Cold starting SOB

[2wheelfun]

Are there any tricks to starting a cold/20deg carbed scoot? Auto choke on a bike is new to me. Usually takes 5 or 6 3sec burts of the starter to get it idling in cold weather. In warm weather or when engine is warm 1 2sec burst is all that's needed to get her purring. Any adjustments on the carb to help? Scoot runs great just cold start issue and it's annoying. Any ideas?

[zombie]

You could enrich the idle mix to add more fuel or the real answer is to up jet both the idle, and the main.
Also one step colder on the spark plug really makes a difference.

The fact of the matter is cold air is denser, and it leans out the bike. These tiny carbs respond to tiny changes.

[blue]

I use to always have 2 carbs.one for the cold weather and one for the warmer weather.the , one for colder weather had a 85 jet in it and a little biger idle jet.

[BettinANDlosing]

Are there any tricks to starting a cold/20deg carbed scoot? Auto choke on a bike is new to me. Usually takes 5 or 6 3sec burts of the starter to get it idling in cold weather. In warm weather or when engine is warm 1 2sec burst is all that's needed to get her purring. Any adjustments on the carb to help? Scoot runs great just cold start issue and it's annoying. Any ideas?

What bike do you have? I have the bystarter blocked off on my bet and win and on cold mornings i just reach down and choke the airbox with my hand. 50% of Kymcos have airboxes you can choke by hand. Otherwise like zombie said richen the mixture 1\4- 1\2 turn. Hard starting in the cold can be a sign of a dirty carb too, if the bike is totally stock it should start easy even down to freezing.

[2wheelfun]

2013 movie 150, I'll try enriching it a 1/4 turn out and see if that helps.

[blue]

Try useing 98 grade gas.or add a litte jet fuel to the tank.

[BettinANDlosing]

Ohh a movie nice! That thing should run like a top. Keep in mind if you haven't changed it already it has a stupid cap over the mixture screw and the D shaped non tamper screw under that! Sucks.... And you can't choke the movie. The movie has an odd factory setting of 3.5 turns out so double check its there. If its anything less like 2.5 try 3.5 as your base setting. The movie is a much happier bike if you take the emissions stuff off and use an iridium NGK spark plug. It'd be worth checking the cleanliness of the idle jet and passageway, if the bike sat on the dealers floor it could be clogged slightly.

[tortoise]

Are there any tricks to starting a cold/20deg carbed scoot? Auto choke on a bike is new to me.

Review starting circuit.

[blue]

Seafoam.

[zombie]

I wish they would send us $$$!   SeaFoam...

[MassScoot]

Seafoam is truly a wonder product. When I keep my SYM HD200 @ my mothers home in Florida, I add Seafoam, StarBrite ethanol treatment & a dash of Gumout octane booster. I was down there last week after 8 months. It took 3 turns & she started right-up. 

[ce]

Cold start problems are usually attributed to improper valve clearance.

If you have more than 1000 miles on it, it may need a valve adjustment. Most often the exhaust valve closes over time as the engine settles in.

Check the clearance with a feeler gauge, should be .004" intake, and .006" exhaust, if it's close to that it's good to go. The exhaust valve has to handle the hot gas so it is usually the one to change.

Any service pro can check it for you if you're not sure, but it's a good skill to have if you're adroit with your scooter.

My Super 8 150 hits on the first crank every time, unless the battery is low, then I'll hook up the charger to get more amps, and bong, I'm gone.

[BettinANDlosing]

Cold start problems are usually attributed to improper valve clearance.

If you have more than 1000 miles on it, it may need a valve adjustment. Most often the exhaust valve closes over time as the engine settles in.

Check the clearance with a feeler gauge, should be .004" intake, and .006" exhaust, if it's close to that it's good to go. The exhaust valve has to handle the hot gas so it is usually the one to change.

Any service pro can check it for you if you're not sure, but it's a good skill to have if you're adroit with your scooter.

My Super 8 150 hits on the first crank every time, unless the battery is low, then I'll hook up the charger to get more amps, and bong, I'm gone.

.004" exhaust and intake******

[Stig / Major Tom]

22 degrees the other morning when I went to start the Honda.
The Kymco LIKE200i starts so fast in all temps except very hot...(then the engine turns over maybe 2 or 3 times before starting.) But cold, that goofy thing fires -BANG! as soon as you touch the start button.

So........not thinking, I did the same with the Honda on this cold morning: touched the start button and quickly let go.
Wrong! The Honda does not like this....it must crank for maybe 2 or 3 seconds and when it fires then you let go of the button.
Consequently I had what seemed to be a flooded engine on the Honda. Took 4 or 5 tries after waiting a few...then it c r a n k e d  with some flegm which had to be cleared with the throttle before settling into a smooth idle.

I gotta remember which scoot I'm sitting on for the very cold starts. Crank the Honda ; touch the Kymco. Interesting.
PS: on the city bus I just drop in the 3 quarters and the driver throws me across the floor. VERY quick starting!(Kymco EFI ??)
Stig

[zombie]

Everything is made in China these days...