Running on Choke?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,585
Likes: 4,019
From: San Diego, CA
I use the choke (enrichener) full just to start, then adjust in to keep good idle. Keep up the idle speed, you need 1000 RPM to get the oil flow going well, a lot of people just let it sit and "lope" which I think is not good. Another reason is, the enrichener actually provides more fuel, which washes oil off the cylinder walls. So, loping engines and enricheners is not good IMO.
Some folks twist the throttle before starting, not my method either. I get her off choke and on throttle after start.
I also let her warm up a couple minutes until I can feel the heads pretty warm. Popping and sputtering before the bike warms is mostly the intake manifold not being at temp. I live on the coast in San Diego County, and the cold damp foggy mornings make you understand air density and carb adjustment for sure. Some of it you just have to live with.
EFI bikes probably are better at modifying the mixture than carbs.
John
Some folks twist the throttle before starting, not my method either. I get her off choke and on throttle after start.
I also let her warm up a couple minutes until I can feel the heads pretty warm. Popping and sputtering before the bike warms is mostly the intake manifold not being at temp. I live on the coast in San Diego County, and the cold damp foggy mornings make you understand air density and carb adjustment for sure. Some of it you just have to live with.
EFI bikes probably are better at modifying the mixture than carbs.
John
Last edited by John Harper; Oct 3, 2012 at 06:55 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 67
From: USA
It is difficult to set a time / distance / temp regarding how much choke you need, as conditions vary. The bike will tell you how much it wants. Pull the choke to start it when cold and ease it back as the RPMs pick-up. Im in no hurry to close the choke, and will ride for several miles with the choke partially out if necessary.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 357
Likes: 2
From: NC
Answer me this: The Indy I take my bike told me not to use the choke unless it's cold. This winter will be my first with the bike. It starts right up with just a twist of the throttle then start button. Is there anything wrong with that method? I used to do it the other way. Meaning... pull the chole out, crank it, push the choke in halfway, crank it again, then push it in after its run for about 30 seconds or so.
It just seems easier to twist the throttle a couple of times and press the start button. She allways fires right up. That is... when I'm not having some other issue going on that I caused. I play with alot of things that I probably shouldn't just to see how it works and what it does when I do this or that.
It just seems easier to twist the throttle a couple of times and press the start button. She allways fires right up. That is... when I'm not having some other issue going on that I caused. I play with alot of things that I probably shouldn't just to see how it works and what it does when I do this or that.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,585
Likes: 4,019
From: San Diego, CA
Answer me this: The Indy I take my bike told me not to use the choke unless it's cold. This winter will be my first with the bike. It starts right up with just a twist of the throttle then start button. Is there anything wrong with that method? I used to do it the other way. Meaning... pull the chole out, crank it, push the choke in halfway, crank it again, then push it in after its run for about 30 seconds or so.
It just seems easier to twist the throttle a couple of times and press the start button. She allways fires right up. That is... when I'm not having some other issue going on that I caused. I play with alot of things that I probably shouldn't just to see how it works and what it does when I do this or that.
It just seems easier to twist the throttle a couple of times and press the start button. She allways fires right up. That is... when I'm not having some other issue going on that I caused. I play with alot of things that I probably shouldn't just to see how it works and what it does when I do this or that.
John
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,435
Likes: 7,127
From: Beyond Fucital
Same here. I have to leave the enrichener out just a "C" hair to keep her from coughing.
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