SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Starting from cold issues

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paulbaker1954:
Thanks for all,the input, glad to know it’s not just my bike but a more generic issue. Reminds me somewhat of the good old days of pre electronics and injection etc.

I seem to recall the favourite winter reason for not getting to work was “car wouldn’t start” and thinking back I too remember juggling with cranking and choke combinations on various vehicles to coax them in to life on cold Misty mornings.

I guess these days we are all just conditioned to much higher levels of reliability.

But then again is it as much fun......

JezzaPeach:
It would be interesting to hear if anyone has tried some ‘cold start’ spray via the air box, particularly on a colder day.
I had left my 500/4 for at least 3 months at a neighbours garage, and it started virtually first kick. Good sign? Actually not, as I believe the petcock had been letting a little fuel past, keeping the float bowls full, and a lot of vapour in the carbs, so it started that easily despite spark plug no 2 not working, and plug lead 3 being semi connected!

flatfour:
My 500/4 was never a good starter from cold after standing for more than a couple of days - symptoms as described earlier.

The 750 however, seems to start immediately regardless of length of time stood, air temperature etc. though it runs rather poorly and needs much juggling with choke and throttle for the first few minutes. (1972 750 K2, U.S. spec).

SteveW:
Wonder if super unleaded fuel would be better?

flatfour:
I don't know whether better fuel would help - I often run all of the bikes on Super Unleaded (the BMW needs it anyway) and in the past, I frequently used Avgas 100LL (low lead) with no change in the situation.

Today I wheeled the CB750 out after almost four weeks of rest due to really poor weather and, as expected it started third kick (I always use the kickstart from cold) and ran really badly for a couple of minutes until it had warmed a little, when everything settled down.

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