hard starting after warm

[Firefighter]

2000 IS starts well when cold , first start of the day, but after riding and sitting 15 or 20 minutes, or several hours will spin over for maybe at least five seconds to start. If I open the throttle it seems to help. Using the choke does not. I know that sounds on the lean side. Runs great after it starts. Other bikes I have owned start any time with a push of the button. Carbs have been cleaned, new plugs and timing belts. Any one had and cured this problem. Thanks

[Valker]

Do you slightly crack the throttle when starting?

[Firefighter]

Yes, I have to open the throttle and some times when it starts it revs much more than I want it to. Other bikes I have rode, all I had to do is push the start button and they were idling.

[salty1]

How many miles on the bike? The slow speed jets could be dirty, maybe time for plugs, maybe a weak ignition component. 

[Tx Bohemian]

firefighter, keep us (or at least me) informed on what you find.

My bike has/had a similar problem but when cold.  Actually it wouldn't start at all below 50deg. Cranked over good but wouldn't fire up. New battery, tender, car battery jump... smell gas, just wouldn't start.

The last poker run I was on right in the middle at one stop (95deg day, rode 30 miles by this time) it almost didn't start.  Cranked but would not fire up. About to call the wife to come get me and it started. Finished the rest of the run with no problems.

After that I cleaned the handlebar switch contacts (didn't look that dirty, fairly new switch) and connections on the starter relay, couple of them looked discolored like they overheated at one point. Dielectric greased everthing.

So far (been a month or so) it's been doing good. However this problem wasn't a regular occurance, usually would happen at the most inopportune times.

[Chrisj CMA]

I would check all opportunities for vacuum leaks.  Major culprits are the lines going to each center intake, the caps (not used intakes) and the intake runner clamp screws, there are 18 of them, the 12 that you can get to without moving the tank are the ones that get loose....if you have never tightenen them they are scary loose right now

[X Ring]

Check your battery.  Hard starting when warm is the first symptom of the battery starting to go.

Marty

[Firefighter]

Thanks for all your responses, more info: the plugs are new, battery is a year old ( I have had the battery problem before), De smoged already, added cruise control found all those bad vacuum caps , all new vacuum line. Already had start trouble before I did that work. We are having trouble with hot weather and gas with methanol, not sure if that is some of the problem with the Valk  or not. Will be investigating further,, thanks everyone.

[X Ring]

Before you do anything else, take the battery to a parts store and have it load tested.  Check the simple things first and just cause the battery is a year old doesn't mean it's not going bad.

Marty

[scarylarry]

hi all...posted awhile back about bike gettin hit in a parking lot  broke hiway peg, scratches..anyway   mine don't wanna start now...same symptoms  changed vac lines last fall...but does need a little throttle to go now..battery connections good..could I've shook some dirt into slow jets off the tank screen or something

[Ricky-D]

I wouldn't necessarily characterize it as "hard starting"!

The same things happens with my Valkyrie some times when it's really hot and the bike sits for a short time after running enough to be thoroughly warmed up.

I attribute it to heat.

When the bike sits after running,,, a lot of heat that has been developed,,, tends to heat up the whole carburetor system, lines, fuel, gas tank, the whole kaboodle.

I consider this when a difficulty starting up occurs.  Difficulty meaning it doesn't start in the normally instant fashion that I am familiar with.

Under this kind of circumstance, and unfamiliarity with the bike can certainly lead to a "flooding" episode simply by continuously wracking the throttle while cranking the motor.

After a dozen years I've become pretty familiar with my Valkyrie and most of it's idiosyncrasies, although it seems than the aging of the bike continues to reveal new and unusual anomalies.

***

[Hoser]

firefighter, keep us (or at least me) informed on what you find.

My bike has/had a similar problem but when cold.  Actually it wouldn't start at all below 50deg. Cranked over good but wouldn't fire up. New battery, tender, car battery jump... smell gas, just wouldn't start.

The last poker run I was on right in the middle at one stop (95deg day, rode 30 miles by this time) it almost didn't start.  Cranked but would not fire up. About to call the wife to come get me and it started. Finished the rest of the run with no problems.

After that I cleaned the handlebar switch contacts (didn't look that dirty, fairly new switch) and connections on the starter relay, couple of them looked discolored like they overheated at one point. Dielectric greased everthing.

So far (been a month or so) it's been doing good. However this problem wasn't a regular occurance, usually would happen at the most inopportune times.

At 50 degrees, you must have the choke fully closed, when it gets to what you think is full choke, push it harder, last little bit is pretty stiff.  when it starts it will fast idle, don't touch the throttle.  After a minute or two  release the choke until it idles normally, then ease it the rest the way open as you ride.  Hoser

[klb]

I had a 2001 valk that done the same thing since new had to open the throttle just a

hair when it was hot or it would take 5 second's or so to start. My 99 standard is the same also.

I had a 1981 yamaha xt 500 that had a hot start button on the bottom of the carb

you would barely crack the throttle and push the button to lock it in place while kicking.

Would crank on first kick every time. My 69 ford with a 429 4v does that also. Totally normal

from all my experiences.

[bentwrench]

My tourer is hard to start after a short hot soak 15minutes to an hour or more on really hot days.I attribute this to the fuel evaporating up into the air box and being sucked in during cranking at start up .Cracking the throttle will let in some air to help it fire that fat gulp of fuel vapors.This was a common problem with older cars especially the old big blocks.More than once i've notice some heavy gas smell after a hot start,but it runs fine and gets good milage so I don't see any other carb.problems developing.
bw

[dmorga1]

" The EVAP CAV control valve should be inspected if hot restart is difficult" From page 116 (5-27) of the HONDA Service Manual. More details on 5-27 of the manual.

[cookiedough]

Sounds to be sort of common since I too in this extreme heat when riding for 5-15 minutes shorter trips blip the throttle very lightly with no choke on of course to get it started quicker.  If I do no throttle and hit starter button on shorter trips, it doesn't want to fire over very quickly if at all.  Remember, it is 6 carbs and not fuel injected.  I have to do the same thing to the old 1986 caprice classic 305 V8 but try not to flood it though. 

[bentwrench]

The evap. controls are on california bikes.the rest had only pair valves which shouldn't have any bearing on hot starts.Mine has been the same with or without the pair system.
bw

[Firefighter]

Thanks for everyone's input. I know at the least that my bike is not the only one that doesn't always start right up. Bikes I have owned in the past were pretty much push button bikes. I rode yesterday and then started it an hour later, twisted the throttle a little and it started right up. Owned the bike for several years now. Need to learn to twist just enough to start with out reving the engine too much. Want to do good while surrounded by Harleys you know!