Hi everyone. New to the forum... I've not long had a 1995 TE350. It's my first 4 stroke and really like the bike.. All though I'm finding it a bit tricky to kick over, if anyone has any tips on starting the old girl I would really appreciate it. Thanks
Hi Jimmy, you first need to make sure the carb is in good working condition, it´s clean and the jetting is right. Then check the valve free play. If that´s good, check the flywheel magnets. Sometimes they come loose.
I'm sure everyone has there own 'way' but here's my tuppence worth. First I'm assuming that when you do currently get the bike running it idles. I think this is key, that it's sitting on the throttle stop on the carb and not hanging on the throttle wire. When its running at idle make sure you can adjust the idle speed by just moving the throttle stop. Get it to idle reasonably smoothly and not too slow, if you can't get it to do this then make the checks that powerwhelie suggests above. Then, From cold: 1. Never touch the throttle until its fired. 2. Turn fuel on and lay the bike right over so the handle bar is nearly on the ground. Keep it there for 3/4 seconds then you should see petrol coming out the overflow pipes. Pick it back uo again. 3. Wear decent boots and stand by the left side of the bike, left foot on a box if your short (or tired, or old)....kick with your right foot. 4. Pull the decompressor in and kick the engine over swiftly 3 or 4 times minimum. 5. Let go the decompressor then turn the engine over slowly until you hit compression. 6. Then pull the decomp back in and take the engine just over top centre. You should be able to feel this with practice. 7. Now without ANY throttle, take kickstart right to the top of it throw and give it a proper fourstroke swing. It's not a two stroke type angry lash at life but a good solid baby making grunty shove. Your aiming to give the rotating mass of the crank the maximum energy at the end of the kick so that the crank will carry on spining and take the piston down (through the back of the power stroke) and up (on the exhaust stroke) and back down again on the induction stroke (it's key that the carb is well set up and idle correctly set to get the right mix of fuel in the incoming air) and finally if all the gods are smiling IGNITION. Followed by smug grin to onlooking friends and competitors. 8. If it coughs, splutters or spits back then you normally have to step 4 again. 9. Once it's fired very gently open the throttle 'til the enigine starts to warm,then take the choke off. From hot: Same as cold but no choke, when they're very hot esp. after an off they can be complete pigs. Especially if your in an usually high placing (not last) and near the end of the race and/or near your wife/girlfriend. It sounds much worse written down but once mastered, the world will be your lobster. DM
If you do stall it hot and it's hard to start.... pull in the decomp lever and kick through 10 times quickly and then kick normally and it will start.
Thanks for your replies, I have followed the instructions and hey presto! started first time. Although I am thinking I will check the valve clearances this weekend, it does seem to have a slight rhythmic tapping sound coming from there, could this be the that? also does anybody happen to know what the clearances should be? Jimmy
