Triumphrat

mtnbykrtim

The dealership in Pensacola, FL where I bought my 2011 Thunderbird Storm said I shouldn’t listen to the people that post in the Triumph forums. He called us all “a bunch of backyard mechanics.” Then he tells me I don’t know how to start a motorcycle. I’m 50 years old and have owned bikes my entire life. Granted fuel injected bikes are relatively new, I still believe I know how to start one. Mine has been hard to start whenever the temperature is cooler than approx. 60 degrees F. It starts without problem when the temperature is warmer. When starting cold I have to press the starter button as many as 5 times to get it to start and it smells flooded. If I touch the throttle even slightly while pressing the starter it fires right up the first or second time I try. The dealership said you have to press the button continuously until it starts no matter how long it takes. I asked about burning up the starter motor or draining the battery and he said the first won’t happen and if the battery fails I should bring it in for a replacement battery. The owner’s manual that came with the bike says to hold the button in no longer than 5 seconds and to wait 15 seconds before pressing it again to avoid burning up the starter.

What do you “backyard mechanics” think I should do?

Derswede

He'd best not make that comment too often. Lots of "back-yard mechanics" have built some formidable vehicles (and some "fails" as well.) The best one I know has around 45 yrs experience and is an A/P).
Lots of his input on Pratt & Whitney engines....I'll trust his advice ANYTIME before some kid with a degree from the local community college.

Besides, most of those kids STARTED as backyard mechanics!!!

Derswede

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Daycruiser

And here all this time I thought I was a Shade Tree Mechanic. What if you don't have a backyard? I do but I don't work on my bikes in it, I have a nice shop and a tree for that. Quickly take your bike to another dealer and let them know what his name was so they won't hire him when the dealer he works for now fires him for being stupid. Your bike isn't right, and the manual is correct about the starter.

Mojo T-Bird

I had the same problem with the cold start, my dealer did the TOR's download and it solved the problem. Run, don't walk to another dealer who doesn't have their head up their...

BMK9251

First try the 12 minute adaption tune. If that doesn't work get the TORS download. BTW, I always work on my vehicles in the garage.

Tallboy67

Had exact same problem with mine. Told my service writer when I took it in for it's first service. Dealer tech said something about the TPS "closed" values being off. New download/reset TPS values-been perfect ever since.

mtnbykrtim

I did the 12 minute adaption tune without any noticeable improvement. So I'm faced with a conundrum. The dealership is 2 to 2.5 hours away and the only dealership in NWF. The guy on the phone that tried so hard to insult me and everyone else that uses this forum picked up when I was put through to service. He used the same name as the owner and he sounded like the owner. I’d be happy to take my business somewhere else but there really isn’t anywhere else to take it. Either I go there or I do what I can myself. Can I download the TOR’s myself? If not, how do I get the dealership to do it when they have the attitude this guy has?

I've always considered myself a shadetree mechanic, too. Thanks for all the help.

echoraven

This may sound kinda stupid, but when I start my bike I let the tach sweep forward and then backward completely (I guess while the ignition/fuel injection gets their marbles in place) and once it all goes silent I prod the starter button. When the weather is colder I pull on the fast idle one notch (where the choke would be on a carbed model) and that has worked for me... also keeping it on a battery tender helps!

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navarre

Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with the dealership in Pensacola, I can assure you that your experience is the exception and not the rule. I’ve been dealing with that dealership for quite awhile now and everyone there has been extremely friendly and professional. They are a family run dealership who really go out of there way to support not just their customers but the community as well.
You can try Tallahassee; I think they have a dealership there. You can also go to Daytona Beach, I know the have one.
Anyway, I hope you get your bike issue worked out.

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Draeger

Fast idle notch? I'm guessing you are talking about a bike other than a Tbird, or does my Tbird have one of those?

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