Kill Switch vs. Key Ignition during a hot engine start

[wakeupmaggie]

I took my DT300i in today for it's first 600 mile checkup/oilchange.  I told the mechanic that the bike doesn't like to start when the engine is hot.

He said he was perplexed when another customer said the same thing and that after two days of looking at that bike he called Kymco and they told him that you shouldn't turn your bike off using the kill switch.  Turn it off using only the key.

He explained to me that turning the bike off by the kill switch vs. the key is like pressing the on button on your computer to turn it off instead of doing it properly (windows/shutdown/....).  The only way the computer shuts down on the bike completely is to turn it off using the key. 

I was instructed to use either the kill switch or the key by the salesman when I picked up my new scooter and the mechanic has asked them not to do that, but that the salesmen didn't like hearing that and will continue to tell new owners that using the kill switch is just fine.  Go figure.

Just thought I'd pass this along in case any of you are having the same problem. 

[Stig / Major Tom]

Was told pretty much the same at my dealer by my service manager....though he admits there are differing views on this subject.
Kill switch is emergency cut-off to shut things down quickly.....almost like an electrically activated stall of the engine. Fuel is still trying to be pumped, etc. (sounds like your scoot is partially flooded using kill switch, causing troubled start)
Turning off by key lets bike shut things down in proper & safe sequence, I'm told.

[mverps]

my observation on sales people is that about 1 out of 5 is well informed and educated about the product they sell. the other 4 are BS artists. Thanks for the info on the kill switch.
Mike

[ophelia]

I've never had any trouble stopping any of my bikes with the kill switch and starting back up again. Electric fuel pump, mechanical fuel pump, carburetion, fuel injection don't make a difference. I even start my Hondas before their fuel injection systems have finished self-testing.

See if the kill switch behaviour helps with hot starts. Whether it does or it does not, do come back and tell us.

I do suspect Honda has longer experience tuning their fuel injection systems than Kymco. Honda also runs Keihin fuel injection, and it's spotless on my 2011 bike. My Downtown 300i has been updated with new software via computer swap, but I will test my Downtown 300i after I get some new rollers in. I think it sometime stalls while stopped issue because of sticking clutch.

[CosmoKorny]

Interesting.  I just finished the MSF rider course with my boys, one of the first things taught is to get into the habit of turning the bike off with the kill switch, followed by the key.  The reasoning is you will then not have to think about where the kill switch is and how to operate it, the process will be automatic and in an emergency situation such as dumping the bike you will not need to remove your hands from the bars, by reaching for the key, to kill the engine. 

I took one boy out practicing on the MSF course just last night, he tipped the bike over twice, and calmly hit the kill switch twice.     "Lucky" for us we have a carb not injection.

[CROSSBOLT]

My opinion (take it for what it is worth or what you paid for it!) the hot start is caused by.........INITIALIZE or the need for it. Another symptom is "goofy" idle (too fast, too slow, stalling). DT300i initialize is easy: key off, start/run in run, open throttle to stop, key on, eight seconds later close throttle, key off. Do it all over again if you do not see improvement. (Bill Gates/ MicroSoft repair).

Karl

[Joe7911]

WELL 1 IN 5 IS BEING VERY NICE. WERE I LIVE I SAY 1 IN 10 HAVE A MINIMAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRODUCT THEY ARE SELLING. I FIND THAT SALESPEOPLE WILL SAY ALMOST ANYTHING TO MAKE THE SALE. BEST IS DO RESEARCH YOURSELF BEFORE PURCHASE.

[wakeupmaggie]

To follow up on this topic - Turning off my scooter using the key seems to do the trick.  It has started up right away while warm the last three times I tried.

[Rbt Jean]

Don't forget its always buyer beware. Do your research and make your own decision, your the one that musr live with it.   How ever using the kill switch is for an emergency.   

[CosmoKorny]

To follow up on this topic - Turning off my scooter using the key seems to do the trick.  It has started up right away while warm the last three times I tried.

Thanks for the update maggie.  I have since stopped using the kill switch or the sidestand to kill the engine, turning the key instead.  My carbed 250 also seems to start more readily using the proper sequence.