Won't start when cold

I have an '82 XJ 550 Seca. I have had some trouble getting it started when it is cold outside. It won't start when it is around 35 degrees or colder. When I try to start it, the starter motor engages, but the engine just won't fire up.

When it is warm out, the bike starts up right away, no hesitation at all. I open the choke, tap the starter button and it fires right up.

I am certain that it is a cold issue, because the couple of times I had this problem I let it sit over night and waited until the next morning. In the morning when it was about 40 degrees and sunny, the bike started right away, no hesitation at all.

After this happened the first time I pulled the carbs and made sure that the starter jets and enrichment tubes were clean. I gave it a nice soak in carb cleaner and had everything nice and clean and I was able to blow air through all the passages.

So I am out of ideas. Anyone have any other suggestions as to what could be causing this cold start problem.

Thanks for any advice!

 

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My '82 550 Maxim does the same thing. I don't know what the deal is exactly I have just leaned to live with it.

 

Try using no choke and no throttle, and see if it starts to cough into life and then gently give it a bit of throttle to coax it along but still stay off the choke.

 

these bikes tend to be cold-blooded from what I gather. yeah I've struggled with the same thing a majority of the time.

someone's gonna come on here and tell us our enrichment peepholes are clogged, not allowing enough fuel to enter for a cold start. think I've heard it elsewhere... i don't know. Age has an issue too I really think so. Just like old-people when they get old, its harder for them to get going lol

**grinning while typing the last sentence b/c I'm only 24 **

 

So Philly, move somewhere warm [like Florida...] and take moellear "I'm only 24" with you...at his age, he'd be good shark bait.......you get to start your bike and moellear....well, he dont wanna get old anyway..........

 

Take the battery inside tonight & charge it, bike will start right up tomorrow.

 

Yep, but not if the plugs are old or gapped too wide.

Wiz is right, the battery is probably just a tad soggy; but even at it's best, the 550 doesn't exactly produce a nice fat crisp spark.

Pop in a nice new set of NGK D8EA's, gapped at .025" while you're at it. http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=34431.html

Make sure the plug caps are tight on the wires, the resistor cores aren't loose inside the caps and the wires aren't dirty.

And make sure your air filter is clean; condensation+dirt on a nippy morning can affect this as well.

One last point: If the bike isn't in a perfect or near-perfect state of tune, don't even bother. Mikunis bitchy enough when cold, if they're not working together it ain't happening.

(All of the above from experience with plenty of 37*F Michigan mornings.)

 

Thanks to those who share this problem and feel my pain!

As for moving to Florida, well no offense to any Floridians, but it just ain't my style.

My battery and air filters are only a few months old, so I don't think that is the problem.

I do like the spark plug idea. Right now my plugs are gapped slightly more than the low end of the range. And I have some cheap Champion plugs.

I am going to try to narrow the gap a bit. Tomorrow I think I will go pick up some NGKs.

Thanks for all the info.

And if anyone has other suggestions keep them coming.

 

It doesn't matter how new the battery is, take it inside and charge it as Wiz said. (When did you last check the fluid levels in your new battery?)

Then fit those new NGK's (I get mine at AutoZone for under $2.)

I never could get a decent cold start with Champions in my Norton either; with NGK's it lights right up.

If it still doesn't want to fire up on cold mornings, then you have some carb work to do. Float levels at the top of the list.

 

i ride my bike usually everyday, if i dont ride for a day or so , no probs, but if i leave it much longer its a real pain, it nearly starts first go ,then takes about 5-10 minutes to start, i havent been able to get the knack of starting it after a break, but i live with it and worse comes to worse i can bump start it but its only been hard to start about 3 or 4 times in the last 18 months. not so bad.

 

I found if its going to be cold in the morning you can kill the engine with the choke/enricher this makes it easier to start the next morning (not much help a few days later)

 

I found if its going to be cold in the morning you can kill the engine with the choke/enricher this makes it easier to start the next morning (not much help a few days later)

 

+1 to checking out/charging your battery. You can't assume it's good based on age. Wouldn't hurt to check resistance on your ignition system-might be close to going out of spec on you.

You could try using a small space heater and give your motor some heat before you try to start it.

Also you could spray some starter fluid into your intake-you could rig a hose to make this easy.

My 550 was hard to start when cold after I first got it, but now after proper oil, stabilized gas (at right octane), proper charged battery, clean carbs and lots of love it starts up very quickly every time no matter how cold or how long it's been-it does take it longer to get to operating temp (no enrichment) when it's cold.

Maybe the bike just doesn't want to freeze it's #$#@ off, or let you freeze yours off either!

 

Update:

I checked my battery and the fluid was a little low, so I topped it off and charged it. I am used to maintenance free batteries, so this is my first experience with one of these batteries.

I also put in NGK spark plugs gapped at .025.

I know carbs are nice and clean and I double checked the float level and it was just slightly more than a mm below the top of the float bowl. So this does not seem to be carb issue.

I do have a garage, so the problem isn't getting it started up while I am home. The problem is getting it started up to get back home when I am away from home and it sits outside. So keeping it on trickle charger or a space heater isn't going to help.

MercuryMan, you mentioned you use the "right octane" gas. I have been putting 89 in mine, what do you use?

Hopefully the problem was battery or spark plug related. At some point I'll check the resistance on the ignition system to see where that is at.

Now I just have to wait for it to get cold enough again. If it ever does get cold again, we are having n unseasonably warm winter here in Philly.

 

How many miles on this bike?

There's a very good possibility that the alternator isn't fully charging the battery so every time you ride it you "flatten" the battery.

Are you still running the stock instrument cluster? If so, what does the volt meter read at highway speed?

It may be time to attend to the alternator brushes.

A note on battery fluid levels: these bikes are HARD on batteries, especially in hot weather. If you're riding on a daily or near-daily basis in the summer, be sure to check your battery WEEKLY at the minimum.

 

I had some issues similar to this. Turned out to be low battery fluid. Filled the battery, gave it a full charge, and popped it back on the bike. No issues, starts on the first or second button push in 30 degree weather.

 

89 octane should be fine. I use 91 in mine but mostly because it's less likely to have ethanol added. Always keep a small amount of gas stabilizer in my tank-only about an oz or two. Currently using the new STP brand they just released. I wouldn't go lower than 89, unless you are riding at high elevations.