starting silliness

Message

k1w1boy · #1 Post by **k1w1boy** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:19 pm

...am a Falco newbie - had my '02 for a month now. It had the battery replaced under warranty - a nice little 150mile round trip for me in the snow last weekend and it had been starting, in the tail end of our spring freeze, beautifully since. However, and I will sound like a plonker for admitting this, today I was about to head off to the bike safe show and I couldn't start the thing. Fuel pump hissed, starter motor did its thing but it wouldn't catch. I'd just given it a spongebath (steady nursey!) and for a minute thought that I'd drowned it or something. Called the dealer and their mechanic listened to it cranking over the phone and said it'd need a boost. Urg. Stuffit - I wanted to get on my way so I called AA man. When he turned up I had the seat off already and nonchalantly said all I needed was a boost start. He listened to it cranking, said 'You've flooded it mate" and opened the throttle up and started it. I stood there wishing the ground would swallow me up.

My silly question is, for anyone who'll spare me the time of day after this confession, is this recalcitrance on the part of the Falco common? Even with a strong, well maintained battery, am I going to have to think twice before starting the thing?

Samray · #2 Post by **Samray** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:25 pm

Sure you didn't kill the spark temporarily with it's blanket bath and flood it?

FlyingKiwi · #3 Post by **FlyingKiwi** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:31 pm

how did you start it?
did you use the fast idle lever.
I usually have the lever on full. don't touch the throttle and it kicks into life first time. I then immediately knock the fast idle down a bit

D-Rider · #4 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:36 pm

Yeah - it is possible to flood them occasionally and the solution is to hold the throttle wide open and hit the starter - seems to reliably sort things out.

(sometimes you forget that some 'newer' people haven't had opportunity to pick up these tips - glad you got it going)

Oh yes, and what Flyingkiwi says to avoid flooding it in the first place.

k1w1boy · #5 Post by **k1w1boy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:20 am

...yah, the worst part of this is that while I'm a newbie to Falco's I'm not a newbie to motorcycles - 12 years almost continuously in the saddle (thought getting a bike the year I was in Saudi would be a bit insane in 50deg.C). Think my last bike, the Firestorm, spoiled me. That thing could be encased in ice and it would start first press of the button, usually without any fast idle.

Thanks for the responses, and forgive me for going on. We had colder days this week and it started without a grumble on the first thumb of the button. I have been and did this morning open the fast-idle right up before starting it but it wouldn't catch. On the bright side, I guess I there's one less little idiosyncrasy of the thing to find out about. I'd say I felt sheepish about this, but that'd just make me a target for NZer jokes.

...did I mention while fiddling - waiting for AA man - I managed to completely unscrew the idle speed knob? Baaaaaa

minime · #6 Post by **minime** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:11 pm

You're (un)screwed!

k1w1boy · #7 Post by **k1w1boy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:07 pm

minime wrote:You're (un)screwed!

...almost - AA man managed to route the surprisingly long, screw ended stalk back into its thread for me.

Thumper · #8 Post by **Thumper** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:58 pm

Very important to start the falco properly NO throttle twitching required!

use the fast idle always when cold and if you do manage to flood her hold open the throttle fully and hold it open to clear the unburnt fuel do this whilst operating the starter this will drag plenty of air through the cylinders and clear the problem.
Remember this bike is injection not carb the fast idle is not a choke. Fail to start this engine properly and it will damaged sprag or starter gear.

HowardQ · #9 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:12 pm

But do as Thumper says and if the battery is well charged, it will start first time every time!

If battery seems weak, first time, DO NOT KEEP TRYING, get the battery charged.
I always back mine off a little bit after a few seconds after starting and running clean, as I never like cold engines revving too high until the oil is fully circulating.
Gradually back it off and allow to warm until the COLD display has changed to an actual temperature reading.

k1w1boy · #10 Post by **k1w1boy** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:54 pm

...useful advice HowardQ and Thumper - thankyou

Will get into that routine. I live in a 2nd floor flat and my garage has no mains power so I'm afraid charging is out of the question... guess I'll just have to ride everyday

HowardQ · #11 Post by **HowardQ** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:14 pm

I don't charge mine that often and I believe it's still the original battery, (2001 bike with 22K plus miles).
If I ride it every week it is usually OK, just need to use a battery conditioner a bit more now in winter if not used for a few weeks.
As mentioned by somebody before, always make sure the battery terminals are screwed up tight.
If ever you do get a new battery always buy a good one, cheap batteries will not turn the big V Twin over well enough, could damage the sprag clutch and will not last!