreplay done EXACTLY to her satisfaction.... or NO "happy start >>> happy ending" is gonna happen ... EVAR!

Weed eatin' beotch .... she's never had a drop of corn squeezins and still hates modern "good gas" .... new Stihl sluts are easy

My log splitter Honda motor is my big "foreplay", arm workout.... rode hard, put away wet for months.... she don't like it one bit ... hasn't for decades!

[Wayne 962]

My 40 Knucklehead once took 83 or so tries to get it. This is after smacking me in the shin several times. Now I have a side car attached, which makes it 10X more dangerous!

-Wayne

[Flatbutt1]

I sacrificed a chicken and burned a pile of tobacco in honor of the motorcycle gods when the electric leg first came out.