Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

easy to start

(1/5) > >>

barryadam:
I just had the wierdest thing happen when starting my bike that changed my outlook on riding this beast.

In my first two outings (and home testing), I had not really mastered any sucessfull starting drills.  I was dreading starting this monster as it was really killing me and rapidly wearing out my riding soles.  So I turned to the resources here on the forum.  Made notes from searching posts by Mikesmith, 91KX, Sharc, Gowen, kxcam, kmac, bigborefan, twist-a-grip, hogwild, etc.  Determined that for cold starts, best practices would be: gas on, choke on, slowly push kick starter through a few times, rock bike in gear to turn the piston over 3 - 4 times, throttle @ 1/8 or less, then kick HARD.  If not started by 5th kick, wait a few minutes, try with choke off, then try with throttle @ 3/4.

On my next big ride, this seemed to work 2/3rds of the time, and hot starts were first kick about 85% of the time.  The remaining 15% hot starts were killers.

Before my fourth big ride, I changed the plug.  It only had one ride on it (BR8EG) and was carboned on the white insulator and electrode ONLY.  Put in a fresh B8EG, switched to a new filter oiled with PJ1 spray-on in lieu of MAXIMA pour oil (MUCH easier to ensure a proper oil job with the PJ1), lowered the float height to -2.0 mm (fuel level below the lower carb body flange lip).  It was 1.0 mm above the lip.

Got to the trails, unloaded, and went to go through my new starting drill.  Gas on, choke on, first real slow, easy push though of the lever while sitting on the seat, and....RING-ding-a-ding.  It was running.  Jeez.  Went off in my holster, I guess.  DANG, I was surprized.  Great start for a great ride.

I'm hoping this is the sign of things to come and can't wait to go riding again.  This is the way it should be!

So a BIG THANKS to all you guys that helped me find a system for starting.  Once again, the power of the forum is invaluable.

GDubb:
One of the first couple times I rode my K5 I started it within 3 kicks cold..... NO CHOKE! I forgot to turn the choke on and the thing was STILL easy to start. That blew me away. Ive never had a bike that could do that.  I learned about the K5 from these forums... bought one because of these forums.... and it will be the last bike I buy for dirt. These bikes are truly amazing, very underestimated and under appreciated by the masses. I love this bike.

KXcam22:
Barry,
  I would check your pilot jet size against the chart. Cold, I do the rocking thing for 1 kick starts. Hot it generally always starts 1-2 kick. I run a BPR8ES with good results, likely the only one on this site who runs this plug.  The KX should start easily. Cam.

barryadam:
I've checked the suggested jetting chart and it looks like I can go up a size in the pilot jet, several sizes in the main jet, and drop the needle 1 notch.  I'll try that (one step at a time), but it seems to run fine as is.  And if it keeps starting on it's own like that, well, I'm going to stick with whatever is doing that.

After reading your LONG efforts with Gowen way back when, I feel really fortunate to have pretty good jetting.  We'll see if anything changes when I play with the settings.

You got any snow yet, Cam?

Johnniespeed:
Barryadam , my kx 500 usually starts first or second kick, with only choke and some rocking. Always first kick when hot or warm. I wish I knew how to help your bike, but they can start very well , so dont give up just yet.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page