Cold Weather - Bike Won't Start

[kg1709]

Subject says it all. Haven't started the bike for a good couple of weeks. Weather has taken a sharp downturn in the UK, was -8C last night. Bike starter motor just runs but engine won't fire.  Have considered EasyStart or similar. Any tips?

[gsJack]

I've been riding in NE Ohio year around now for 27 years in temps down to 20F and have had 4 Hondas and 2 GS500s in that time and they have all been about the same.  If they sit for a week or two in freezing weather they don't want to start easily if at all.  I've always just jump started them from a non-running car and they start immediately.  If I then take a good ride they'll restart all day long without trouble and will start again tomorrow and for a couple days without another jump.

I've been using an AGM sealed battery in my GS for about three years now and the need to jump has been greatly reduced.  Seems they have a bit more voltage left for spark while cranking a bike engine full of cold heavy oil.

[kg1709]

Thanks. The battery seems to be full of charge and turining the starter, it just won't fire.

Will I have more luck when the temperature lifts without doing anything?

[Kijona]

Thanks. The battery seems to be full of charge and turining the starter, it just won't fire.

Will I have more luck when the temperature lifts without doing anything?

Try putting it on full choke and then put the frame petcock on "PRI". Perhaps it's just not getting enough fuel.

First, however, please remove one or both of the sparkplugs and inspect them. It's possible the engine flooded. If they're (the sparkplugs) wet, that's what happened. What you can do is dry them off and then try it again. If they're dry, you can give a squirt of starting fluid in each cylinder and then replace the sparkplugs and try again.

[kg1709]

I've just been back out ot the garage....the temperature is now around +3C and it fired up first time. Guess it just doesn't like the cold!  Thanks for the replies! 

[Rhoekahr]

A funny thing happens with my 91. When I start it on a cold morning it smokes and idles like hell. It also has no low end power. These bikes are pretty much the definition of cold blooded, but once they get warmed up, they're good to go. I have never had an issue getting mine started though. Sometimes it's just ornery.

[Kijona]

A funny thing happens with my 91. When I start it on a cold morning it smokes and idles like hell. It also has no low end power. These bikes are pretty much the definition of cold blooded, but once they get warmed up, they're good to go. I have never had an issue getting mine started though. Sometimes it's just ornery.

Smokes? Um, blue or white smoke? Does it look like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbfKrAm_tMw&feature=youtu.be (my GS).

If it's blue smoke, well, you're burning oil. Your valve seats may be a bit worn. My KLR650 used to do that - it would smoke like hell after starting it up but then quit once the motor was warmed up.

[twocool]

A funny thing happens with my 91. When I start it on a cold morning it smokes and idles like hell. It also has no low end power. These bikes are pretty much the definition of cold blooded, but once they get warmed up, they're good to go. I have never had an issue getting mine started though. Sometimes it's just ornery.

Smokes? Um, blue or white smoke? Does it look like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbfKrAm_tMw&feature=youtu.be (my GS).

yep typical symptom of bad valve seats/guides.

Oil drips down into cylinder and makes smoke...once everything heats up, clearances close up and no smoke

Cookie



If it's blue smoke, well, you're burning oil. Your valve seats may be a bit worn. My KLR650 used to do that - it would smoke like hell after starting it up but then quit once the motor was warmed up.