- This topic has 9 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 6 months ago by owlie.
Choke issues?
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September 28, 2009 at 3:53 am #3467owlieParticipant
Hello!
So this is weird. Until the last couple of days, I’ve never actually tried to use the choke on my Suzuki S40. It always starts up with no problems. But its getting colder, so I figured I would check this out. So, I pull Thumper out of the garage, pull out the choke knob, and start her up. And it dies. Do it again, it dies. Push it in half way, and it starts but it runs really rough and spits and sputters unless I roll on the throttle some. And then when I put it all the way in, it runs rough for about the first quarter mile of riding.
Am I supposed to be rolling on the throttle when I start it using the choke? Or is there something else funky going on? It starts with out the choke, so do I just ignore it and go on with riding? (Thumper’s still under warranty, so this isn’t really a plan…)
Any way, just thought I would get your ideas before I called in the cavalry.
Owlie
September 28, 2009 at 4:49 am #22558MunchParticipantDon’t use the choke unless necessary, only after trying to start it w/out first. The rough running is likely to partial flooding, especially after rolling the throttle to get it running. The choke is there for cold starts, but some bikes are more cold natured then others.
September 28, 2009 at 10:05 am #22560eternal05ParticipantYou don’t want to use the choke when you don’t need it. When it won’t start up without choke, use as little choke as possible. You don’t want too rich a mixture hitting your engine or you risk flooding (too much gas, not enough air, won’t combust), etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flooded_engine
Also, once you do get the bike running on the choke, don’t forget to ween it off as soon as the bike runs on its own (which in my experience happens as soon as you get it moving). Get your bike warmed up with gentle riding for a few minutes before giving it the beans.
Good luck!
September 28, 2009 at 1:07 pm #22562owlieParticipantInexperience strikes again!
To follow up, if I need to use the choke, do I need to roll on the throttle after I have started the bike? Or do I just pull out the knob and start it and it does its thing?
Thanks guys.
September 28, 2009 at 3:28 pm #22575Bob HarleyParticipantI have an s40. In warm weather it starts and runs fine in a couple minutes with no choke. In fact I think it dislikes the choke in warm weather like we have had here in california lately. When I do use the choke, the throttle doesn’t seem to help. In fact I’ve stalled the engine opening up the throttle several times with the choke open when I pulled the bike out of half a year of deep sleep. Eventually I just let the bike idle and after it warmed up all was good. I am stil breaking in my bike (and myself) so everything is in new condition. How may miles do you have? Maybe you are ready for a carb adjustment?
September 28, 2009 at 4:23 pm #22576MunchParticipantNo, your best bet is to let it run til it warms up. Usually indicated by a fast idle at the beginning and then you will hear the rpms start to drop. With your bike being new I would give the time to let it warm up when you need to start actually using it for start ups. “gagging” it or rolling on the throttle while the choke is open is not necessarily a bad thing but it does no good either. Just give yourself dome time…heck use the warm up time to do a pre ride inspection….ya know, lights, air pressure, tire condition etc.
September 29, 2009 at 1:23 am #22578owlieParticipantIt is only time for whatever they do at the 500 mile break-in service (oil change, tightening stuff, waving the magic wand, etc). I cracked 501 with Sunday’s ride.
September 29, 2009 at 1:26 am #22580owlieParticipantOkay. Thanks for the help.
September 29, 2009 at 2:16 am #22583Bob HarleyParticipantI didn’t need the choke today at all. In fact, I think the more often I ride the s40 the less often it needs the choke it seems to me. And it sounds like you are only 200 miles ahead of me on the odometer, so it’s a fair comparison. Also I remember last week I got confused and thought I had the choke open, and when I pulled it out (that should have been a big hint..duh?), which WAS actually the open position, the bike stalled on me. It did not want to start with the choke open. So I closed it and viola, it started and idled fine. I think these s40 bikes are really durable. I have decided to leave the choke alone, unless it just won’t start and idle without it.
Congrats on the break in! Is the S40 your first bike too?
September 30, 2009 at 1:47 am #22601owlieParticipantHonestly, I’ve never had to actually use the choke (which is part of my confusion over it). Generally I store it in the garage, so ambient temp is high 50s – low 60s. I haven’t had any trouble starting it cold.
Yes, the S40 is my first bike. I took the MSF in July and bought the bike in late August. I had a rough start, but it has been a pleasure to ride since I got over the hump.
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