Starting Issues

[Whatever6060]

So, I'm having trouble starting my bike.  I worried there could be an issue could be stemming from one of two things. 

1.)  I used an empty windsheild wiper fluid bottle as a gas container to fill my bike up with.  I had washed it out several times before using it. 

2.)  When i started my bike last night, after about four minutes with the choke on i started to smell burning.  I turned it off immediately and realized the oil was a little low.  How low not quite sure, because i filled immediately but think i put at most half a quart in it. 

Any thoughts, except to make sure to top off the oil before starting (I'm a dumbass). 

[beRto]

So, I'm having trouble starting my bike.  I worried there could be an issue could be stemming from one of two things. 

1.)  I used an empty windsheild wiper fluid bottle as a gas container to fill my bike up with.  I had washed it out several times before using it. 

Unless there was a lot of residual water in the container, I can't see how this would cause any problems.

2.)  When i started my bike last night, after about four minutes with the choke on i started to smell burning.  I turned it off immediately and realized the oil was a little low.  How low not quite sure, because i filled immediately but think i put at most half a quart in it. 

Any thoughts, except to make sure to top off the oil before starting (I'm a dumbass). 

I think it's been reported that from "empty" (E) to "full" (F) requires about one quart of oil. Therefore, your oil level would have been within the acceptable hatched area and probably wasn't low enough to cause any  damage.


Maybe you can post some more information regarding the starting troubles you are having? Will it not start at all, or is it just difficult to get going? etc. etc.

[badguy]

Did the burning smell go away after you topped off the oil?  A burning smell could be a few different things, the first that comes to my mind is oil on your exhaust headers.  Any chance you know if it smelled like a specific something being burnt? (I'm not sure if you know what burning oil smells like, but it's pretty easy to tell if you know it...) 

And like Berto said, if you share more info on the issues you're having it would be easier to give advice

[trumpetguy]

And lastly, why were you running it four minutes on choke?  Granted, that shouldn't hurt it, but mine will take off smoothly after less than a minute on choke (in any weather).  I usually start it, let it fast idle for less than a minute, and take off.  If the weather is warm I turn off the choke immediately.  If it's cold, I'll leave the choke on for a mile or so.

What year is your bike?

[beRto]

Any luck getting the bike started?

[Whatever6060]

I actually did get it started for about a minute last ngiht before my neighbor came out and asked me to shut it off (they have a new-born and I don't currently ahve an exhaust). 

I think it didn't start and i just freaked out and posted.  After thinking about it for a while, I realized that the smell was probably from some oil ont he pipes ( I had just changed the oil a couple days before) and the bike was not probably starting because it was flooded (smelt gas). 

As you can see from my other post I'm admist a rear wheel swap so it is not going anywhere until that is done.  So, i think it should be alright, but thanks alot for the posts.  Will try and take it out this weekend (after finishing the wheel) and let you know how it goes.