My bike is hard to start. I have to pull the choke out then back in then half way out again and it will start then I pull it all the way out to for a minute to get it going well.
In cold weather it won't start at all

I brought it to the shop they cleaned the carb and checked the choke. I got it back same thing. Brought it back they changed the jets I will see what happens now

They said it could be the valves. I will use some sea foam. If it does not work I asked them to run a compression and leak down test. They said the compression test is difficult.
I cannot remember why but they said something is in the way but they can do a leak down test.
Any thoughts

I will be on vacation but if anyone has any thoughts please let me know I will be back soon

Thanks
Ron

I just went outside to see if it will start it is 47 out it would not start.
I am at a point where I am thinking of getting rid of the bike.
Man am I pissed two times in the shop over $400 spent and still won't start in cold weather.

What happens if you open the trottle a few times before hitting the starter..?

cruiser wrote:
They said the compression test is difficult. I cannot remember why but they said something is in the way but they can do a leak down test. Any thoughts

Take it somewhere else .... they don't know what they are doing.

Of the two test, the compression test is easiest, not any harder than changing a plug. The compression test will not tell you if it's the valves that are the source of the problem.

What are the symptoms of non-start ... does the bike turn over normally but it does not start, does it turn over very slowly, etc?

It it's turning over normally, take the air cleaner off and give it a start of starter fluid ... does it start?

Doc

Did you check any of the things suggested in your original post on this? Did you find out what you have for jetting?

Hi Doc

Starting the bike I have to pull the choke all the way out giving it no gas then I push it all the way in then pull it out and when it firs up with the choke a third of the way out I pull the choke the remainder of the way out to bring up the revs. When it fires it fires strong No slow start

They changed my jets so I need to find out what they put in.

The bike turns over ok. But every once in awhile I notice it will turn over slow I contributed that to the starter stopping in a spot that makes it turn over slow when you restart the bike.
I have sprayed quick start in the carb and it starts but with some effort. Once it was very cold and it took 20 minutes a a jump to the battery to get it going with using the quick start sprayed in the carb.

The choke is puzzling ... may be more than one problem but for certain the choke 'solution' sounds like a problem in that area. Try taking the choke apart and verify that it works (maybe it's sticking in the cable ). Clean the choke orifices - could be a bit of dirt in there.

With the starting fluid the bike should start up ... but not necessarily keep running.

What weight oil are you using?

Doc

The lowest temp I have seen during the past two winters is 40. I use full choke and 5 or 6 pumps of the throttle (idle to full open) and I leave the choke on for a couple of miles. In the summer at 85+ usually 2 pumps & no choke will do it. It is not unusual for it to not start without the choke. You say that you give it full choke then back to half then back to full as it starts. Moving the choke handle doesn't do anything except adjust a valve opening; what you do with the choke handle before you hit the starter is immaterial. The location of the choke when you hit the starter is all that matters. Pumping the throttle does squirt gas into the manifold. In the summer if the engine is hot and you touch either the throttle or choke it probably won't start because you have flooded it. With the temp less than freezing you probably can't flood it regardless of how much you pump the throttle.
With injection technique isn't a problem because the computer measures several things and does whatever is appropriat. With a carb you are the computter and your technique is very much a part of the equation.

Clifford

Hi Doc
I am using 20w/60
Anyway I am off going on vacation will try to figure it out when I get back. If anyone has any thoughts please let me know.

Ron

My bike was an absolute pig to start this morning... ~-3 C with 20w50 synthetic, but once running she was happy. Does your battery have a strong charge? Do you have somewhere warm you can put the bike for a bit to see if warming it up some helps? I can light a fire in my garage to "preheat" my bike.. not particulary efficient, but it smells nice.

Dan