Starting!

LotusSevenMan · Post by **LotusSevenMan** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 4:40 pm

Well helped my starting problem big time by............................ removing the footrest return spring! The thing can then be folded up. Kickstarter used properly without fear of hitting your ankle etc. Started first time this afternoon after loads of wet weather yesterday and last night with the bike sat outside just under a cover.
Sorted!

LotusSevenMan · Post by **LotusSevenMan** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 3:17 pm

Not all perfect.
I have a fuel problem as in the fuel doesn't seem to get to the carbs. Fine once started but a damn nuisnace if the bikle is left for a couple of weeks.
Could thae fuel tap iteself be at fault due to perhaps not pulling the diapragm open/on when kicked over? Mind you, it still has the problem with the tap on prime so?

Any ideas anyone? I have already checked out the carbs re. correct float height etc and once running the bike is good as gold and starts easily then so ???

mgtkr1 · Post by **mgtkr1** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:36 pm

turn the fuel tap to prime until you KNOW fuel is supplying the carbs accordingly. if in doubt leave it on prime. check the vaccum pipe ect.

LotusSevenMan · Post by **LotusSevenMan** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:02 pm

Done that prime bit everytime I start it now for ages, but still a problem. What's left to cause the lack of fuel supply to carbs? Forgot to mention that when it does start it initially starts on one carb then almost immediately goes over to the two cylinders firing. Once started it is a first kick/hand turn over affair with both firing instantly.
Haven't figured out which side starts first but it is definitely a fuelling problem.
I have the needles on their lowest setiing as that is how the bike seems to want it 'to go' without being too rich. It might withstand the needles one notch higher. Would that be it or a different set of primary jets????

Garry · Post by **Garry** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:21 pm

one of mines like that so i tend to keep using it regular - not the answer i know

think its probably down to float heights but it took me ages to stop them
leaking so i tend to put up with it

LotusSevenMan · Post by **LotusSevenMan** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:45 pm

Garry wrote:one of mines like that so i tend to keep using it regular - not the answer i know

think its probably down to float heights but it took me ages to stop them
leaking so i tend to put up with it

Well maybe I'll look at those heights again. Nothing to be lost except a lot of right leg excersise!!

JanBros · Post by **JanBros** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:47 pm

mine also is a pain in the ass to start when not run in a long time

and it also starts first with one cylinder and a few seconds later the second kicks in.

to overcome that, I drilled a hole in the airbox (through the small hole in the side panel beneath the seat) and I just inject some start-pilot through there

LotusSevenMan · Post by **LotusSevenMan** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:07 pm

I'm not alone then!!!!
I suppose if used normally as they were meant to have been ie. most days this isn't a problem. Mine won't get started for three weeks etc sometimes.
Is Start Pilot like Easi-Start? That is basically a spray ether mix that is highly volitile? I tried Easi-Start into the air intakes but think it needs injecting closer to the carbs to get max effect as it might evaporate before it gets through the Piper foam filter.
Might look at a one-pipe-to-'T'-piece affair feeding close to the carbs then to see if that helps to get the initial start and then the draw through for the fuel as per normal.
Ummm, thinking cap on. Maybe it needs a couple of nipples (oooh err missus) about where the oil feeds go into the carb stubs doesn't it???
Thoughts guys?

Bikemike · Post by **Bikemike** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:17 pm

Mine is just the same

I haven't started it for almost two months now, and I keep putting it off as I know it will be 30 mins of kicking and swearing before it goes.
I don't fancy using easi start as mine uses premix, theres not much lubrication in ether!
I know I should use it more but when it doesn't get above freezing all day.........

Mike

JanBros · Post by **JanBros** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:47 pm

LotusSevenMan wrote:Is Start Pilot like Easi-Start? That is basically a spray ether mix that is highly volitile? I tried Easi-Start into the air intakes but think it needs injecting closer to the carbs to get max effect as it might evaporate before it gets through the Piper foam filter.

don't know about EASI-START, I'm from Barcelona

(well Belgium acctualy

).

but yes, it probably is the same, and the way I use it it works just fine

ScottaKR · Post by **ScottaKR** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 3:14 am

JanBros wrote:
LotusSevenMan wrote:Is Start Pilot like Easi-Start? That is basically a spray ether mix that is highly volitile? I tried Easi-Start into the air intakes but think it needs injecting closer to the carbs to get max effect as it might evaporate before it gets through the Piper foam filter.
don't know about EASI-START, I'm from Barcelona (well Belgium acctualy ).

but yes, it probably is the same, and the way I use it it works just fine

I think the difference is that JanBros has most likely drilled the hole in the plenum area of the airbox underneath the filter (am I correct here Jan?). This means that the Easy-Start/Start-Pilot (or Aero-Start in Australia

) dosn't have it's volitiles absorbed by the filter.

If your not getting fuel to the carbs even on Prime, I'd try testing the tap by disconnecting the hoses from the carb and feeding them into a fuel safe container. Test it on run by sucking on the vaccum hose to lift the diaphram, then see how it flows on prime.

LotusSevenMan · Post by **LotusSevenMan** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:37 am

On 'Prime' the fuel absolutely pi$$es out as I found when removing the tank and forgetting to move the tap back to 'Run'.

On prime the fuel effectively bypasses the diaphragm anyway so is gravity fed like bikes of old. That relies on the float height/float needles to do their job and stop the flow. Didn't always work in the past nor with more modern carbs either with wear & tolerances so hence why the diaphragm and to save riders who can't turn a tap on and off ha ha.

Sheik Yerbouti · Post by **Sheik Yerbouti** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:31 am

Aero-Start in Australia

Well I prefer "start ya bastard" mostly for the name......
It's a tandem owners best friend, sure it's not good for the motor, but it's much better for my leg.

ScottaKR · Post by **ScottaKR** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:03 am

Well at least it works properly on prime...

so that pretty much leaves float/needle sticking.

How long are your fuel hoses?
Thinking maybe they're looping up a bit, or maybe kinking a little.

Sheik Yerbouti wrote:
Aero-Start in Australia
Well I prefer "start ya bastard" mostly for the name......
It's a tandem owners best friend, sure it's not good for the motor, but it's much better for my leg.

Yeah, forgot about "Start Ya Bastard".

Absolute classic bit of marketing that. =D>