STARTING

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When you guys start your commando's, do you like me, have to give it quite a lot of throttle to get it going-even from cold with the choke on?
 
I would say yes and no they're all different, but having to give it a lot of throttle to start usually means it's a little too rich.

Cash
 
1/4 throttle is usually enough for mine but like Cash says they vary in what they like. Depends on carb wear etc. You get a feel for it after a while. Mine has 16k on the latest Amals and they are worn so it also starts well with no choke, just a bit of a tickle.......
 
So much depends on your carb set up. I have run a single 34 mm Mikuni for a long time. Choke and kick once is the basic routine. I leave the throttle on a slightly higher setting and then bring it down once it is warmed up. Grabbing a handful while starting it is a guarantee of more exercise to come!
Mike
 
I have FCRs on mine. Starting routine is:

- Turn up the idle speed on the FCRs (they have a cable adjuster that makes this quick and easy), usually about one full turn of the cable

- Kick through a couple of times, ignition and fuel off.

- Turn on fuel (petcock)

- Turn on ignition

- 2-3 quick throttle twists (FCRs have accelerator pumps, no choke).

- Kick!

Almost always starts first kick, no matter how long it's been sitting.
 
With a single 34 mm Makuni, mine is a three kick affair. Once with choke on and no throttle, once with choke off and no throttle and it starts on the third kick with no choke and no throttle and idles at 1000 RPM. This is in the summer so in the California winter it sometimes starts with choke on and does sometimes need a little throttle help after it starts to overcome the thicker oil.
 
Starting an 850 Commando is a full body-weight job for me (all 10 1/2 stone of it) so whilst I don't set out to open the throttle, I have to hold on to something which generally means that I'm giving it a big handful by the time it fires at the bottom of the swing.

It works for me :)
 
COMMANDO1954 said:
do you like me, have to give it quite a lot of throttle to get it going-even from cold with the choke on?

I use very little throttle to start up. Normally you don't need any choke even when the engine is cold? So will it start with less throttle, chokes off, and just flooding with the ticklers?
 
Hello!

I belive, the more you tickle the more throttle and less choke is needed.
The thing is to priovide the "right" air/fuel mix on each occation!
Personally,when starting cold, I tickle till it just overflows, lower the chokeslides fully. I turn the motor little without ignition.
Then I kick it really hard using no throttle and it will mostly start.If I tickle a bit to much, I use more throttle to compensate for the extra fuel present.
When hot, I use about half throttle, no tickle and no choke,and that works great on my bike.

Benton
 
One kick first time, every time
34 mik - choke slightly on, kick it, run for 30 seconds, close choke, 1/4 throttle another 30 seconds - roll
 
So MikeGray, does your initial start with slight choke have no throttle until after running? Also, is this a sequence for all outside temperatures or summer or winter? Let me know and I'll give it a try. I do think with the Makunis that the gas plumbing has some affect on the starting sequence.
 
Yellow_Cad said:
So MikeGray, does your initial start with slight choke have no throttle until after running? Also, is this a sequence for all outside temperatures or summer or winter? Let me know and I'll give it a try. I do think with the Makunis that the gas plumbing has some affect on the starting sequence.

YES NO THROTTLE - until turing choke off
can't say about outside temps as just moved from texas, where it is warm always, to long island during the summer- so not sure about extreme/colder weather

it once took two kicks - hadn't started the bike in a few weeks

My valves, and timing are spot-on AND i played with my mikuni quite a bit, came up with these settings, your's will require their own setting

Mik stuff:

34mm, pilot 30, slide 3.0, needle jet p-4, needle 6DH3 -clip second from top, airjet 1.0
 
hello, I have a 750 with a 34mm mukni first start as I call it is key off choke on and one kick then key on with choke second kick the machine starts right up and will idle in this condition choke on with no throttle. I leave choke on about 30 sec. It takes about 2 min with choke off for machine to warm enough not to hold throttle to help maintain idle then the machine will idle at 1200. Sometimes I turn the idle screw slightly during warm up when choke is off to help maintain idle during this 2 min. After first start machine is good for the day type thing. Doxford
 
Hi

My interstate has a Mikuni, allegedly they state not to use the throttle during cold starting just the choke, strange nobody has mentioned the importance of a good spark with starting mine runs a Rita and it will never start first time but always second kick it just needs to suck in some mixture then bang its away. I recently had a problem with a slight misfire after the choke had been closed it turned out to be the main petrol tap being partially blocked causing it to run lean.
 
not-ron said:
Hi

My interstate has a Mikuni, allegedly they state not to use the throttle during cold starting just the choke, strange nobody has mentioned the importance of a good spark with starting mine runs a Rita and it will never start first time but always second kick it just needs to suck in some mixture then bang its away. I recently had a problem with a slight misfire after the choke had been closed it turned out to be the main petrol tap being partially blocked causing it to run lean.

good point not-Ron - i have an accel high output coil w/ the pazon EI on my bike with plugs gapped at .040
 
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