Brrrr... = No Start

[motogp52]

I had this very problem on one of my FJ's a while back.  The bike would start and run flawless in warmer weather.  However, in colder weather I would have to crank the bike over and over until it would finally start.  Sometimes if it were cold enough I wouldn't be able to get the bike started at all.  Come to find out my choke circuits were partially clogged.  To start the bike in the cold I took the seat and left side cover off, disconnected the slide bar from the #1 cylinder choke circuit and sprayed a small amount of starter fluid inside the choke circuit.  The bike started right up. Obviously, when I had the time I pulled the carbs completely off and cleaned the choke circuits well to fix the problem. Having clean choke circuits is a must in cold weather.

[airheadPete]

Yeah, I was afraid I might pull the choke knob off trying to start it. Going to Edmonton tomorrow for work, a balmy -9* for a low, (that's not bad, actually). Get back to the FJ on Thursday. Cold snap should be over. Supposed to be 43* and rain, (the usual), so expecting it'll start fine, we'll see. Took the battery home anyway to nurse it on the charger. Think I'm gonna need one of those 'no longer free' choke screws. She's been doing so well, I really don't want to dive into another set of carbs, (groan). 

[jscgdunn]

My car thermometer last Saturday morning.  Friday was colder (-37).

[mz_rider]

Wow! that's cold. A balmy 12C(54F) today here in Scotland at 56 degrees north - thank the good old gulf stream.

My car thermometer last Saturday morning.  Friday was colder (-37).

[FeralRdr]

Yeah, I was afraid I might pull the choke knob off trying to start it. Going to Edmonton tomorrow for work, a balmy -9* for a low, (that's not bad, actually). Get back to the FJ on Thursday. Cold snap should be over. Supposed to be 43* and rain, (the usual), so expecting it'll start fine, we'll see. Took the battery home anyway to nurse it on the charger. Think I'm gonna need one of those 'no longer free' choke screws. She's been doing so well, I really don't want to dive into another set of carbs, (groan). 

You should be able to get the screw from most Ace hardware stores.  Rose City Hardware had them at their Vancouver location for .30 last year, so they should also have them at their Portland location on Sandy Blvd.  It's a 2.5 x 6 mm screw, and I highly recommend loctite.

[racerrad8]

Cold snap should be over.

Lets hope so, here is the rain gutter drain in the front of the shop yesterday at 4 pm, the ice is still frozen in the sunlight.


At least we can still call it "sunny California" but the high yesterday was 40* here and the low this morning was 21*.

I want summer back...

Randy - RPM

[jscgdunn]

Yeah, but it's a dry cold

[airheadPete]

Postscript: Got back out to the FJ today. Re-installed the trickle-charged battery, added a little gas, and she fired right up. Temp 39*.
%#^+%!!!

[FeralRdr]

Niiicccccce. 

[fj1289]

Wow Pete- sure took a while to be able to get back to it...sure understand those kind of weeks. Glad it started up for you without any big issues

[airheadPete]

Thanks. Yeah, my work schedule really sucks sometimes. (Last was 24 hrs at home in ten days. Happy, happy wife!)