Warm-up
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,334
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Warm-up
I know this question has been posted by newbies 100x, but I still haven't found a good answer to it. What is the proper warm-up procedure with carbs?
Someone told me to let the bike warm up until the heads are uncomfortable to touch. Is this a good way to do it? At what temperature will the oil be around at that point?
This is what the manual says. "The vehicle should be allowed to warm up for only 15-30 seconds before being driven. Initial warm-up periods longer than 30 seconds are not recommended." What does that mean? I have to drive off with the motorcycle and the choke out after 15-30 seconds? Or does initial warm-up mean full choke and then to push it in? It goes on to say to drive off with full choke. So I"m guessing you wait 15-30 sec then drive the bike.
I don't want to blue my pipes or ruin anything.
What is the goal here? Use as little choke as possible? Is it bad to let the bike warm up in the garage for a few min before taking off? What bad things can happen after 30 sec?
Someone told me to let the bike warm up until the heads are uncomfortable to touch. Is this a good way to do it? At what temperature will the oil be around at that point?
This is what the manual says. "The vehicle should be allowed to warm up for only 15-30 seconds before being driven. Initial warm-up periods longer than 30 seconds are not recommended." What does that mean? I have to drive off with the motorcycle and the choke out after 15-30 seconds? Or does initial warm-up mean full choke and then to push it in? It goes on to say to drive off with full choke. So I"m guessing you wait 15-30 sec then drive the bike.
I don't want to blue my pipes or ruin anything.
What is the goal here? Use as little choke as possible? Is it bad to let the bike warm up in the garage for a few min before taking off? What bad things can happen after 30 sec?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
Likes: 4
From: Midland, TX
RE: Warm-up
Bear in mind that HD's are traditionally cold natured. Normally, when the temperature is over 70 or so, I don't need to use the enricher. I have to roll the throttle some and it may cut out a time or to after I start but within a mile or so, all is well.
In the winter, I pull the enricher all the way out, start the bike, either drive off or let it idle for a minute or so, then push the enricher in about half way. After a couple more miles or minutes, I push the enricher all the way in. On extremely cold days, the bike still may cut out a some, but after it warms up, it is OK.
Don't get too scientific about the process. Just make sure you've got the enricher pushed in after a couple of miles. Worst case if you run too long with the enricher out is fouled plugs, but that would only happen after 30 minutes or so.
In the winter, I pull the enricher all the way out, start the bike, either drive off or let it idle for a minute or so, then push the enricher in about half way. After a couple more miles or minutes, I push the enricher all the way in. On extremely cold days, the bike still may cut out a some, but after it warms up, it is OK.
Don't get too scientific about the process. Just make sure you've got the enricher pushed in after a couple of miles. Worst case if you run too long with the enricher out is fouled plugs, but that would only happen after 30 minutes or so.
Road Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 418
From: Pennsylvania
RE: Warm-up
Additionally, since the manual pretty much says that since its an air cooled engine
and you should let it idle for more than 45 seconds or a minute, what happens
at those 3 or 4 minute traffic lights or in stop and go traffic?
I cant imagine that they would think you can keep the bike in more or less constant motion...
and you should let it idle for more than 45 seconds or a minute, what happens
at those 3 or 4 minute traffic lights or in stop and go traffic?
I cant imagine that they would think you can keep the bike in more or less constant motion...
RE: Warm-up
1200c,
If you let the bike run for just a few seconds (15-30) the heads will feel warm to touch. Time to go. If your bike still coughs and sputters after that (or if you have to leave your enrichener out longer) it's time to put a little larger jet in you carb. That makes a huge difference.
Your not going to damage your bike if you let it run a little longer but it isn't a good habit to get into. You are right. Being stuck in traffic or riding in parages is not a good idea but sometimes it just happens.
Start it, let it run for a few seconds then ride it like you stole it.
Terry
If you let the bike run for just a few seconds (15-30) the heads will feel warm to touch. Time to go. If your bike still coughs and sputters after that (or if you have to leave your enrichener out longer) it's time to put a little larger jet in you carb. That makes a huge difference.
Your not going to damage your bike if you let it run a little longer but it isn't a good habit to get into. You are right. Being stuck in traffic or riding in parages is not a good idea but sometimes it just happens.
Start it, let it run for a few seconds then ride it like you stole it.
Terry
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 2
RE: Warm-up
When I start the bike and let it run for 15-30 seconds, the heads do not feel warm. They feel cold. It takes a lot longer to get them to warm up. I have been told that the bike will heat up faster as time goes on and I put some miles on it. It's still breaking-in.
As for the exact procedure, I'm not exactly clear on it. Let me tell you how I understand it and tell me if that's right.
1) Pull out the choke completely and start the bike.
2) After 15-30 seconds ride off on the bike with choke fully out.
3) Push in choke 1/2 way after .5 miles if above 60 degrees or 2 miles if below 60 degrees.
4) Continue riding with choke 1/2 way out for .5 mi if above 60 degrees or 2 miles if below 60 degrees.
5) Push in the choke all the way in.
Here are some of my concerns. If that is right, then someone said that if the heads aren't warm the gaskets might leak or be damaged.
When it's warm outside, then I can push the choke in half way and have the bike idle properly as soon as I turn it on.
Are there better ways to tell you when you push the choke in instead of riding off a certain distance or time?
As for the exact procedure, I'm not exactly clear on it. Let me tell you how I understand it and tell me if that's right.
1) Pull out the choke completely and start the bike.
2) After 15-30 seconds ride off on the bike with choke fully out.
3) Push in choke 1/2 way after .5 miles if above 60 degrees or 2 miles if below 60 degrees.
4) Continue riding with choke 1/2 way out for .5 mi if above 60 degrees or 2 miles if below 60 degrees.
5) Push in the choke all the way in.
Here are some of my concerns. If that is right, then someone said that if the heads aren't warm the gaskets might leak or be damaged.
When it's warm outside, then I can push the choke in half way and have the bike idle properly as soon as I turn it on.
Are there better ways to tell you when you push the choke in instead of riding off a certain distance or time?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,685
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From:
RE: Warm-up
ORIGINAL: 1200c
Are there better ways to tell you when you push the choke in instead of riding off a certain distance or time?
Are there better ways to tell you when you push the choke in instead of riding off a certain distance or time?
Ryan
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,172
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From: Clermont, GA, CSA
RE: Warm-up
I ride a '93 Sportster. I learned my lessons the hard way on how to blow rocker box gaskets, and base gaskets. I forget where I heard this '2 minute drill' but it's worked for me. Since I've been using it, no more blown gaskets!
1. Start the bike with the enricher pulled all the way out.
2. As you're checking your bikes lights, brakes, etc., push the enricher in bit by bit, making sure you're running at least 1000 rpm.
3. After it's been running for 2 minutes, you're ready to go.
2 lousy minutes! 120 seconds! Spend that time letting your bike warm up while you get ready to ride.
1. Start the bike with the enricher pulled all the way out.
2. As you're checking your bikes lights, brakes, etc., push the enricher in bit by bit, making sure you're running at least 1000 rpm.
3. After it's been running for 2 minutes, you're ready to go.
2 lousy minutes! 120 seconds! Spend that time letting your bike warm up while you get ready to ride.
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 2
RE: Warm-up
Ready to go means you got to a point where the choke is all the way in without the engine complaining. Right?
So the goal is to use as little choke as possible, but let the bike warm up? Right? Because if you have the choke out too long, then you blue your pipes. If you don't have it out long enough, then the engine shuts off or runs rough. So the goal is to keep the choke out until the engine idles higher than 1K rpm and then push it in more, but never below idle rpms. Is that it?
So the goal is to use as little choke as possible, but let the bike warm up? Right? Because if you have the choke out too long, then you blue your pipes. If you don't have it out long enough, then the engine shuts off or runs rough. So the goal is to keep the choke out until the engine idles higher than 1K rpm and then push it in more, but never below idle rpms. Is that it?
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2005
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From:
RE: Warm-up
On my softail I pull the inricher all the way out, start, leave all the way out for maybe 30 to 45 seconds, push it all the way in and keep the bike running if it wont stay by its self. I feel the heads and as soon as they are warm I ride like hell.
Same thing on my dyna, its a little more cold blooded so it takes a little more time to warm up. But as soon as the heads are warm to touch I ride like hell...
Wait till the heads are warm and RIDE LIKE HELL... Try not to use the inricher any longer than you need to. Keep it running with throttle if it tries to die.
Enjoy
Same thing on my dyna, its a little more cold blooded so it takes a little more time to warm up. But as soon as the heads are warm to touch I ride like hell...
Wait till the heads are warm and RIDE LIKE HELL... Try not to use the inricher any longer than you need to. Keep it running with throttle if it tries to die.
Enjoy