My lady never started easily, any ideas?

[jpangrazio]

I bought my 98 Valkyrie new and have had problems starting it from the very beginning if it sits for a couple of days. The number of days depends on how cold it is. If it's 90 degrees it might take a week; if it's 50 degrees it might take 8 hours.

It fires up and runs for a second or 2 and dies. I repeat that process about 10 times to get it running. It seems to be running out of fuel when it is starting. I've tried every combination of choke, no choke, pumping the throttle before firing it up and not touching the throttle. I've never been able to get it to just start up.

Once it starts it runs great!

Again, it's been doing this since the day I bought it new.

[ptgb]

When you push the choke lever down and it stops... push it some more. You really have to give it a good push for that final inch or so; it actually engages in that final inch. Should fire right up.

Excuse the simplicity of my response if you are already aware of this.

[jpangrazio]

Thanks, I'm going to try it tonight when I get home.

I've been reading some of the other posts about similar topics and some other guys have said the same thing.

I'll kick myself if that turns out to be it...12 years of hard starting because I didn't push hard enough on the choke lever is a little embarrassing.

It could be the problem because I've often commented that the choke doesn't seem to do anything.

[Hef]

I hope that is your problem. If so, it's an easy fix. When I first bought the Valk, I had a similar problem. Read about the hard pushing choke issue on this site and my problem was solved. Lot's of experience and knowledge in this group. Good Luck.

[Gator John]

My '98 has always been a little that way. I've found using no throttle until it has cranked a couple seconds, then hitting the throttle, seems to work in warm weather.  But in cold weather if I use the throttle it floods.  Using carb cleaner in the gas a couple times a year helps too.  Even after installing an advance trigger wheel and using premium, same thing. Had the carbs tuned once a couple years ago. Didn't notice any difference. 31K on the odometer. The guys are right about really having to jam that choke down.  Have often wondered if eventually something might break pushing down so hard.

[ptgb]

I'll kick myself if that turns out to be it...12 years of hard starting because I didn't push hard enough on the choke lever is a little embarrassing.

Don't be embarrassed in the least, if that turns out to be the problem. That's what makes this board so great... many knowledgeable people who are willing to share it with everyone else; the only cost being a political post or two that we have to wade through  
 
Where do you think I first found out about pushing the lever harder... right here on the good ol' VRCC boards. Add to that the 14,364 other things that you will learn here about these wonderful machines, and you'll see what I mean pretty quick...

Ride on  

[Pete]

You would not be the first.
When I bought my 97 the prior owner, had the same complaint.
He even went thru this long discussion on how I should cold start it and about how cold natured it was.

It is not cold natured and starts like a dream when correctly (choked) fuel enriched (cold) or warm.

He had lived with the issue for 12+ years and had not really made any effort to determine why.

Good luck hope that is it sure sounds like it.

[jpangrazio]

Went home last night and tried pushing harder on the choke (even gave a little assist on the linkage at the carburator because it seemed so hard and I thought I was going to break something) and you guys were absolutely right. I pushed it probably another inch past where I had been stopping and it started in 1/10 of a second. I hit the starter without touching the throttle at all and it fired right up, ran at 1500 rpm for 10 seconds, climbed to 2,000 and I started slowly backing off the choke and drove away. Just like you would think it should.

I actually prefer driving in cold weather so the hard starting was a real annoyance...I had actually gotten to the point where I moved the title to my top drawer and was considering selling her.

Thanks for the advice

[vanagon40]

Congratulations and welcome to the VRCC. 

[Bone]

Glad you found this board. My 98 Tourer starts great in cold weather. I came here 5 years ago and learned how to choke the  "Fat Lady"

[ptgb]

Excellent! 

[Chrisj CMA]

Just because it starts easier with the choke on.  The fact that it will not start and stay running on a warm day without the choke on says you may have vacuum leacks.  If yours has not been desmogged (still has vacuum lines) have they ever been changed, if not..........they ARE cracked by now

[Pete]

On a warm day I do not use any choke because it makes it hard to start.
97 Std and 99 IS

[John U.]

Went home last night and tried pushing harder on the choke (even gave a little assist on the linkage at the carburator because it seemed so hard and I thought I was going to break something) and you guys were absolutely right. I pushed it probably another inch past where I had been stopping and it started in 1/10 of a second. I hit the starter without touching the throttle at all and it fired right up, ran at 1500 rpm for 10 seconds, climbed to 2,000 and I started slowly backing off the choke and drove away. Just like you would think it should.

I actually prefer driving in cold weather so the hard starting was a real annoyance...I had actually gotten to the point where I moved the title to my top drawer and was considering selling her.

Thanks for the advice

I give my choke a assist by pulling on the right (brake) side of the choke linkage with my index finger. It's easy enough and might reduce the chances of breaking something.
Glad the fix was so easy. I had the same trouble until I read about it here. It's hard to say if I would have pushed it harder otherwise. It really seems like you've pushed it hard enough that more force will break it.

[fudgie]

Yea, I took mine back to the dealer cause she wouldnt start for me.  Dam choke.

[HondaV]

As a new owner I was so happy to see this post!  After I tried to start mine as was stated it did run after about the 10 - 20 attempt.  The replies were right on spot!  I went right out and pulled the choke down till it stopped and then I pulled down another 1".  Turned the key and before I could take my thumb off of the start button, she was running!  Thanks!

[Sneaky Snake]

Thanks jpangrazio for asking the question and thanks to others for the answers.  I'm new to the Valk and since cooler weather i was having same problem with same cure.  The Valk starts like a new one now that i know how to use the choke.  I had never had a Honda before that was ever hard to start.  I'm glad mine was pilot error too.
Thanks Again,
Chris

[Walküre]

Sorry if superflous, but just a quick mention - if you haven't choked your bike, since you've owned it, even if you THOUGHT you did, it can easily become gunked up, corroded, or something, and not want to return all the way to "off" when you DO finally get 'er choked. Wouldn't hurt to take off the chrome, and make sure it is returning fully. I know MINE didn't want to, when I first got her, this past summer, with 9,000 miles on it. Not sure if it's what gave my pipes the nice, bluish tint, but it's a possibility. Checked it when I first noticed the blue, and hasn't gotten any worse at all, but doesn't idle quite as quick as she did, and gets a few miles/gallon better use.

R

[bigfish_Oh]

I just discovered this after running my battery down and getting a push start after work in the cold last week. It started fine the next night, choking working as it should, but I will still replace the original '99 battery. I was assuming the cable was stretched, but sounds normal to all of them. I had a 1/4" of choke.