Spring is coming

[DGS65]

Finally had a chance to stop by my in laws and start my bike I discovered there actually is a need for the choke I also discovered mine wasn't actually working or was at least very hard to engage!  Is there a way to lubricate it so that it slides easier?  I thought I was going to break the cable before it finally moved but once it did the bike started right up.

[Jess from VA]

If you lube it, it won't stay on.  So don't do it.  (lube would be down at the linkage, not the lever)

Push it down with the thumb, then lean on it for that last third inch.   Both mine are hard, but have never broken (even though at first, I thought I might break something). 

And do your best not to forget and leave it on for the ride.  It fouls the plugs.

[Bighead]

After Bob aka attic rat did his GLH package on my bee the enrichment lever moves smooth as butter and not hard at the end as it was before. i dont know what he did to make it easier but it worked.

[DGS65]

I do believe it could stand a touch of oil!
I understand that it may not hold in place but being I don't plan to leave it on long I'm OK with this.
I made the mistake of lubing the ouput shoot direction turnscrew on my snowblower now the vibrations make it turn on it's own this was a mistake.  Here I think the benefits out weigh the risk. But thanks for the heads up!

[mrgeoff]

When I first got my 99 CT, I was aware of the choke lever operation (hard at the final end)...After a few months I decided to replace the choke cable...Glad I did...It seems as though it needed the lever replaced due to being broken...I didn't even know that the lever was broken inside the housing...Might want to check it out...Wouldn't hurt to replace the cable while there...!!!

[hubcapsc]

I don't plan to leave it on long

Hmmm.... 

I oiled mine five or six years ago. Now I jamb a stick into
the mechanism above the carburetors to keep the choke
on long enough to get the bike to run without it. It might be
starting to get a little better...

-Mike

[DGS65]

I have only owned the bike for about 1 year so I'm far from an expert but in this time this was the first time I ever felt I needed the choke.
This said now that I have used it and realized how much it helped I may use it more in the future:)

[Brian]

Glad to see this thread as just this past week my choke or enrichment lever would instantly return to the run position. This 97 has always stayed in the position where I would leave it, except that last little bit to fully open the e/r valves. I have replaced this cable once when it broke at the lever. The cable has never been lubed. My question is, is the friction on e/r shaft seals or the slide linkage washers what causes the valves to stay open? The wimpy little return spring is applying just enough pressure to move everything back. I did make one washer out of a piece of plastic just a little bit thicker than the OEM fiber washer with same diameter hole to fit just like the OEM in order to experiment. This one washer restored the choke operation.

I have always started this bike cold with the choke on and would walk away to get my riding gear on as it warms up. If something has worn and needs replaced I would like to do it while the parts are still available. Does anyone know if the rubber e/r shaft seals are available without having to buy the whole valve from mother Honda? The slide linkage washers are expensive enough?

[cookiedough]

I have only owned the bike for about 1 year so I'm far from an expert but in this time this was the first time I ever felt I needed the choke.
This said now that I have used it and realized how much it helped I may use it more in the future:)

I admit it,   when I first bought my 01 I/S back 9+ years ago,  in the cold spring weather,  I got stranded darn near after work in parking lot.  I just bought it and would not fire over.  Pretty much ruined almost the starter button/dead battery, etc. trying to get it to keep running.  I pushed the choke down what I thought all the way and cranked, cranked, cranked dozens of times would not fire over.  I thought i bought a lemon.  Did the research that night,  and YES, MUST push the choke lever down that exta 1/2 inch or so and fired right up NO issues.  Felt like an idiot calling the wife to come pick me up after work and leaving the bike sit there at work overnight, well almost....  

What I find more confusing and interesting, is my 98 tourer with double the mileage does not need the choke lever pushed down all the way except when very cold out vs. the 01 I/S needing the choke lever all the time all the way down when first firing up or sitting overnight in say 60 degree temps and lower.