SuzukiSavage.com - Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold

phasender

Ex Member

Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold
01/09/07 at 13:07:03

I woke up this morning, and the temperature was in the teens, probably in the mid 20's inside the unheated garage. The bike started fine, idled fine, then when I mounted it and pulled it up off the side-stand, it instantly died.

So then, I had to crank the engine a lot to get it going, and it sputtered out quickly. Then I turned the idle screw ALL the way in, and managed to keep it going even when it was upright. I was hoping that the problem would go away after it warmed up. On the way to work, 10 min. ride, I was idling REALLY high, but even so, sometimes it would start to sputter and I'd have to give it extra gas to keep it from conking out on me. When I pulled into the parking spot, it was still idling on max, and it died.

The last time this happened was a month ago, the last time I tried to run it in sub freezing weather, and I drained my battery just trying to get it to start.

WHAT'S GOING ON!!!!!

help please? It's my only mode of transportation.

It's a '97, 3100 miles, bad solenoid that I have to bypass to start it up, nothing done to the carbs. No leaks.

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mickthelimey Ex Member	Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold Reply #1 - 01/09/07 at 13:32:59 You didn't mention if you are using the Choke,it will need quite a bit on very cold days.
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phasender Ex Member	Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold Reply #2 - 01/09/07 at 13:40:54 I start up with the choke on full. Oh, and the last time I had this problem, I replaced the battery with a big crank, so it Shouldn't be an electrical issue, I hope.
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Savage_Greg

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Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold
Reply #3 - 01/09/07 at 14:22:49

phasender wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

I start up with the choke on full. Oh, and the last time I had this problem, I replaced the battery with a big crank, so it Shouldn't be an electrical issue, I hope.

No. Not battery until you run it down.

You say teens and 20's? All the way to work? What condition is your gas in? Any Stabil or anti-freeze in the gas? That is definitely cold enough for water to freeze in the gas, and it isn't gonna thaw very quickly.

I always ask myself, "what changed?" In your case, it sounds like the weather.

After you get her thawed out, get a glass jar, turn the petc0ck to PRI, open the carburetor drain, and drain some gas in the jar. You'll see any water in the bottom if it's there.

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TVR_FSO Serious Thumper Offline I'm Ya Huckleberry.... Posts: 870 Frisco, Texas Gender:	Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold Reply #4 - 01/09/07 at 14:31:45 I think Greg is right. I got some bad gas and could hardly keep it running. Drained about a cup from the carb bowl and it ran fine.
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Dynobob Serious Thumper Offline 2003 LS650 (with Supertrapp) Posts: 634 Northern Virginia Gender:	Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold Reply #5 - 01/09/07 at 15:03:30 phasender wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01: So then, I had to crank the engine a lot to get it going, and it sputtered out quickly. Cranking in cold weather will run the battery down quick. A low battery will cause some performance issues. That's my guess. Charge your battery and you should be fine.
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john1652 Ex Member	Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold Reply #6 - 01/09/07 at 15:23:23 i think it's either water or dirt in the carb.
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smokey02 Full Member Offline Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like bananas Posts: 233 Alta Loma, California Gender:	Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold Reply #7 - 01/09/07 at 19:13:26 My 96 has to run on PRI when its colder than 50, runs out of gas if I switch to ON before first couple of miles.
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phasender

Ex Member

Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold
Reply #8 - 01/09/07 at 19:37:32

I was reading a thread about the petcock, and that seems to be PART of the problem, at least. When I switch it to PRI and turn up the idle just a little, it seems to run mostly ok, though start up is still difficult.

I'll try draining the carb tomorrow. Any advice on what to do with the gas, besides pouring it in the storm drain?

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mickthelimey

Ex Member

Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold
Reply #9 - 01/10/07 at 00:46:14

phasender wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

I was reading a thread about the petcock, and that seems to be PART of the problem, at least. When I switch it to PRI and turn up the idle just a little, it seems to run mostly ok, though start up is still difficult.

I'll try draining the carb tomorrow. Any advice on what to do with the gas, besides pouring it in the storm drain?

Take the gas in the yard pile up some wood poor it and light it up,stand by the fire and get warm.

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Science and Logic fly you to the moon,
Religion makes you fly into skyscrapers

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Savage_Greg

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Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold
Reply #10 - 01/10/07 at 05:39:26

phasender wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

I was reading a thread about the petcock, and that seems to be PART of the problem, at least. When I switch it to PRI and turn up the idle just a little, it seems to run mostly ok, though start up is still difficult.

I'll try draining the carb tomorrow. Any advice on what to do with the gas, besides pouring it in the storm drain?

Put it in your neighbor's car.

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Savage_Greg

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Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold
Reply #11 - 01/10/07 at 05:44:38

Dynobob wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

Cranking in cold weather will run the battery down quick. A low battery will cause some performance issues. That's my guess. Charge your battery and you should be fine.

Even if you drain the battery during the start, once it is running a good battery will charge right back up. The alternator and rectifier produce more than enough once it is running.

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TVR_FSO Serious Thumper Offline I'm Ya Huckleberry.... Posts: 870 Frisco, Texas Gender:	Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold Reply #12 - 01/10/07 at 06:42:36 phasender wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01: I'll try draining the carb tomorrow. Any advice on what to do with the gas, besides pouring it in the storm drain? It's called "Fun with Gas!" 8)
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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold Reply #13 - 01/10/07 at 08:04:55 Or "Gas is Fun"
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28642 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Bike doesn't like being upright in the cold Reply #14 - 01/10/07 at 08:55:05 If you think it might be the pethingy, remove the vacuum line and cap off at both the pethingy and the carb, then run on prime. On and reserve with both act as off. If that fixes the problem you need to rebuild or convert your pethingy. good luck
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