Hard start...

[mrgeoff]

I have a 99CT...new battery...carbs sync'd...new fuel petcock...Desmog mod...Runs great...I close the choke, open the petcock and turn on the ignition sw., and press the starter sw. and the bike seems to crank for several seconds before she starts...she will start right up if I open the throttle a little with the choke closed...just seems to bother me...shouldn't the bike start right up??? Let me know what to check...just a little annoying...!!! Thanks...!!!

[Harryc]

Depending on the outside temp they can be a bit finicky to start. This always works for me. Choke on, petcock open, at the same instant that you you press the starter button give the throttle a little blip and release it. It will start right up every tine. If it's really cold out I don't have to do this...just choke and press the starter button.

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Could just be poor fuel quality.Try a tank of premium.

[Chrisj CMA]

I never use the enricher (choke) to start it. After it's running I use it to keep it at 1000rpms for a minute or two then off and off I go

[Tfrank59]

Depending on the outside temp they can be a bit finicky to start. This always works for me. Choke on, petcock open, at the same instant that you you press the starter button give the throttle a little blip and release it. It will start right up every tine. If it's really cold out I don't have to do this...just choke and press the starter button.

Same procedure for me although even in the cold I have to give the throttle a blip.  It's not annoying if you know that's what she wants every time

[gordonv]

I have a 99CT...new battery...carbs sync'd...new fuel petcock...Desmog mod...Runs great...I close the choke, open the petcock and turn on the ignition sw., and press the starter sw. and the bike seems to crank for several seconds before she starts...she will start right up if I open the throttle a little with the choke closed...just seems to bother me...shouldn't the bike start right up??? Let me know what to check...just a little annoying...!!! Thanks...!!!

Exactly the same way my 1st IS behaved when starting. Enricher, and very light on the throttle. Too much, and it would flood. Then back everything off, and crank till it clears of fuel and starts.

Like said, at least you know how to start it. Something wrong? Don't know, wrote the bike off before I could look it over. I also had a slower than I thought it should be, recovery to idle.

[mrgeoff]

Want to thank everyone for chiming in...It has put my mind at ease about how I am starting my Lady...It has been really hot this summer and I do notice the difference in how she acts...Thanks...!!!

[Grandpot]

Same here with me.  I don't use the choke until the temperature goes down to 40F.

[Firefighter]

If you grew up when cars had carburetors you would remember that you nearly always had to give a little throttle while starting or a pump before starting, but no more or they would flood. When flooded you had to hold your foot pedal to the floor while cranking. Most every car started a little different.

I usually use the enricher valve with first start of the day cause it starts quick then holds a higher idle until it begins to warm up after that I have to guess a little or listen to the engine. At the gas pump I just push the start button and its running, hasn't sat to long, but if I let the bike sit 15 minutes I will need to give just a little throttle for a quick start.

[mrgeoff]

Yes Firef...I remember growing up and working on carbs...I also had a 04 VTX 1300C...Love those carbs...went to a 2006VTX 1800R which had FI...I now have my Fat Lady and I do prefer her carbs...She is a lot easier to work on...!!!

[John Schmidt]

With the temps you've been having you shouldn't even need the choke. I can't remember the last time I used mine, possibly this past winter when the temp was in the 30's or 40's, but even then I try it without first and often starts. It's then I might use the choke to keep the rpm's up for around 30 seconds. My 1200 Wing I've never had to use the choke, two blades and it fires right up. 

[Tfrank59]

This might be pacific Northwest climate thing but I almost always have to use the choke/enricher with my bike. The only time I don't is if I'm firing it up after riding for a while and she's fully warmed up. If I don't use it when the motor is not warm I end up cranking it several seconds before she fires. 

[Gideon]

This might be pacific Northwest climate thing but I almost always have to use the choke/enricher with my bike. The only time I don't is if I'm firing it up after riding for a while and she's fully warmed up. If I don't use it when the motor is not warm I end up cranking it several seconds before she fires. 

I start the same way here in Indy. Been doing that since purchasing the bike new in 2003.

[MarkT]

Mine have been hard to start if the battery is weak or the valves are too tight.