Brrrr... = No Start

[airheadPete]

Went to start the '92 this morning, to ride home from work. Sitting four days. Under normal conditions, (40*+), bike runs/starts great. We're having a cold snap, 28*. Cranks, will not fire, no hint of ignition, good battery. Verified fuel pump works, (shoots fuel four feet!). When it's all connected, during multiple attempts, pump would only give one or two clicks??? Fuel blockage cause by below freezing temps? Any ideas?
Going back to airport to work on it tomorrow. It'll still be below freezing. Bike completely stock, (CA model), from air filter to exhaust. 36K miles, carbs synced eighteen months ago.

[FeralRdr]

Went to start the '92 this morning, to ride home from work. Sitting four days. Under normal conditions, (40*+), bike runs/starts great. We're having a cold snap, 28*. Cranks, will not fire, no hint of ignition, good battery. Verified fuel pump works, (shoots fuel four feet!). When it's all connected, during multiple attempts, pump would only give one or two clicks??? Fuel blockage cause by below freezing temps? Any ideas?
Going back to airport to work on it tomorrow. It'll still be below freezing. Bike completely stock, (CA model), from air filter to exhaust. 36K miles, carbs synced eighteen months ago.

Pete, do you need help getting the bike home?

[jscgdunn]

Cold weather
A few things to check:
1) Is battery fully charged?  Output drops way off in cold, especially an older battery. (Taking the battery inside to warm it up helps).
2) Could be some water in fuel; Up here a few ounces of methanol ( for a car) usually clears it out.
3) Make sure choke is completely engaged...the last 1/8 inch matters.
4) If all else fails (and you have spark) a shot of ether sometimes bumps them into life.  Do not go overboard with this as it is very volatile.

We usually experiment with these issues at -25.  Plus 25F is t-shirt weather.

Jeff

[airheadPete]

FeralRdr: thanks for the offer, but no, not yet. It's safe where it's at, right in front of the terminal, and I plan to overcome this little hiccup. 
Jeff: thanks for the tips. The battery is in pretty good shape; I brought it home anyway though, after all the cranking. It's charging on our nice, warm kitchen countertop. Cranking speed was almost normal, a wee bit slower in the cold. I'll use ether as a last resort. (I hate that smell, it takes me back to poorer times.)

I hadn't thought about the ethanol gas. Running Chevron premium. Could this be an issue? The bike is in regular use. Currently has about a gallon left, (reserve light was begining to flicker on the ride in.)
I'm going to take a gallon of 100LL Avgas with me and put it in the tank, then drain the float bowls. (Haven't been there on this bike, are they accessible with the sidecovers off?)
Ah, joy.

[movenon]

Take a can of starting fluid with you as Jeff mentioned and give a short shot or two. Oh, and check to make sure your kill switch is in the correct position.

A few years ago there was a young man stunt biking in a parking lot and almost hit a person, upon his dismount and whipping in to a store another person went over and put his kill switch on, went back to there truck had a cup of coffee and discovered the young man was a lot better stunt rider than a troubleshooter.....

Yes you can drain the carb bowels with the side panels off.  Let us know how you come out.
George

[CatTomb]

Don't want to start a war about ethanol in gas....

But here is a website I use (they have an iphone app) that lists all of the stations that carry ethanol-free gas.

http://pure-gas.org/?stateprov=OR

Good Luck. I hope you get it started. I'm in Sisters. Had some trouble starting mine the other day, warming the battery didn't seem to help but putting a space heater near the starter sure did. It fired right up.

Jeff

[fj1289]

I'd recommend against the 100LL - it'll have fewer aromatics than a lower octane fuel -- I'd try a gallon or so of fresh low octane.

Also try taking a set of jumper cables.  No need to start the car, the big battery is usually enough on its own. Better power from battery helps make a much stronger spark and easier starting. 

Good luck!

[movenon]

I'd recommend against the 100LL - it'll have fewer aromatics than a lower octane fuel -- I'd try a gallon or so of fresh low octane.

Also try taking a set of jumper cables.  No need to start the car, the big battery is usually enough on its own. Better power from battery helps make a much stronger spark and easier starting. 

Good luck!

In the past having access to 100LL (drain tube from Convair C-131) and running it in a few vehicles because that was all that was available I agree with Chris. The vehicles (2 trucks and a DC power cart) all ran poorly. A co worker also tried some in his Harley, also ran poorly. 
Hopefully a little starting fluid will get her kicked over.
George

[FJscott]

I'd recommend against the 100LL - it'll have fewer aromatics than a lower octane fuel -- I'd try a gallon or so of fresh low octane.

Also try taking a set of jumper cables.  No need to start the car, the big battery is usually enough on its own. Better power from battery helps make a much stronger spark and easier starting. 

Good luck!

+1  this is good advice. think of the octane rating as a measurement of the fuels resistance to burn. the higher the octane the more resistance to burn. bring some fresh low octane non ethanol gas.

[airheadPete]

Ok, I'll get some fresh gas instead. There will be a small delay getting back to the bike as we're currently having a storm move through. Right now it's 25*, winds out of the gorge at 25 gusting 30+, visibility 1 mile in light snow. (I don't need to be that miserable. )
Next day off is Thursday, I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all the advice.

[movenon]

Ok, I'll get some fresh gas instead. There will be a small delay getting back to the bike as we're currently having a storm move through. Right now it's 25*, winds out of the gorge at 25 gusting 30+, visibility 1 mile in light snow. (I don't need to be that miserable. )
Next day off is Thursday, I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all the advice.

Crap and we are in line for what remains of it...... 4 degree's tomorrow night and snow.... ho ho ho....... humbug.....
George

[racerrad8]

21* in Oakdale this morning on the valley floor. They are talking snow tonight as low as -350-500', it has been a few years since we have had a dusting of snow this low as we are basically sea level but it does happen every few years...

Randy- RPM

[Pat Conlon]

Burr, 65* today in the desert. At least the sun's out. I need to put the wind liner in my jacket....burr 

[andyb]

Don't come bitching when it's a balmy 115F, Pat!  Looks like 9F will be my commute to work today... (That's about -13C for those who don't live in the civilized world).

100LL is great fuel if you're at some silly elevation, but pretty crap everywhere else.

I'd agree with a little ether, myself.  The fuel pump will only click minimally once the carb bowls are full, so if you've had trouble getting it to start and turned the key back and forth a few times, it'll click slower and fewer until you don't hear it anymore, if the floats are doing what they're supposed to.

[novaraptor]

couldn't get mine started the other day at around 30 degrees. Just not enough oomph from the battery. Left it on maintenance charger overnight, just to keep the battery warm during the chill. Doing that, it's been starting fine for the last few below freezing days.. Batterys don't work so well when they are cold...