Dirt bikes hard to start after winter?

Question

I went riding for the first time this year and both my son's and my motorcycles were very hard to start. I have a 2001 Yamaha TTR-225 and my son has a Yamaha 80. I had drained the gas out of the carb before winter as part of winterizing it. I noticed that the spark plug was completely dry after a lot of cranking with the choke on. I finally got them started by removing the spark plug, putting a bit of gas in the cylinder, starting it and repeating this about 5 times when it stalled. From then on, they both started great the rest of the day.

So, I kind of think that since there was no gas in the carb from winterizing, maybe that's the problem? Is there a way to prime it, or do you have any tips for staring it for the first time in the season? 

Thanks,

Mike

Honda XR650RRRRR · Accepted Answer

Next time try leaning the bike on its side until gas pours on the ground. It sounds funny, but it works by flooding the carb and getting more gas in the cylinder. This trick was originally used to start CR500's.

Anonymous · Answer

Instead of draining the gasoline from the tank just use some stabilizer in the fuel before you store for the winter season. Read the directions on the stabilizer can before you start.  It sounds like the carb was a little bit "varnished" from storage that is common but you did what I would have done took out the plug and put in a bit of gas to get it started.

guardrailjim · Answer

You performed an incorrect winterizing procedure.
Simply draining the carburetor will leave untreated gas in the passageways of the carb and inside the jets.
Untreated gas will gum up and clog the jets.
The untreated gas in the tank goes right into the carb and clogs it.

Proper procedure -
Fill the gas tank to the top - there will be no space for moisture to get into the tank and rust the walls of a metal tank (not necessary with plastic tanks).
Add the proper amount of fuel stabilizer to the gas in the tank.
Run the engine for a few minutes - to get the treated gas inside of the carb and jets.
Drain the gas out of the carbs.

The solution to your problem = clean the carburetors, especially the pilot jets.

Candid Chris · Answer

Using a fuel stabilizer is better than draining the fuel.
But if faced with the same hard start try this next time - open the petcock, let sit for a minute before trying that first kick-over, than close the petcock, open throttle wide-open, kick over twice, stop - turn off petcock, apply choke and kick it over. Should start by third kick and than open petcock!

Anonymous · Answer

I would stick with the water bottles on the frame you can usually depending on the bike mount two bottles on the upper and lower parts of the frame thats what i do because i had one of those waterpack things break open and my back got soaked soo i stick with water bottles

Anonymous · Answer

instead of so called winterizing it,just start it up two or three times a week all winter long.Let it warm up ,rev it a couple times and then shut it off.

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Dirt bikes hard to start after winter?

6 Answers