Triumphrat

Beemie

It takes a good 5 miles to get past the hesitation in cool, let alone cold, weather on our '03 Thunderbird.
Is there a cure short of risking fouling the plugs with the choke all that time?

Tbirdnz

Just checked the current Connecticut weather and it's -6c !


I would say you were lucky to start the bike that cold !

.....but then I'm only guessing Don't experience such low temperatures here in the North Island of NZ.

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Ride on !

jonathanrsr

Rode here in SE PA on New Year's Day - temp was about 34 F when I fired the bike up. Started immediately, with a little choke (about 2 minutes) while I pulled on helmet, gloves, and checked over the bike. This has been my experience with Iridium plugs, although I realize that 34 isn't extremely cold.

BigAl8295

When I had my stock carbs, I always let it warm up a few minutes before hopping on and riding. I never had a problem.

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FCR-39 Carbs, Sprint Cams, British Customs Predator Exhaust, K&N Pod Filters, Nology Coils, Ignitech Ignitor, Progressive Fork Springs, ZX-6R shock, and one bad ass Horn Cover!
Charm City Mods vs Rockers Rally

mulvaney

They're cold-blooded by nature. Installing a K&N air filter makes them even more so. I leave the choke on a little for the first couple miles and then take it off once the engine is warm. Never fouled a plug...

Beemie

I'm talking when it's in the mid 50s and low 60s.
It's a good 10 to 15 minutes before it's responsive and has been like that since new.

So which jets are to fiddle with?

gregp

I was forunate enough to snag a cheap ($50) jet kit on e-bay. It cured the cold, lean, settings easily. Unfortunately, the most important part (the needles, in this case) are not available individually.

IrlMike

Definitely not my experience that my 99 Legend (same Keihin carbs) is coldblooded (or my previous Tbird). Choke is off within 400m summer (~20c if we're lucky) or winter (~4c). Engine fully warm in ~2 miles, riding slow (max 50mph) until then. Have K&N filter & Thunderbike 3-1 pipe mods.

My best guess why this machine won't play is the pilot screw setting, known to be very lean as stock. I'm using stock jets but screws are 2.5 turns out. But maybe check all the clamps etc. to be sure an air leak isn't leaning things out.

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Legend chassis, Tbird tank/seat, Sprint fairing, tubeless wheels, Thunderbike 3-1, air box mods, 115/40 jets, DJ needles, Ignitech with TPS, ZX6R shock, ZX7R USD forks/yokes, Alcon 6 pot

Petrol

Are you running the plugs for cool weather? Original plugs were dpr9 ea 9 or somthing like it .They then changed em to a warmer running plug dpr8 ea9.I asked a ngk rep at the uk bike show why? He explaind that the bird came down between two plug parameters, go figure!

tiz

I have a 95 T-Bird with dpr8ea9 for winter and dpr9ea9 for summer.
-6 degrees here this morning bike up to temp within 2 miles always ride with choke on for first 1 or 2 miles never heard of fouling plugs.

Tiz