Starting problems

[bigmacbiker]

Lately my bike might require several attempts before it starts then I have to gas it a little to get a good idle. This started doing this only after a long ride and never did it on short rides but yesterday it did it after only five miles. At 30000 miles it still has the original battery and plugs. Should I have the dealer run diagnostics? How much do they charge? Any suggestions? :???:

[RACNRAY]

There could be one or a few causes of the hard starting. The 1700's use an iridium tipped plug that can possibly last 30,000+ miles. I believe we replaced a set of plugs that a customer brought us, his skoot had over 20,000 mls. His original plugs were in perfect shape. Unless you have had some FI tuning where the skoot is running rich I would not think the plugs would be the culprit.

It is well documented the 1700's intake system is prone,by design, to having intake vacuum leaks. These leaks can finally rear their ugly head over a short period of time (as in your case) or is a slow degradation. Either way they can contribute to hard starting and poor running.

Another thing I have experience with is an accumulation of carbon deposits in the throttle bore in the area where the throttle plates sit when the engine is idling. Performing a throttle bore/plate cleaning with a spray type carb cleaner and a bottle type brush may help.

One more thing..I have found the use of fuel injector cleaner on a regular basis helps to clean the injectors, all my vehicles get treated every 3000-5000mls or so and I can always feel an improvement in performance. I always use a double strength dose in a tank of gas, repeating in the following tank of gas.

Try the FI cleaner and cleaning the throttle bores first, both easy to do. If you have any questions feel free to call me at my shop 954-455-9665.

HOPE THIS HELPS

RACNRAY

[bigmacbiker]

Thanks for the info....several questions..are the throttle plates located inside the respective "air cleaner" covers on either side of the engine? Do you spray the carb cleaner while the engine is running or off? Finally, I just put STA-BIL in the tank, can I put FI cleaner now in while it's in the tank? Again, thanks for your help!!!

[RACNRAY]

Thanks for the info....several questions..are the throttle plates located inside the respective "air cleaner" covers on either side of the engine? Do you spray the carb cleaner while the engine is running or off? Finally, I just put STA-BIL in the tank, can I put FI cleaner now in while it's in the tank? Again, thanks for your help!!!

The throttle bodies are on the right side under the right air box cover. The throttle plates have to be physically held open to perform a thorough cleaning thus the engine cannot be running at that time.

From what I know the only reason to use Stabil is to prevent fuel degradation that occurs during long term storage. It will do nothing to improve the performance of a frequently ridden skoot. You can put the FI cleaner in the tank now, just double the dose.

RACNRAY

[bigmacbiker]

Thanks Ray.....I'll clean'er up tomorrow!!!

[bigmacbiker]

The throttle bodies are on the right side under the right air box cover. The throttle plates have to be physically held open to perform a thorough cleaning thus the engine cannot be running at that time.

From what I know the only reason to use Stabil is to prevent fuel degradation that occurs during long term storage. It will do nothing to improve the performance of a frequently ridden skoot. You can put the FI cleaner in the tank now, just double the dose.

RACNRAY
Ray I cleaned the throttle bodies and put a heaping dose of Seafoam in the tank as you suggested. I then decided to check the airfilter and much to my chagrin after 18000 miles (ouch) it looked like a birdnest! I have to have one ordered by the dealer since they don't have any in stock but I beat the trash out and put it back in and the bike ran wonderfullt well and the backfiring has gone away! Time will tell if the starting problem is fixed. Thanks,

[Jllm02199]

I was fighting a hard starting and bad idle problem earlier this year. I did everything that has been suggested here and more. Nothing seemed to help. I looked at my service log and realized that my plugs had over 30,000 miles. I really didn't think that they could cause the problem. I got some new ones anyway and amazingly it turned out to be my problem. I have put 6000 miles on it since and it runs and starts great. I did find a vacuum leak in a rubber hose which added to the problem.
Check all your hoses connected to the throttle body for vacuum leaks.

[RACNRAY]

Ray I cleaned the throttle bodies and put a heaping dose of Seafoam in the tank as you suggested. I then decided to check the airfilter and much to my chagrin after 18000 miles (ouch) it looked like a birdnest! I have to have one ordered by the dealer since they don't have any in stock but I beat the trash out and put it back in and the bike ran wonderfullt well and the backfiring has gone away! Time will tell if the starting problem is fixed. Thanks,

I was fighting a hard starting and bad idle problem earlier this year. I did everything that has been suggested here and more. Nothing seemed to help. I looked at my service log and realized that my plugs had over 30,000 miles. I really didn't think that they could cause the problem. I got some new ones anyway and amazingly it turned out to be my problem. I have put 6000 miles on it since and it runs and starts great. I did find a vacuum leak in a rubber hose which added to the problem.
Check all your hoses connected to the throttle body for vacuum leaks.

GLAD TO HEAR GUYS...we are MUCH happier when our skoots are happy!!

RACNRAY

[cactusjack]

Ray I cleaned the throttle bodies and put a heaping dose of Seafoam in the tank as you suggested. I then decided to check the airfilter and much to my chagrin after 18000 miles (ouch) it looked like a birdnest! I have to have one ordered by the dealer since they don't have any in stock but I beat the trash out and put it back in and the bike ran wonderfullt well and the backfiring has gone away! Time will tell if the starting problem is fixed. Thanks,

The dealer doesn't stock the air filter? That's ridiculous.

[bigmacbiker]

The dealer doesn't stock the air filter? That's ridiculous.
What's even more ridiculous is that they will not order one for inventory, only for special order! Now that takes the cake!!!:hmm:

[rayski271]

cj i tried to find a air filter during the rally and a couple different states and no one had one all said it has to be ordered :crazy:

[Tynker]

What's even more ridiculous is that they will not order one for inventory, only for special order! Now that takes the cake!!!:hmm:
Ebay has A K&N filter for 52.00 right now, foir the 1700's.