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winter ride
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:28 am
by natural_dam_rider_ar
Hello all. I've got a bug to do some cold winter, riding. I can ride in temps in the low 40's and stay comfortable. The 08 KLR starts ok, in the 40's, with the choke on. However, in the low 30's, the bike just won't start. Seems to turn over normally. Pushing it down the hill will start it and run fine. New battery last summer, battery tender connected, voltage ok,fresh fuel, headlight is bright. So,...what am I missing?
Thanks in advance.
Keith,
Natural Dam, AR
winter ride
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:26 am
by Fred Hink
Have you adjusted your air screw? You ll have to remove the tamper resistant plug to get to the air screw on the bottom of your carb. The air screw should be set at around 1 1/2 to 2 turn out from closed, or where ever it works best for you.
http://www.klr650.marknet.us/carbairmixture.html
Fred
www.arrowheadmotorsports.com
[b]From:[/b] pkpipkins@... [b]Sent:[/b] Wednesday, January 12, 2011 8:28 AM [b]To:[/b]
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] Winter Ride
Hello all. I've got a bug to do some cold winter, riding. I can ride in temps in the low 40's and stay comfortable. The 08 KLR starts ok, in the 40's, with the choke on. However, in the low 30's, the bike just won't start. Seems to turn over normally. Pushing it down the hill will start it and run fine. New battery last summer, battery tender connected, voltage ok,fresh fuel, headlight is bright. So,...what am I missing?
Thanks in advance.
Keith,
Natural Dam, AR
winter ride
Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:23 pm
by revmaaatin
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "natural_dam_rider_ar" wrote:
>
> Hello all. I've got a bug to do some cold winter, riding. I can ride in temps in the low 40's and stay comfortable. The 08 KLR starts ok, in the 40's, with the choke on. However, in the low 30's, the bike just won't start. Seems to turn over normally. Pushing it down the hill will start it and run fine. New battery last summer, battery tender connected, voltage ok,fresh fuel, headlight is bright. So,...what am I missing?
> Thanks in advance.
> Keith,
> Natural Dam, AR
>
Keith-
You don't say--but is the bike 'turning' over at the same rate/speed at 40F and 30F? or is it just turning over slower? If you are bump starting it OK, then it would seem to me that the battery is NOT pushing/spinning the motor fast enough to generate enough spark/fuel draw for that temp.
What exactly is the voltage?
It should be >12.6. If it is only 12v, you got trouble. Each cell is actually 2.1 = 12.6 total voltage. A new battery will even be ~12.8v.
Also, is the battery fully serviced with water?
It can still read 12.6 and be low on water. It just won't have full capacity when you pull the trigger on the starter.
REMEMBER: Distilled water only when replenishing the fluid level to full (after the initial acid fill).
When you do your next battery voltage check, watch the volt meter when you hit the starter. I believe it should go no lower than about 10.5v (someone correct me if that is wrong) after you push the starter button.
Also, what weight of oil are you using.
10/40 should be good even at 30F; but some folks forget they are using 20/50 and that takes a little more u-mph-a to move the motor when the temp goes low.
let us know what you discover.
revmaaatin. -21F yesterday, +15f today. Almost a heat wave.
winter ride
Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:10 pm
by Bill Watson
revmaaatin wrote: "When you do your next battery voltage check, watch the volt meter when you hit the starter. I believe it should go no lower than about 10.5v (someone correct me if that is wrong) after you push the starter button."
Rev, I've always heard 9.6V for that test. Watt-man
www.xanga.com/watt_man
winter ride
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:10 pm
by Jeff Khoury
#ygrps-yiv-389157887 p {margin:0;}Try a thinner oil. (like a 5w-40)
I'd be willing to bet you're running 20w-50 in it...
Oil that thick slows the starter speed down so much that it just won't "catch". Either that, or a squirt of ether to kick it over (but BE CAREFUL, as too much can have a catastrophic effect on your engine.)
-Jeff Khoury
[b]From: [/b]"natural_dam_rider_ar"
[b]To: [/b]"DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>
[b]Sent: [/b]Wednesday, January 12, 2011 7:28:37 AM
[b]Subject: [/b][DSN_KLR650] Winter Ride
Hello all. I've got a bug to do some cold winter, riding. I can ride in temps in the low 40's and stay comfortable. The 08 KLR starts ok, in the 40's, with the choke on. However, in the low 30's, the bike just won't start. Seems to turn over normally. Pushing it down the hill will start it and run fine. New battery last summer, battery tender connected, voltage ok,fresh fuel, headlight is bright. So,...what am I missing?
Thanks in advance.
Keith,
Natural Dam, AR
winter ride
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:10 pm
by Marc