Not starting flooded engine

Ok went to start the bike last night it was about 25 degrees. ran the battery down trying to start it with full choke. Of course this flooded the engine and fouled the spark plugs. when I pulled them they reeked of gas as did my exhaust. They were near wet and all black. I have tried pulling the plugs and cleaning them, putting the bike in 1st gear and rolling it to clear out the excess fuel, and cranked it with no choke and the gas tank disconnected from the carbs.
Im at my ends here
Is there a specific way to get the excess fuel out of the engine?
Also would new plugs help since these have been gas soaked?
What plugs would be best for all around temp.
An average winter day in lubbock, tx will go from 20 to 80 degrees.
bike is an 81 550 seca YICS

thank you in advance you your help
josh

 

Check the dipstick to see how much is in the case. It will evaporate out but takes quite a while. Sounds like weak or no spark. Did it ever try to hit? BTW don't saw on that starter. If it don't start trying to hit right away then something's amiss. If you don't have a sparkplug sand blaster then get a spare set of plugs to start it with. Get a spraycan of starting fluid. Easyest way to cut the problem in half. Get someone to spray a two second blast in the air intake while your cranking with no throttle. If it don't hit a few licks then you got spark problems. Go from there by reading through XY Chat, Sticky #2.

 

New spark plugs and a fully-charged battery.

If you soaked those plugs they're probably dead. The 550s are really finicky about plugs/plug GAP in the cold especially. Gap your new plugs to the tight side of the recommended range.

 

Only on our Nortons, guy. XJs gots no dipstick...

 

ok thanks guys I dont have my manual where the bike is....does any one know what the gap should be?

 

Probably .7 to .8 mm, or about .03".

 

An All-Aluminum, Xj-Bike, Engine, Inline-4, DOHC, 8-Valve, Very good to Excellent condition, Perfectly Fine-tuned, Battery charged, Air Cleaner clean with Gasoline drawn directly from the Regional Supply Depot in the Fuel Tank, ... allowed to become Dead Cold, ... such that the Engine is subject to temperatures which fall below 40-Degrees F. (4.5 C.) is going to be a S _ N _ F A B _ T C H*** to get started!

"I think there's any consonants left, Vanna"

 

Rick, that's why mine is in the garage waiting for me to start the maintenance, that she requires for next years riding. Too cold to start and can run into other problems trying to start her.

 

ok threw the new plugs in with about .7mm gaps
it cranked up with very little choke
it works just fine now

as for not starting in the cold, this will be my 4th winter on only the xj
I had a few problems with the battery freezing last year but so far its been good to me. it has consistently started ( with the most recent problem being exempt) in sub 40 degree weather
most the time I wont ride when the weather turns to the teens but above that its been great.
And the SECA isnt tuned anywhere near perfect lol
but she takes a lickin an keeps on tickin
thanks again everybody for your help once again

 

Your in Lubbock, Texas.
You wipe-off dust before you ride.
If it gets chilly, you might have dew to contend with.

I've already had some Genuine FROST on the saddle.
I prepped my Son-in-Laws Snowblower, today.
You're saying: "A what?"
It don't get cold in Lubbock, right?
On New Years Day you can get out of bed and ride to the 7~11 with what you got on.
New Years Eve in New England's usually a "Three Dog Night"

 

I hear ya lol Ive wiped of guiene frost off the seat but I ride at 5am ( the coldest time of the day) lol also dont count out the -10 wind chill when its 15 degrees. my weather isnt to be considered "cold" comparably, but for these bikes from what you posted earlier it is less than favorable conditions. Speaking of cold weather.
How do you winter prep your bikes and how would I keep the battery from freezing. I dont have a garage to keep it warm in so, Is there a way to do this.
Ill search for a post about this issue
at least you've got something good to look at in NE. Not a whole lot of scenery here.
thanks for your time
couldn't have kept my bike running without this site