Hard to start when warm?
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 3
From: Oldham
Hard to start when warm?
Hi all,
just a quick question, I’m new to HD, had bikes many years ago, so not a novice, got a 02 fatboy, carburettor version, starts first time when cold, but when warm can be a bit of a pig to fire back up!! Battery good, new plugs, when running rides mint, just a pig to start when warm, starter spins over like it should, but doesn’t seem to want to fire up?, (bit embarrassing when you pull up for fuel, then it won’t start!!) eventually it will burst into life!!!
any ideas gratefully received 😊
just a quick question, I’m new to HD, had bikes many years ago, so not a novice, got a 02 fatboy, carburettor version, starts first time when cold, but when warm can be a bit of a pig to fire back up!! Battery good, new plugs, when running rides mint, just a pig to start when warm, starter spins over like it should, but doesn’t seem to want to fire up?, (bit embarrassing when you pull up for fuel, then it won’t start!!) eventually it will burst into life!!!
any ideas gratefully received 😊
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
Here's what I do with Reaper, and it works all the time:
First start of the day: Pull choke out, give 1 or 2 shots of gas: hit the start button
If engine is fully warmed up, and it's a short stop, say a gas and go: just hit the starter (no shot of gas, no choke)
If I've been stopped for a bit, but the engine hasn't fully cooled down, say gas/lunch break, etc... : pull the choke, hit the start button (no shot of gas)
Never hold the throttle open while trying to start.
Cheers!
First start of the day: Pull choke out, give 1 or 2 shots of gas: hit the start button
If engine is fully warmed up, and it's a short stop, say a gas and go: just hit the starter (no shot of gas, no choke)
If I've been stopped for a bit, but the engine hasn't fully cooled down, say gas/lunch break, etc... : pull the choke, hit the start button (no shot of gas)
Never hold the throttle open while trying to start.
Cheers!
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 3
From: Oldham
Here's what I do with Reaper, and it works all the time:
First start of the day: Pull choke out, give 1 or 2 shots of gas: hit the start button
If engine is fully warmed up, and it's a short stop, say a gas and go: just hit the starter (no shot of gas, no choke)
If I've been stopped for a bit, but the engine hasn't fully cooled down, say gas/lunch break, etc... : pull the choke, hit the start button (no shot of gas)
Never hold the throttle open while trying to start.
Cheers!
First start of the day: Pull choke out, give 1 or 2 shots of gas: hit the start button
If engine is fully warmed up, and it's a short stop, say a gas and go: just hit the starter (no shot of gas, no choke)
If I've been stopped for a bit, but the engine hasn't fully cooled down, say gas/lunch break, etc... : pull the choke, hit the start button (no shot of gas)
Never hold the throttle open while trying to start.
Cheers!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,144
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
You just bought an 18 yr old bike... I suspect the carb could use some attention.... the low speed jets, needle valve, mixture screw/seat are always the first to show signs of dirt/blockage/wear/age...
You might want to start with disassembling the carb and giving it a good, thorough cleaning... maybe even get a rebuild kit and change out the wear parts... reset the float... etc..
A couple of years ago, I bought a used 2001 Springer, w/carb, that only had 9.8K miles on it... It ran OK, but stumbled now & then... I went stage one, so I knew I needed to reset the mixture screw.. I took off the carb to remove the mixture screw plug (an EPA thing), and while apart gave it a very good cleaning. I it back together with a rebuild kit from CV Performance, changed the needle (kept the OEM jets), and did the proper CV Carb tune up procedure (also listed on CV Performance website)...
It starts very easy now... cold or warm.. and runs excellent...... In fact, when warm, it seems to start before the engine does a full revolution... I always think, "I wish my old kick start shovel head started like this bike!!!"
Good luck with the repair...
You might want to start with disassembling the carb and giving it a good, thorough cleaning... maybe even get a rebuild kit and change out the wear parts... reset the float... etc..
A couple of years ago, I bought a used 2001 Springer, w/carb, that only had 9.8K miles on it... It ran OK, but stumbled now & then... I went stage one, so I knew I needed to reset the mixture screw.. I took off the carb to remove the mixture screw plug (an EPA thing), and while apart gave it a very good cleaning. I it back together with a rebuild kit from CV Performance, changed the needle (kept the OEM jets), and did the proper CV Carb tune up procedure (also listed on CV Performance website)...
It starts very easy now... cold or warm.. and runs excellent...... In fact, when warm, it seems to start before the engine does a full revolution... I always think, "I wish my old kick start shovel head started like this bike!!!"
Good luck with the repair...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
You just bought an 18 yr old bike... I suspect the carb could use some attention.... the low speed jets, needle valve, mixture screw/seat are always the first to show signs of dirt/blockage/wear/age...
You might want to start with disassembling the carb and giving it a good, thorough cleaning... maybe even get a rebuild kit and change out the wear parts... reset the float... etc..
A couple of years ago, I bought a used 2001 Springer, w/carb, that only had 9.8K miles on it... It ran OK, but stumbled now & then... I went stage one, so I knew I needed to reset the mixture screw.. I took off the carb to remove the mixture screw plug (an EPA thing), and while apart gave it a very good cleaning. I it back together with a rebuild kit from CV Performance, changed the needle (kept the OEM jets), and did the proper CV Carb tune up procedure (also listed on CV Performance website)...
It starts very easy now... cold or warm.. and runs excellent...... In fact, when warm, it seems to start before the engine does a full revolution... I always think, "I wish my old kick start shovel head started like this bike!!!"
Good luck with the repair...
You might want to start with disassembling the carb and giving it a good, thorough cleaning... maybe even get a rebuild kit and change out the wear parts... reset the float... etc..
A couple of years ago, I bought a used 2001 Springer, w/carb, that only had 9.8K miles on it... It ran OK, but stumbled now & then... I went stage one, so I knew I needed to reset the mixture screw.. I took off the carb to remove the mixture screw plug (an EPA thing), and while apart gave it a very good cleaning. I it back together with a rebuild kit from CV Performance, changed the needle (kept the OEM jets), and did the proper CV Carb tune up procedure (also listed on CV Performance website)...
It starts very easy now... cold or warm.. and runs excellent...... In fact, when warm, it seems to start before the engine does a full revolution... I always think, "I wish my old kick start shovel head started like this bike!!!"
Good luck with the repair...
Cheers!
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 3
From: Oldham
You just bought an 18 yr old bike... I suspect the carb could use some attention.... the low speed jets, needle valve, mixture screw/seat are always the first to show signs of dirt/blockage/wear/age...
You might want to start with disassembling the carb and giving it a good, thorough cleaning... maybe even get a rebuild kit and change out the wear parts... reset the float... etc..
A couple of years ago, I bought a used 2001 Springer, w/carb, that only had 9.8K miles on it... It ran OK, but stumbled now & then... I went stage one, so I knew I needed to reset the mixture screw.. I took off the carb to remove the mixture screw plug (an EPA thing), and while apart gave it a very good cleaning. I it back together with a rebuild kit from CV Performance, changed the needle (kept the OEM jets), and did the proper CV Carb tune up procedure (also listed on CV Performance website)...
It starts very easy now... cold or warm.. and runs excellent...... In fact, when warm, it seems to start before the engine does a full revolution... I always think, "I wish my old kick start shovel head started like this bike!!!"
Good luck with the repair...
You might want to start with disassembling the carb and giving it a good, thorough cleaning... maybe even get a rebuild kit and change out the wear parts... reset the float... etc..
A couple of years ago, I bought a used 2001 Springer, w/carb, that only had 9.8K miles on it... It ran OK, but stumbled now & then... I went stage one, so I knew I needed to reset the mixture screw.. I took off the carb to remove the mixture screw plug (an EPA thing), and while apart gave it a very good cleaning. I it back together with a rebuild kit from CV Performance, changed the needle (kept the OEM jets), and did the proper CV Carb tune up procedure (also listed on CV Performance website)...
It starts very easy now... cold or warm.. and runs excellent...... In fact, when warm, it seems to start before the engine does a full revolution... I always think, "I wish my old kick start shovel head started like this bike!!!"
Good luck with the repair...
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 35,239
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From: 40.2444° N, 75.6419° W
My Dyna did that. I put new plugs in it .it seems to fire right up now. I would throw some plugs in it,I dont think harleys are like cars where you can run the plugs for 100 thousand miles 
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Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 3
From: Oldham
yes I have replaced the plugs I’ve gone with Champion RA8HC Copper Plus rather than NGK it did help slightly, I’m going to index them tomorrow & reduce the gap to 35thou.
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