Cold Blooded
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 30
From: Waterville MN
Cold Blooded
So...I have never owned a carb engine that is so cold-blooded as my Evo. I drove the bike for an hour or so today, shut it off for 10 minutes, and it needs full choke to start. Not only that, but it takes quite a while to warm up enough to not sputter when trying to accelerate. SO I guess what I would like to know is - do you carb bike owners just expect to have to choke the thing after walking past it with an ice cream cone?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,201
Likes: 1,186
From: Anywhere we stop
Ester is the same way, you learn to live with it. After a stop I will start her before putting on gloves, helmet, jacket, so that she warms a bit before I hit the road. Wait till summer, most of the cold blooded stuff will be gone.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 30
From: Waterville MN
Yeah - when I fired her up this morning (below freezing), I gave it a few twists. The last 5 seasons have been with an injected bike so it is taking me a bit to get used to this again - I don't remember my other bikes being this cold.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,885
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From: Chicago area
Your on your way to find that Sweet spot on getting her up & runnin'
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 11
From: Billings, MT
do you have aftermarket pipes or A/C on it? mine was cold blooded when i got it, K&N filter and slip-ons. i added an Andrews accelerator pump kit, and re-jetted and now itll start after a short sit, no choke at all. 30 degree weather, and it comes off choke before i leave the driveway. it took a lil experimenting, but i ended up one size larger on both jets. runs SOOOOOO much better all around now. and that stumble that was there when not fully warm......its gone too.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 30
From: Waterville MN
do you have aftermarket pipes or A/C on it? mine was cold blooded when i got it, K&N filter and slip-ons. i added an Andrews accelerator pump kit, and re-jetted and now itll start after a short sit, no choke at all. 30 degree weather, and it comes off choke before i leave the driveway. it took a lil experimenting, but i ended up one size larger on both jets. runs SOOOOOO much better all around now. and that stumble that was there when not fully warm......its gone too.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
I choke my bike to start it the first time...the choke is fully off in 10 seconds. Never choke it after the first crank...may twist the throttle if it has been sitting for an hour. Your carb is too lean for your set-up, or you have a vacuum leak...get it fixed and you will be much happier.
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 30
From: Waterville MN
I choke my bike to start it the first time...the choke is fully off in 10 seconds. Never choke it after the first crank...may twist the throttle if it has been sitting for an hour. Your carb is too lean for your set-up, or you have a vacuum leak...get it fixed and you will be much happier.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 770
Likes: 3
From: Wabash
What you describe is actually not normal , while evo's are colder blooded than some, the fact that you have to full choke for a long time ten mins after running her says one of two things. Either something like aftermarket pipes have altered the mixture and you need a rejet, or all evo's have a common problem 97 and down....that problem is that after a certain point in time, the intake gaskets between the carbs crack and start sucking air. And it happened to me, so I'm for real. When I took it the dealer I explained te exact same thing you did now to us. Cost 100 bucks to replace plus 89 more to rejet. Take it the dealer. Have it checked.