Very Hard To Start

[Jack]

Hello FJ Riders

I can no longer do my own work on my 91 FJ. I found a mechanic who works on old bikes. He got me back on the road but there are still issues. The bike runs very well, carries a load, accelerates well, etc but it takes six or seven turnovers to start. The mechanic says there's nothing more he can do. Once the bike is warmed up it starts as it should on the first attempt. Any advice would me much appreciated. Thanks.

[RPM - Robert]

Check the choke plunger ends and make sure the brass end has not been worn off by the steel "fingers". If they are then the choke will not work and it will be hard to cold start.

Secondly bumping up the size on the pilot jets can help. They are a bit cold blooded stock, so they could meet the US emissions at that time.

[Jack]

Thanks, Robert.

[bikerjimbob]

I have a similar issue, if I start the bike every day no problem, if I leave the bike for a few days it takes a lot of turning over before it fires up although you can hear it trying to start with the odd firing sound but with no throttle use at all, touch the throttle and you get nothing, I have put in the complete re-furnishment kits and balanced the carbs. Dont know what to try next?
Cheers Jim

[Pat Conlon]

Let's start with fuel flow....

Gravity flow vs fuel pumpers...
Apples to oranges

1) '84-'87:  Is the engine vacuum opening up the petcock allowing fuel to flow to the dry bowls? A leaking vacuum diaphragm or hose can cause it to be hard to open. Try the suck test to see if the petcock opens.
2) '84-'87: Is your fuel line routed correctly or is it pinched?
3) '88-'95: When you turn the key on, do you hear the clicking of the fuel pump run 3-4 seconds? You should.  Try turning the key on, let the pump run and when you hear the pump shut off, turn the key off and on again. Sometimes it takes the fuel pump a couple of cycles to fill the fuel bowls. Prior to starting, if you hear the fuel pump shut off in the middle of a 4 second cycle, you can assume your fuel bowls are full.

[Sparky84]

As PatC mentions and don't touch the throttle when choke is activated when starting.

You might feel like grabbing a handful to assist but you must resist, by all means if choke is off, go for it.

But priming those bowls is important

[bikerjimbob]

Hi Gentlemen,

Its a 1991 model so yes I wait for the fuel pump to stop but will try turning the ignition off and back on to see if that helps, if I touch the throttle I get nothing so leave it alone, I am sort of thinking about opening the pilot screw a turn and see if that helps, what do you think?

[Pat Conlon]

I think the choke circuits are dirty. If it starts, then runs only on the choke, then your idle circuits are dirty.

Time for a disassembly and ultrasound bubble bath.

[bikerjimbob]

Well ladies and gentlemen I have today learnt a big lesson DONT BUY A CHEAP CARBY REBUILD KIT FROM EBAY without checking what your getting.
it turns out the pilot jet supplied was 37.5.

My bike came with a spare set of carbys so I stripped out the pilot jets and found them to be 42.5 put them in my wife's sonic jewellery cleaner and they came up like new perfect.

Fitted them this morning, reset the pilot screws and put the bike back together, filled the carbs, pressed the button and away she went perfect balanced the carbs and took her for a ride WOW what a bike so worth all the heart ache, trials and tribulations.

So a big thank you for all your help and advice much appreciated. Now on to the next project of fitting a YZF600 rear wheel to be able to get decent 17" tyres.

Thanks again

Jim