Just wondering how other carby owners perform their startup/choke operation and moving off from cold?
For me it depends on time of year, the weather and whether I used the bike the day before or not.....or how long since I used it. Assume I haven't used it for a week and it is middle of winter and cold............Full choke, ignition on, let the pump run for 15 seconds......press the starter button. As soon as it has fired I try easing back to half choke position.........if it starts to die, it goes back onto full choke until it will go onto half choke..........once running I ease the choke back a little and move off. I sht the choke off after 1/2 mile. Assume it is a hot summer day and I used it two days ago..........1/2 choke, let the pump run for a few seconds, press the starter. As soon as it fires, I ease the choke back a bit and let it run for say, 30 seconds to a minute and then move off........I keep the choke on for say, 1/4 mile. If I used it yesterday and it is still a hot day............Ignition on, pump runs, press button.........let it run for 30 seconds then move off. Not during any of those procedures do I use the throttle until I move off.
Actually, I do use the throttle before I move off, but only to assist with the warming up...........but not while pressing the starter button with the choke on.
Just set the choke slightly past the first 'notch', about half way and press the button. Fires first time, regardless of temperature etc., at least 95 percent of the time. It ticks over about 1500 rpm for about 2 to 3 mins before I knock it off and ride away. It won't tick over without a little help from the throttle till it's good and hot though. My carby M600 is a different kettle of fish though and is very tempremental if not used for more than a week or so. If used daily the Monster fires on half choke straight away and will idle evenly without it after about 30 secs. Leave it more than a week and you're into churning it over and cleaning the plugs! Each bike seems to be individual. That's part of the Italian 'character'!
Apart from Italian temperament, I think it is more to do with how the bike is set-up for example.......If there a Dynojet kit fitted; which exhausts; if the airbox been cut away and by how much; how the carbs are actually set (pilot jet turns and needle position); which spark plugs etc.......
non-mod 900. Full choke, no throttle, start, then knock back to half choke depending on weather and neighbours.
On my carby SS, I put premium fuel in, have the battery on an optimiser for a couple of hours before, warm the barrels with a hair dryer, close my eyes as I turn the ignition on, pray to Buddha, give it 23.75% choke, then press the ignition with gritted teeth on 7.3% throttle. Then I get on my IE and just press the start button.
I put on full choke, turn ignition on, wait a few seconds for the carbs to fill, then hit the starter with no throttle. Leave it alone and running for maybe 30 seconds then gentle throttle to warm it up a bit. When I think it'll run on half choke I knock the choke back to halfway. If it dies then back on full choke for a while longer. I usually set off on half choke then knock it off fully after a few hundred yards Mine hadn't been run since last September when I drained the carbs and put it away for winter. Four weeks ago I dragged it outside. Used the above procedure and she fired up first time after just 2 or three seconds on the button. Never fails to start.
Mine behaves very much like ALs depending on the use it's had. Generally though it's ignition on wait a few seconds, full choke and start, let it run for a few seconds, then bring the choke down to the first notch and pray. I normally end up having to restart once or twice at this point, which I suspect is down to the US spec carbs it's got fitted. I've no idea what the 750 will be like as I've not got that far in the restoration LOL
