Hard start in Hot Weather

Lou · July 9th, 2011, 02:59 PM

This is my first summer with a bike, (bought it in oct). The problem starts when ive been riding for atleast 10 min in the heat. Once I shut her off I'll have a tuff time getting her to turn back on. Only happens in hot weather.
*side note* Almost everytime i shut off the bike the Fan keeps on running for a while, prob 20 secs. Could it be killing my battery?

kkim · July 9th, 2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou

Once I shut her off I'll have a tuff time getting her to turn back on. Only happens in hot weather.
*side note* Almost everytime i shut off the bike the Fan keeps on running for a while, prob 20 secs. Could it be killing my battery?

fan cycling on/off after shutdown is normal.

can you be more specific of what you mean by "I'll have a tuff time getting her to turn back on." what are you doing... what happens, exactly?

Boom King · July 9th, 2011, 03:05 PM

I'm not really sure about the hard start but as for the fan still running, it's normal and would not kill the battery.

Lou · July 9th, 2011, 03:21 PM

Here's as best as i can describe it.
I hit the starter button and the battery sounds fine like it has plenty of juice, and the engine cranks over and sounds good too, but it just doesnt start. I have to go over that process about 5 or 6 times before it starts. When it starts, it sounds like its choking (idling so slow it almost turns off) it'll go away by itself after a bit or with a little gas, idling normaly after that. I start it with the high beams off making sure everything is in good order, neutral, kill switch off. A friend who has a 10' ninjette has the same prob.....

DaBlue1 · July 9th, 2011, 03:22 PM

When was the last time you check your coolant level?
Do you do a lot of stop and go riding?

Lou · July 9th, 2011, 03:35 PM

I checked the coolant levels they are between Low and Full. I prob do only 15-20 mins of stop and go traffic not much at all.

Boom King · July 9th, 2011, 03:40 PM

I would load test the battery and then check the spark plugs.

Lou · July 9th, 2011, 03:58 PM

noob question... how do you load test a battery?

DaBlue1 · July 9th, 2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou

noob question... how do you load test a battery?

http://www.ninjette.org/wiki/Battery

What else are you doing at start up besides pushing the starter button? What is idling normally? Have you readjusted the idle since winter? What other maintenance have you done (clean the air filter, clean the carbs)?
Have you tried cracking the gas cap when you have the problem starting?

kkim · July 9th, 2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou

Here's as best as i can describe it.
I hit the starter button and the battery sounds fine like it has plenty of juice, and the engine cranks over and sounds good too, but it just doesnt start. I have to go over that process about 5 or 6 times before it starts. When it starts, it sounds like its choking (idling so slow it almost turns off) it'll go away by itself after a bit or with a little gas, idling normaly after that. I start it with the high beams off making sure everything is in good order, neutral, kill switch off. A friend who has a 10' ninjette has the same prob.....

are you doing anything with the throttle while you're trying to start it?

Lou · July 9th, 2011, 04:39 PM

@kkim i dont mess with the throttle at all while I start the bike.
@Blue idling normaly is just idling like the first day i got the bike. I havent touched the idle adjust at all. Ive changed the oil twice already and i am getting ready to clean my air filter. Ill try cracking the gas cap next time im out.
Thnx for the help!

kkim · July 9th, 2011, 04:42 PM

two thing to try to sort out a lean/rich condition.

to test for rich... hold the throttle wide open, then try and start the bike. does it start easier?

to test for leanness... turn the choke on and hit the start button. does the bike start easier?

Lou · July 9th, 2011, 04:55 PM

Ill give that a shot next time I go out, ill post what i find.

choneofakind · July 9th, 2011, 08:55 PM

also, with the choke, the bike doesnt need full choke to start, only partial choke. using full choke makes it too rich, especially since hot air temps make for thin air which makes for rich fuel conditions

kkim · July 9th, 2011, 08:57 PM

Chris,

as I understand it, he's having trouble restarting the bike once it's fully warmed up and has been ridden for awhile.

choneofakind · July 9th, 2011, 09:13 PM

according to this, that means that the mix screws are out too far http://www.factorypro.com/tech_tunin...m_engines.html

has the setting of the mix screws been changed at all?

Lou · July 11th, 2011, 02:31 PM

My bike hasnt been touched by anyone since they did the 600 mile check (dint have the prob till temp went way up) And all ive done is changed the oil filter and lubed the chain. Im going to run to a moto shop and buy some oil for my air filter, if it does it ill try the suggestions mentioned. Ill post what i find.
Thnx.

pucktoplay1 · July 13th, 2011, 01:33 PM

hmm today I went for an inspection and I had a similar issue, my inspection place was about 6 miles away and after inspection (3 min or so) I jumped back on to hit the road and I had trouble getting her started. It was pretty hot out 88º or so. She turned over for quite sometime before starting. It took about 4 3 second bursts of starting power to get her started again. Never had this issue before.

July 9th, 2011, 02:59 PM	#1
Lou ninjette.org member Name: LOU Location: Imperial County, California Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): GreenSE 09 250R Posts: 247	Hard start in Hot Weather This is my first summer with a bike, (bought it in oct). The problem starts when ive been riding for atleast 10 min in the heat. Once I shut her off I'll have a tuff time getting her to turn back on. Only happens in hot weather. side note Almost everytime i shut off the bike the Fan keeps on running for a while, prob 20 secs. Could it be killing my battery?

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July 9th, 2011, 03:05 PM	#3
Boom King So, where's the reverse? Name: Anson Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	I'm not really sure about the hard start but as for the fan still running, it's normal and would not kill the battery.

July 9th, 2011, 03:21 PM	#4
Lou ninjette.org member Name: LOU Location: Imperial County, California Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): GreenSE 09 250R Posts: 247	Here's as best as i can describe it. I hit the starter button and the battery sounds fine like it has plenty of juice, and the engine cranks over and sounds good too, but it just doesnt start. I have to go over that process about 5 or 6 times before it starts. When it starts, it sounds like its choking (idling so slow it almost turns off) it'll go away by itself after a bit or with a little gas, idling normaly after that. I start it with the high beams off making sure everything is in good order, neutral, kill switch off. A friend who has a 10' ninjette has the same prob.....

July 9th, 2011, 03:22 PM	#5
DaBlue1 Long Time Rider Name: Blue Location: Charlotte, NC Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	When was the last time you check your coolant level? Do you do a lot of stop and go riding?

July 9th, 2011, 03:35 PM	#6
Lou ninjette.org member Name: LOU Location: Imperial County, California Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): GreenSE 09 250R Posts: 247	I checked the coolant levels they are between Low and Full. I prob do only 15-20 mins of stop and go traffic not much at all.

July 9th, 2011, 03:40 PM	#7
Boom King So, where's the reverse? Name: Anson Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	I would load test the battery and then check the spark plugs.

July 9th, 2011, 03:58 PM	#8
Lou ninjette.org member Name: LOU Location: Imperial County, California Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): GreenSE 09 250R Posts: 247	noob question... how do you load test a battery?

July 9th, 2011, 04:39 PM	#11
Lou ninjette.org member Name: LOU Location: Imperial County, California Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): GreenSE 09 250R Posts: 247	@kkim i dont mess with the throttle at all while I start the bike. @Blue idling normaly is just idling like the first day i got the bike. I havent touched the idle adjust at all. Ive changed the oil twice already and i am getting ready to clean my air filter. Ill try cracking the gas cap next time im out. Thnx for the help!

July 9th, 2011, 04:42 PM	#12
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	two thing to try to sort out a lean/rich condition. to test for rich... hold the throttle wide open, then try and start the bike. does it start easier? to test for leanness... turn the choke on and hit the start button. does the bike start easier?

July 9th, 2011, 04:55 PM	#13
Lou ninjette.org member Name: LOU Location: Imperial County, California Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): GreenSE 09 250R Posts: 247	Ill give that a shot next time I go out, ill post what i find.

July 9th, 2011, 08:55 PM	#14
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	also, with the choke, the bike doesnt need full choke to start, only partial choke. using full choke makes it too rich, especially since hot air temps make for thin air which makes for rich fuel conditions

July 9th, 2011, 08:57 PM	#15
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	Chris, as I understand it, he's having trouble restarting the bike once it's fully warmed up and has been ridden for awhile.

July 9th, 2011, 09:13 PM	#16
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	according to this, that means that the mix screws are out too far http://www.factorypro.com/tech_tunin...m_engines.html has the setting of the mix screws been changed at all?

July 11th, 2011, 02:31 PM	#17
Lou ninjette.org member Name: LOU Location: Imperial County, California Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): GreenSE 09 250R Posts: 247	My bike hasnt been touched by anyone since they did the 600 mile check (dint have the prob till temp went way up) And all ive done is changed the oil filter and lubed the chain. Im going to run to a moto shop and buy some oil for my air filter, if it does it ill try the suggestions mentioned. Ill post what i find. Thnx.

July 13th, 2011, 01:33 PM	#18
pucktoplay1 ninjette.org member Name: Mike Location: Rockland, NY Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): '09 Ninja 250r Posts: 63	hmm today I went for an inspection and I had a similar issue, my inspection place was about 6 miles away and after inspection (3 min or so) I jumped back on to hit the road and I had trouble getting her started. It was pretty hot out 88º or so. She turned over for quite sometime before starting. It took about 4 3 second bursts of starting power to get her started again. Never had this issue before.