Triumphrat

DaveInPortland

Just picked up two firsts for me in my '02 Bonneville T100:

My first modern bike
My first Triumph

Up to now, I've been all classic Hondas and vintage Lambrettas. So, now I have a bike with only an electric start, which still kinda mystifies me.

Anyway, I went to start it up this morning for the first time in a week and it was very hard to get started. The battery was turning over the starting motor just fine, petcock was on, choke pulled, kill switch to run and I was giving it a touch of throttle. It took about six turns at the starter button to get it going. Once running, it was fine and a little later after I had stopped and the engine was still warm it started right up again.

Any ideas on this? I appreciate the help. Keep in mind that I'm both a Triumph and a modern bike newbie, although the Bonneville isn't all modern technology (which is why I like it!).

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DaveInPortland
Work to Ride. Ride to Work.

sweatmachine

don't give it throttle with the choke, the choke is an 'enricher circuit' and giving it throttle negates the choke being on.

It could be something else, but that's just one possibility.

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Macgruber!


Click for a picture of my slightly modified Bonnie

DaveInPortland

Groovy. I'll try it that way in the morning.

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DaveInPortland
Work to Ride. Ride to Work.

badrufus

They aier really funny about throttle. I had to practically tie my hand behind my back at first to keep from giving it just a tad. If that doesn't work, post back. The 01/02 Bonnies are known for being a bit cold starting, but I think there are some improvements that can help with that. You might want to check the Jenks Tuning Guide
Jenks Guide

[ This message was edited by: badrufus on 2007-05-07 01:58 ]

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2005 T100

ivar

In cold weather, it seems like its too lean to start , even with full choke on. When I put my bike in storage last fall it was well below freezing. I had big problems getting it fired up, finally took off the side cover and stuffed a glove in the air intake to starve it for air.
This way , it started just fine

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02 Bonneville - Originally green/silver , now going black. Dual headlights/black fly screen. Emgo Shortys, rubber bellmouth, Uni, AI, 120/42, thrux needles, no shims. Thruxton seat and low bars. Ikon 7614 shocks, renntec rack. A Bonnie Cafetourer..

ohiorider

Iver, you reminded me of how I had to start my old 1958 Volvo in extremely cold weather. It was equipped with SU sidedraft carbs, and believe it or not, these pieces of ancient history were CV type carbs.

When you pulled the choke on these carbs, it actually pulled the main jet (I think there's only one jet in SU carbs ... period) away from the needle to enrichen the mixture.

Anyway, when it wouldn't start, I'd pull the individual air cleaners and partially block both intakes. Result .... she'd start right up.

NOTE: The late lamented W650 also came with Keihin CVK carbs, and would fire up in the coldest weather within a second or two. It was also much less sensitive to giving it some throttle ... it actually helped.

I would love to know what is different in the innards of the CVKs on the Bonnie vs the W650.

Bob

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2003 T100 (790cc) Lucifer Org and Silv: 122/42 jets, TORs, 17T, UNI filter, no AI, Polaris bellmouth, Metzeler ME880 tires, Progressive 440 shocks (105/150 springs),11-1126 fork springs, gaiters, MotoTwin low bars, 6024 lamp, htd grips, 12v outlet.

Baltobonneville

Like the others, I've found that ANY throttle at all will kill the start. I pull the choke all the way out, then push it in a few mm and start, that seems to be what it likes best.

You'll find that it takes a while for the engine to fully warm up, about 15-20 minutes.

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Marty
2005 Bonneville Blue 790cc, AI removed, Staintunes RC, Unifilter, no snorkel, 120/40/Thrux needle/1 shim/3 turns, fly screen, tacho, D9 gauge panel, center stand, Ikon 7610s, Hagon fork springs, gaiters, Pirelli Sport Demons, 3 seats.

mecscc

I guess I'll second, or third or fourth all of the above. And if they have "improved" cold starts since '01-'02 models you couldn't prove it by my bike. It is a cold blooded beast. But, with full choke and NOT even THINKING about touching the throttle it will start. If the temp is below 40f it might take a few jabs and it will sound like it is going to keel over and die for a couple of minutes, but won't.

The interesting thing to me is that the Tbird was never a hard starter: then again it wasn't set up quite so lean for exhaust emissions control.

I know, if I would MOD it and richen the fuel mix a bit maybe it would start easier. Then again, maybe not. It might just be the nature of the beast.

Monte :-D

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Monte

"The Old Ohio Preacher Man"

sweatmachine

I think you're right there Monte, mine has 42 pilots (instead of the stock 40s) and of course the airbox elim, and some pipes, and it starts easy.

I think richening the idle mixture 1/8 turn on a stock bike might make for easier starts.

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Macgruber!


Click for a picture of my slightly modified Bonnie

DaveInPortland

Good stuff to know, thanks folks. Temperature here this morning was a balmy 50 degrees, so not cold at all. Pulled the choke, hands off the throttle and she started right up.

I'm used to vehicles that take a long time to get up to operating temperature. Everything I have is air cooled, all the up to my '71 VW Bus.

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DaveInPortland
Work to Ride. Ride to Work.