Trouble starting/warming up
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Oswego, IL
Trouble starting/warming up
Hello riders,
Bike: 2006 XL883 Custom (carburated). 650 miles so it hasn't had 1000 mile maintenance yet. I bought it used and I'm unsure if it's ok that the oil hasn't been changed since it was brand new so I'm trying to quickly get 1000 miles on it so I can get some synthetic stuff in it.
Symptoms: Rolled it out of the garage this morning when it's about 40 degrees out. Give it full choke, takes ALOT of start button to get it going (start button for 5 seconds, stop, start button for 5 or 10 seconds, stop, start button for 10 seconds and finally it kicks over). Now it's running, push choke down to half after a minute and it's still running. Let it run with half choke a minute, push choke all the way in. I go inside to gear up, come back out and the bike died. Start it back up while grumbling.
Is it supposed to do this? Seems like it's having alot of trouble starting and then it will stop running while warming up. Maybe the idle is set a little too low or such? One other thing: Manual says for the 883 carb model use 87 octane so thats what I filled it with. I know some people run the premium stuff but I dont know if that would help.
I'm hoping a stage 1 would resolve this issue in which case I only have to deal with it another month. Any input would be great. Thanks!
Kanzig
Bike: 2006 XL883 Custom (carburated). 650 miles so it hasn't had 1000 mile maintenance yet. I bought it used and I'm unsure if it's ok that the oil hasn't been changed since it was brand new so I'm trying to quickly get 1000 miles on it so I can get some synthetic stuff in it.
Symptoms: Rolled it out of the garage this morning when it's about 40 degrees out. Give it full choke, takes ALOT of start button to get it going (start button for 5 seconds, stop, start button for 5 or 10 seconds, stop, start button for 10 seconds and finally it kicks over). Now it's running, push choke down to half after a minute and it's still running. Let it run with half choke a minute, push choke all the way in. I go inside to gear up, come back out and the bike died. Start it back up while grumbling.
Is it supposed to do this? Seems like it's having alot of trouble starting and then it will stop running while warming up. Maybe the idle is set a little too low or such? One other thing: Manual says for the 883 carb model use 87 octane so thats what I filled it with. I know some people run the premium stuff but I dont know if that would help.
I'm hoping a stage 1 would resolve this issue in which case I only have to deal with it another month. Any input would be great. Thanks!
Kanzig
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 2
From: Metro Milwaukee, WI
RE: Trouble starting/warming up
ORIGINAL: Kanzig
I'm hoping a stage 1 would resolve this issue in which case I only have to deal with it another month. Any input would be great. Thanks!
Kanzig
I'm hoping a stage 1 would resolve this issue in which case I only have to deal with it another month. Any input would be great. Thanks!
Kanzig
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 2
From: Metro Milwaukee, WI
RE: Trouble starting/warming up
Mine was. The drivability improved quite a bit as well as the power. I have never had mine kill during warm up but I noticed the warm up times are much shorter.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 30,914
Likes: 16
From: Springfield, Ohio
RE: Trouble starting/warming up
I (with stage 1), pull out the choke all the way, gas the throttle 3 or 4 times, and then hit the starter. Starts right up everytime. I then turn it around in the garage, push the choke half in.....put on my helmet. Take off, and push the choke in about a mile or 2 down the road. Seems to work fine.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
RE: Trouble starting/warming up
I never had any start up issues on my bike, even before I did the stage 1. Is the gas fresh? 87 octane should be fine. That's what I use in my 06 883. If the gas is fresh, since it has very low mileage for a 2 year old bike, the carb may be gummed up. Try running some SeaFoam through the tank.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Oswego, IL
RE: Trouble starting/warming up
Schumacher: Is it normal for everyone to gas the throttle a few times BEFORE hitting the start button? That might be part of my issue, I don't do that.
Sportypig: Gas is fresh but I don't know if the carb is dirty or clean. Good thinking though, if the bike sat in a dealer backroom for a year without any stabil in it then it could be a dirty carb. I'll get some seafoam in it and see what happens.
Thanks guys!
Sportypig: Gas is fresh but I don't know if the carb is dirty or clean. Good thinking though, if the bike sat in a dealer backroom for a year without any stabil in it then it could be a dirty carb. I'll get some seafoam in it and see what happens.
Thanks guys!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
RE: Trouble starting/warming up
Yes, I normally give the throttle a twist or 2 before starting. It shoots a stream of fuel into the carb.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Wheeling, WV
RE: Trouble starting/warming up
ORIGINAL: Kanzig
Is it normal for everyone to gas the throttle a few times BEFORE hitting the start button? That might be part of my issue, I don't do that.
Is it normal for everyone to gas the throttle a few times BEFORE hitting the start button? That might be part of my issue, I don't do that.