[net.cycle] How should a bike act when cold?

rh@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU (Randy Haskins) (09/04/86)

I got my (new) '83 Kawasaki KZ-750 in March, and I'm pretty happy
with it so far (2200 miles).  Since this is my first bike, there are
some things I don't know how to gauge, like how the engine acts
when the weather sucks (like cold and/or humid, as it often is
here in Boston).  Tonight, riding home, even after letting it
warm up (choked) 3-5 minutes, it was definitely sputtering when
I throttled up.  What sorts of changes in behavior should I
expect with changes in humidity and temperature?  Thanx to
anyone who can describe these effects.

Random

marauder@fluke.UUCP (Bill Landsborough) (09/08/86)

In article <3110@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU> rh@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU (Randy Haskins) writes:
>I got my (new) '83 Kawasaki KZ-750 in March, and I'm pretty happy
it was definitely sputtering when
>I throttled up.  What sorts of changes in behavior should I
>expect with changes in humidity and temperature?  Thanx to
>anyone who can describe these effects.
>Random

It is hard to tell what is happening with your bike not hearing it but
"sputtering" sounds like to me that you are describing a too rich
condition.  The engine runs heavy and black smoke comes from the
exhaust pipes.  It has no power.  That is the condition when you have
the choke on too long or too much.  Try backing the choke lever off
just a little until the engine sounds better.  

Too lean of a mixture or turning off the choke too soon will cause the
engine to "hunt" and sometimes backfires through the carburetors.
Sometimes when you try to accelerate it will momentarily quit like you
turned off the ignition for a half of a second.

If the problem is not in the range of the choke, ie. you have the
choke all the way off and it still is too rich, then take it back to
your dealer and get the carbs adjusted.  It is a fairly simple
adjustment and you will like your new bike a whole bunch more.

		Bill Landsborough

----

"Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not 
arrogant or rude... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things."   1 Corinthians 13:4-7

hsc@mtuxo.UUCP (h.cohen) (09/11/86)

On my last three bikes (all Hondas), I have found that this balkiness
when cold and/or when humidity is high seems to be caused by the
paper air filter.  I have had very good results with K&N direct
replacement filters (same shape as stock filter; *not* the little
things that clamp onto the carbs).
Harvey S. Cohen, mtuxo!hsc, Lincroft, NJ

pag00@amdahl.UUCP (Pria Graves) (09/19/86)

In article <1970@mtuxo.UUCP> hsc@mtuxo.UUCP (h.cohen) writes:

> On my last three bikes (all Hondas), I have found that this balkiness
> when cold and/or when humidity is high seems to be caused by the
> paper air filter.  I have had very good results with K&N direct
> replacement filters (same shape as stock filter; *not* the little
> things that clamp onto the carbs).
> Harvey S. Cohen, mtuxo!hsc, Lincroft, NJ

That did not solve my problem with my first bike, a Honda 550 Supersport.
Touring in the northwest was a real pain since the bike ran very
rough whenever it was damp even after the paper filter was replaced
with a K&N.  The solution I finally found was to buy a BMW.....
-- 
Pria            ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,amd,nsc}!amdahl!pag00
                (408) 746 7539


(Disclaimer:  even I don't necessarily agree!)

bob@madvax.UUCP (Bob Palin) (09/22/86)

> In article <1970@mtuxo.UUCP> hsc@mtuxo.UUCP (h.cohen) writes:
> 
> > On my last three bikes (all Hondas), I have found that this balkiness
> > when cold and/or when humidity is high seems to be caused by the
> > paper air filter.  I have had very good results with K&N direct
> > replacement filters (same shape as stock filter; *not* the little
> > things that clamp onto the carbs).
> > Harvey S. Cohen, mtuxo!hsc, Lincroft, NJ
> 
> That did not solve my problem with my first bike, a Honda 550 Supersport.
> Touring in the northwest was a real pain since the bike ran very
> rough whenever it was damp even after the paper filter was replaced
> with a K&N.  The solution I finally found was to buy a BMW.....
> -- 
I had this stop/go problem with my Honda CB175 and CB400 in England and 
eventually found that the insulation on the coils where the cables entered
had broken down slightly and that with a combination of road muck and rain
caused them to short out.  I removed the coils ( in their black plastic case)
washed them and dried them completely, then wrapped them in thick plastic
bags and never had a problem again.  Apparently this was very common with 
Honda CB models where any salt was used on the road.

Bob Palin, Varian Instruments, Walnut Creek, Ca. zehntel!varian!bob