Cold starting problem

[paul G]

Hi,
Any help please.
CB550 K3 won't start when cold even with choke. If I give it a quick squirt with easy start it fires up so obviously fuel issue.
With the choke out it tries to fire up but will not run, if I open the throttle at all it just dies.
Runs fine once it has fired up, any ideas before I start pulling the carbs apart and re checking everything over.
I was sure the float levels were ok but could be wrong.
Any help appreciated.

Regards,

[Trigger]

Paul a wing nut has nothing to do with your bike not starting. Go on strip those carbs down, it's the only way to be sure.

[paul G]

Ah it could be the missing wing nut will have to double my efforts to find them.

[Norniron]

Hey paul chuck the easystart in the bin,valve wrecker.get some fuel stabilizer

[Bryanj]

This problem on K3 is usualy the pilot jets mate

[paul G]

Bryan/odd job,
Thanks for the info pretty sure these were clean. New jets were fitted and carb cleaner through the jet until it came out of the brass breather on the air box side.
I guess it's back to square one and check everything through.

Regards,

[Lobo]

I feel for you mate if you have to strip the bloody carbs... particularly after a careful rebuild.

My 750 K2 used to be a bitch to start ... countless cardiac events kicking it over, followed by countless flat battery's after that. And in my case it's simply technique, ie couple of dry cranks, choke full open, throttle full open... works 1st time & every time, from cold & on the starter. Thence a bit of nursing / closing the choke whilst she warms...

Possibly not your answer... just trying to offer a (last?) alternative to a bloody strip-down....

Good luck!

[paul G]

Hi all,
           Finally got time to have a look at the cold starting problem.
It turned out to be the choke butterfly's sticking, the choke on this model has spring actuated butterfly's so when you pull out the choke cable the spring closes them.
In my case they were sticking open, now sorted and starting OK, just Thornton I would let you know about the problem in case anyone else suffers the same problem.
Thanks to everyone for there help.

Regards,