Triumphrat

Troh23 · 08-09-2006

how does this thing work? does it warm the fuel or the carb or what? does it start when i turn the ignition?

i ride in the cold a lot and this is the first time i've had a bike with carb warmers. i just want to know more about them.

speaking of cold, my previous bikes didn't need much choking in the cold and never needed choking in the warmer months but my bonnie needs to be choked every cold start. -and choked for a while.

does anyone else have that prob.? i think i'll open-up the mixture to see if it helps

justice · 08-09-2006

Warms the carb.
Operates off a thermostat.

Geoff · 08-09-2006

to my knowledge, the start procedure for every bike I've ever known (except fuel injected) is full choke no throttle.
cold or warm out it does not make any difference.
if the bike is actually warm from being run, you dont need the choke
of course the length of time the choke needs to be on will vary with temp
Geoff

merlin · 08-09-2006

The general consensis is that the bonnie is 'cold blooded' and needs more choke, or choke more often, than most bikes. A warmed bike shouldn't need choke. My bonnie needs it when its cold, even on a warm day.
The carb heaters prevent carb icing by warming the throat, main airway passage, of the carb. Since you are evaporating gasoline and moving air drops in pressure, the carb is an effective refridgerator and can produce ice on humid (not neccessarily cold) days. It does, indeed, work off a thermostat and won't come on until a certain temp. Despite some claims, it is not useful during starting as it doesn not enrichen the mix which is really what's needed.

Christov · 08-10-2006

The Bonneville in stock factory adjustment is very cold blooded. I believe a lot of this is to meet EPA emissions requirements. My bike when new was the same way. After a different exhaust system, rejet, and other wrenching I now only need the choke when it is cold outside.

RedBird · 08-10-2006

NH Togas, NARK, 158 mains, stock needles, 42 pilots, 975 ft. elevation, and I use full choke on cold starts--even on 108 degree days like today. I never let it warm up at idle even on cold days--I start bonnie after I am dressed and ready to ride and I ride immediately after starting bonnie no matter what the Wx. The big difference is the choke comes off much sooner in hot Wx than in cold Wx.

Larry

Hiltz · 08-11-2006

My Scrambler starts right up and idles smoothly with no choke I'm running TORs and richer jets.

It will be interesting to see how she starts in cooler weather.

bgaz · 08-11-2006

Since rejetting with the dynojet kit, my bike seems to run the same hot or cold.
It wont idle for a bit when cold, and it needs to be full hot to idle at its normal 1100 rpm, but besides idle it runs fine cold.

I used to have to run the choke at least partly for a while, and even then it ran poorly for the first few miles.

I am also ready to go when I start the bike, just like a car, the engine wears the most when cold and with the choke on.

Brett

ohiorider · 08-11-2006

Same here - once I rejetted, added TORs, etc, the bike starts and runs much better. Summertime, no problem. Starts up without choke .... i have to give a little throttle and hold it while she stutters for a few moments, then we're ready to go.

Forty degrees and below is a different story. Choke, no throttle, and she goes putt putt putt, die.... putt putt putt ... don't die again, please!

Usually 3-5 tries and she begins idling. I'm thinking maybe there's a problem in the starting circuit in the carbs, but don't know if it's worth tearing into them to try to cure the problem.

The older I get, the less interested I am in riding in 40 degree weather.

Bob