dsn_klr650] craigslist - 2001 klr 650 - parting - (wenatchee, wa)

[Kevin]

Hi, Intrepid Listers, Hoping you can help me with a starting challenge. My trusty '95 KLR used to start and run great. I would engage the choke / enrichner, press the button, and away we'd go. I'd leave the enrichner open about halfway, and the engine would idle at a higher-than-normal speed. If it was cold, I'd leave it there for a few minutes while I'd ride. If not, I'd turn it all the way off and drive away. When the engine started running roughly, I discovered a hole in the carb diaphragm. I replaced the diaphragm, drilled the slide, and did the 22-cent mod. Once I put everything back together, the engine was difficult to start, and was noticeably slow to return to idle after I released the throttle. I undid the 22 cent mod and fiddled with the pilot screw. This alleviated the slow-return-to-idle problem, but did nothing about the hard starting. Having owned the bike for two years without checking the valves, I decided perhaps now was as good a time as any to check them. It turned out the exhaust valves were very tight, so I brought them back into spec with different shims. While this was a very satisfying and educational project, it did nothing to help the starting problem. The way I start the bike now is that I engage the enrichner, press the start button, and when the engine begins to turn over on it's own, immediately turn the enrichner all the way off. If I do it precisely this way, the engine will usually start and run fine. However, if I do it any other way, or fail to back off the enrichner quickly enough, or if it doesn't start the first time, then it won't start at all. After 30 minutes or so, I can come back and try again, and chances are it will roar to life as long as I follow the procedure. Any ideas as to what's going on and how I can fix it? The weather here in Oklahoma is beautiful right now, and I'm eager to go exploring. Thanks in advance for your help! Kevin

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Kevin" wrote:

> > Hi, Intrepid Listers, > > Hoping you can help me with a starting challenge. My trusty '95 KLR used to start and run great. I would engage the choke / enricher, press the button, and away we'd go. I'd leave the enricher open about halfway, and the engine would idle at a higher-than-normal speed. If it was cold, I'd leave it there for a few minutes while I'd ride. If not, I'd turn it all the way off and drive away. > > When the engine started running roughly, I discovered a hole in the carb diaphragm. I replaced the diaphragm, drilled the slide, and did the 22-cent mod. Once I put everything back together, the engine was difficult to start, and was noticeably slow to return to idle after I released the throttle. I undid the 22 cent mod and fiddled with the pilot screw. This alleviated the slow-return-to-idle problem, but did nothing about the hard starting. > > Having owned the bike for two years without checking the valves, I decided perhaps now was as good a time as any to check them. It turned out the exhaust valves were very tight, so I brought them back into spec with different shims. While this was a very satisfying and educational project, it did nothing to help the starting problem. > > The way I start the bike now is that I engage the enricher, press the start button, and when the engine begins to turn over on it's own, immediately turn the enricher all the way off. If I do it precisely this way, the engine will usually start and run fine. However, if I do it any other way, or fail to back off the enricher quickly enough, or if it doesn't start the first time, then it won't start at all. After 30 minutes or so, I can come back and try again, and chances are it will roar to life as long as I follow the procedure. > > Any ideas as to what's going on and how I can fix it? The weather here in Oklahoma is beautiful right now, and I'm eager to go exploring. Thanks in advance for your help! > > Kevin >

Kevin, OAT, (outside air temp) is important for how much enrichment is needed. Some bikes don't need any, others seem to need more, some need it nearly every start; go figure. However, It sounds like it is flooded = really enriched! a couple of things come to mind-- Some engines develop their own way of starting which you have discovered. Why? ah that is the great mystery, but the enricher is really rich; pay attention to the OAT and remember how much enricher you are using based on OAT. In the short term, perhaps-- Change the order of what you are doing. Crank the bike and then add the enricher. Or add only 1/2 enricher. Be ready to back it off as soon as it starts (based on your previous experience). In the same vane-- When a KLR is dropped, it almost always floods the engine. When I drop a bike, like last Sunday when the kick stand folded on a wet slope, I shut off the petcock fuel so the carb does not receive any additional gas while cranking; It started right up. 2. If it is really flooded, I crank with the the throttle wide open. (Yes I know it is not a slide carb) and it will usually clear in 1/2 the time. In your case: If it won't start, try cranking with the throttle wide open (select the petcock: gas-OFF). Be ready to go back to the idle setting immediately as it will go to red line quickly if you snooze. Don't forget to turn the petcock back to ON. revmaaatin.

[KLRDON]

Heed the Sage! He speaks logic and truth.

On 5/24/2011 11:02 AM, revmaaatin wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Kevin" wrote: >> Hi, Intrepid Listers, >> >> Hoping you can help me with a starting challenge. My trusty '95 KLR used to start and run great. I would engage the choke / enricher, press the button, and away we'd go. I'd leave the enricher open about halfway, and the engine would idle at a higher-than-normal speed. If it was cold, I'd leave it there for a few minutes while I'd ride. If not, I'd turn it all the way off and drive away. >> >> When the engine started running roughly, I discovered a hole in the carb diaphragm. I replaced the diaphragm, drilled the slide, and did the 22-cent mod. Once I put everything back together, the engine was difficult to start, and was noticeably slow to return to idle after I released the throttle. I undid the 22 cent mod and fiddled with the pilot screw. This alleviated the slow-return-to-idle problem, but did nothing about the hard starting. >> >> Having owned the bike for two years without checking the valves, I decided perhaps now was as good a time as any to check them. It turned out the exhaust valves were very tight, so I brought them back into spec with different shims. While this was a very satisfying and educational project, it did nothing to help the starting problem. >> >> The way I start the bike now is that I engage the enricher, press the start button, and when the engine begins to turn over on it's own, immediately turn the enricher all the way off. If I do it precisely this way, the engine will usually start and run fine. However, if I do it any other way, or fail to back off the enricher quickly enough, or if it doesn't start the first time, then it won't start at all. After 30 minutes or so, I can come back and try again, and chances are it will roar to life as long as I follow the procedure. >> >> Any ideas as to what's going on and how I can fix it? The weather here in Oklahoma is beautiful right now, and I'm eager to go exploring. Thanks in advance for your help! >> >> Kevin >> > Kevin, > OAT, (outside air temp) is important for how much enrichment is needed. Some bikes don't need any, others seem to need more, some need it nearly every start; go figure. > However, > It sounds like it is flooded = really enriched! > a couple of things come to mind-- > Some engines develop their own way of starting which you have discovered. Why? > ah that is the great mystery, but the enricher is really rich; pay attention to the OAT and remember how much enricher you are using based on OAT. > > In the short term, perhaps-- > Change the order of what you are doing. > Crank the bike and then add the enricher. > Or add only 1/2 enricher. > Be ready to back it off as soon as it starts (based on your previous experience). > > In the same vane-- > When a KLR is dropped, it almost always floods the engine. When I drop a bike, like last Sunday when the kick stand folded on a wet slope, I shut off the petcock fuel so the carb does not receive any additional gas while cranking; It started right up. > > > 2. If it is really flooded, I crank with the the throttle wide open. > (Yes I know it is not a slide carb) and it will usually clear in 1/2 the time. > In your case: If it won't start, try cranking with the throttle wide open (select the petcock: gas-OFF). Be ready to go back to the idle setting immediately as it will go to red line quickly if you snooze. > > > Don't forget to turn the petcock back to ON. > > revmaaatin. > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com > Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map > Group Apps: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo! Groups Links > > > >

[Kevin Bennett]

Thanks for the words of wisdom. Here are the results so far: -Crank with no enricher: no good. -Crank with 1/2 enricher: no good. -Crank with full enricher: started right up, but then died while I was closing the enricher. However, I followed your tip about turning the petcock to off and cranking with full throttle and no enricher. Success! I'll keep experimenting as you suggested. This could take awhile, as the problem only occurs when the engine is stone cold, so I pretty much get one opportunity to experiment per day. I realized upon re-reading your post that you were suggesting I crank and then add enricher, which I haven't tried yet. Perhaps that will do the trick! While I'm pleased with the progress, I sure am mystified about why it started great before I made all the "improvements," and now has become so finicky. Kevin

[Craig W]

This just came up on craigslist in my area and thought I would pass this along to the group if anyone is in need of parts. http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/2401942302.html Craig 07 KLR 650 Bothell WA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]