Starting in cold weather

[Athame57]

My bike lives outside under a bike cover. I've always had a bit of an issue starting the engine first thing in very cold weather, today no exception,  I had to use the starter button for a few minutes before she finally decided to fire up. Is this just a norm with the CB400F or am I missing something?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

If it's always been that way I would suspect moisture ingress is causing HT spark loss.
Other possibilities might include an air leak on the intake side.

My old Ariel Leader would only start from cold in the winter if I flooded the carbs using the top float button.

[K2-K6]

As Ted notes, susceptibility to any moisture with ignition system may stack it a little against easy starting.

Specifically the HT leads, have a look at them in the dark while cranking it to assess for any....even minor...evidence of sparks tracking to earth. I had a king lead, from coil to distribution, leaking when cold and damp. With iffy cold start but OK when going, looked like a hairy caterpillar near to any earth castings, all a sort of furry fog of leakage compromising the sparks.

Also try differing method to possibly help. Crank it without choke for a couple of seconds, then ping the choke on while still rotating the engine to see if it'll pick it up sooner by firing. With plugs cold and maybe a little damp from fuel they can be reluctant to provide competent spark initially, cranking without choke applied first just pushes les fuel damp air through the combustion chamber initially and may sway the conditions to slightly more favourable to get that first fire going.

[SeanFD]

Way back then, my 750K2 would always difficult to start once it had sat for a while, e.g. overnight, or even all day, in cold damp weather.

I used to carry a small blow torch in the top box and use this to warm up / dry up the plug caps and leads and it would fire up immediately

Now I have new coils and it starts with no problem; it rarely sits outside in cold and damp nowadays mind.

[TrickyMicky]

Way back then, my 750K2 would always difficult to start once it had sat for a while, e.g. overnight, or even all day, in cold damp weather.

I used to carry a small blow torch in the top box and use this to warm up / dry up the plug caps and leads and it would fire up immediately

Now I have new coils and it starts with no problem; it rarely sits outside in cold and damp nowadays mind.

.  This is the image I have of you Sean!!! Happy New Year.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

If it is spark leakage if you get up early in the morning in the darkness you might actually see some sparking in the wrong places. Back in the 1960s WD40 made it's name in damp foggy cold England as it had the engine running before the battery was flat.

[Athame57]

Now I have new coils and it starts with no problem;

As it happens I've just ordered a new set of coils, I live in hope.

[JezzaPeach]

Maybe a nice neighbour or bike club member has space in their nice warm garage?!

[SeanFD]

Way back then, my 750K2 would always difficult to start once it had sat for a while, e.g. overnight, or even all day, in cold damp weather.

I used to carry a small blow torch in the top box and use this to warm up / dry up the plug caps and leads and it would fire up immediately

Now I have new coils and it starts with no problem; it rarely sits outside in cold and damp nowadays mind.

.  This is the image I have of you Sean!!! Happy New Year.

Close enough!