The trick to starting a Falco...

Message

wayofthedarkhand · #1 Post by **wayofthedarkhand** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:05 pm

...What is it? i've flooded mine two days in a row now. Got her started in the end opening the throttle up, but it'd be better not to flood her in the beginning.

Should I not use full choke in this weather? Would half be better? Or none at all and just use the throttle to get her started and warm her up?

#2 Post by **mangocrazy** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:10 pm

I always use full 'choke' and leave the throttle severely alone. Be ready to pounce on the 'choke' (fast idle, really) and drop it down to a sensible level as soon as the bike fires up.

This assumes a fully-charged, healthy battery, of course.

Falco668 · #3 Post by **Falco668** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:14 pm

Have to agree with the above. Normally around 1/2 "choke" and leave the throttle alone, one push of the starter and she fires up to around 2500rpm but again be ready to knock the fast idle(choke) down as it will rise quickly. Neighbours just dont "get" my venoms at 6.30am!!!!!!!:smt004

D-Rider · #4 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:22 pm

The guidance given in the Owners Manual seems to cover it pretty well:

http://www.serviceaprilia.com/public/lu ... SL%20Mille

wayofthedarkhand · #5 Post by **wayofthedarkhand** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:23 pm

The choke is a bit excitable. Not as bad as the Kawasaki 4k rpm or nothing choke.

Maybe I just don't hold the starter down long enough. I tend to let off as soon as she catches.

holding the starter for 10seconds like the manual says for a cold engine sounds excessive and good way to drain a battery fast.

Aladinsaneuk · #6 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:26 pm

is ok young padwan.....

and glad you got it sorted :)

i goes stat as others have said - its not an inline 4.... so do not do the rice burner things with it :)

randomsquid · #7 Post by **randomsquid** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:31 pm

My light switch (10) seems to be missing. Now what do I do?

#8 Post by **mangocrazy** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:32 pm

randomsquid wrote:My light switch (10) seems to be missing. Now what do I do?

Avoid using it in the starting procedure...

D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:47 pm

randomsquid wrote:My light switch (10) seems to be missing. Now what do I do?

Go and buy a proper set of switchgear so that you can turn the lights off (fortunately very few Falcos got built with this deficiency)

..... and follow Mango's advice for starting ...

randomsquid · #10 Post by **randomsquid** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:44 pm

I suppose the switchgear with the lightswitch (10) will plug straight into my loom? I suppose but I'm not hopeful.

Will heed Mango's advice on starting

Aladinsaneuk · #11 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:38 pm

Yep

I believe it does.... And when sourcing such a thing I think the Mille one is the same....

randomsquid · #12 Post by **randomsquid** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:36 pm

Cheers, I've been nosing and they do look like the same part. My neutered one looks like the one on the 04 on RSV thingies. Now I just have to wait for a realistically priced one.

flatlander · #13 Post by **flatlander** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:25 pm

as I found this week in order to keep it running its best if it stays vertical

That also seemed to adversely affect the oil level

randomsquid · #14 Post by **randomsquid** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:32 pm

On the up side you've tested your tilt switch.
IF my C90 had one it wouldn't have pissed off on it's own when I picked it back up.