Harder to start in the morning - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

**Louis** · 07-14-2008, 07:50 AM

Hi all,

My SV650S has been harder to start for about a month. This weekend, I changed the spark plugs, the oil was changed maybe two months ago. I changed the radiator coolant as well (regular coolant safe for aluminum is ok right?)

I also found gas additives to clean the injectors.

By this morning, it still took me two tries to get it going. Any ideas? I'll tweak the idle speed a tad, just to try but other than that I have no ideas.

Apertureguy · 07-14-2008, 08:09 AM

I'm having the same problem these days...I guess my body can't take the abuse like it used to. Went out for a few hours on a friends wave runner yesterday. Paying for it with pain this morning.

As for your bike...how's the battery? Got a full charge? It would seem you had checked the fuel, coolant & lubricants...so that leaves the battery...oh and the air mixture.

Maybe you're just not getting enough cranking amps? Or there's a big nasty spider living in your air intake.

Other than those ideas...look to a professional.

**Louis** · 07-14-2008, 09:44 AM

I'll double check the battery. In the afternoon, the bike starts just fine, only in the morning when it's cooler does it do that.

I cleaned the airfilter, didn't see any spiders.

tallannie · 07-14-2008, 10:13 AM

I am reminded of my Chinese sidecar bike....was hard starting all the time until I changed the plug wires. Started like a champ after that. There was a bit of corrosion inside the plug cap....and the old wires were probably leaking voltage to ground too....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

I'll double check the battery. In the afternoon, the bike starts just fine, only in the morning when it's cooler does it do that.

I cleaned the airfilter, didn't see any spiders.

**Louis** · 07-14-2008, 10:34 AM

Thanks Annie, I'll keep that in mind as well.

Easy Rider · 07-14-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

I also found gas additives to clean the injectors.

What brand? How many miles since you put it in?

Last resort, wild guess: Fuel pump or relay.

I think Annie's got the best one so far......has it been damp in the mornings lately?? Is the bike outside overnight?

womper · 07-14-2008, 01:47 PM

it's been really humid around these parts... perhaps has something to do with it? condensation building up or something?

**Louis** · 07-14-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

What brand? How many miles since you put it in?

Last resort, wild guess: Fuel pump or relay.

I think Annie's got the best one so far......has it been damp in the mornings lately?? Is the bike outside overnight?

Don't recall but I'll check. It was in the bike section at my local auto parts store (Can Tire).

Quote:

Originally Posted by womper

it's been really humid around these parts... perhaps has something to do with it? condensation building up or something?

Could be. The bike is stored outside but under a shelter:

DrBob · 07-14-2008, 03:18 PM

Hell, I'm harder to start in the mornings lately also. Give it a cup of coffee or a red bull- works for me.

You say it has been humid. Did you happen to leave it with the tank nearly empty? A little condensation in the tank will cause this problem, and if your favorite gas station has started mixing a percentage of ethanol into the gas then your bike will be more sensitive to condensation. It can be cured with a bottle of dry gas.

Easy Rider · 07-14-2008, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by womper

it's been really humid around these parts... perhaps has something to do with it? condensation building up or something?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

Could be. The bike is stored outside but under a shelter:

Perfect conditions for condensation formation. The shelter keeps the wind from clearing away any moisture that collects.

Annie's odds are getting better. Check those plug wires !!

As previously mentioned (I think), this is sometimes the earliest warning sign of a battery that is getting weak.

Aussie Steve · 07-16-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Perfect conditions for condensation formation. The shelter keeps the wind from clearing away any moisture that collects.

Annie's odds are getting better. Check those plug wires !!

As previously mentioned (I think), this is sometimes the earliest warning sign of a battery that is getting weak.

Yes that shelter needs a few openings low down to allow air flow...alternitive would be to light a small fire!!!!!!!

Easy Rider · 07-16-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussie Steve

alternitive would be to light a small fire!!!!!!!

Throw another shrimp on the barbe'.........

womper · 07-16-2008, 10:58 PM

is the bike starting better now?

tallannie · 07-22-2008, 09:04 PM

EArth to Louis !!

jgreth · 07-24-2008, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

Hi all,

My SV650S has been harder to start for about a month. This weekend, I changed the spark plugs, the oil was changed maybe two months ago. I changed the radiator coolant as well (regular coolant safe for aluminum is ok right?)

I also found gas additives to clean the injectors.

By this morning, it still took me two tries to get it going. Any ideas? I'll tweak the idle speed a tad, just to try but other than that I have no ideas.

I have exactly this same issue.

It happened to me even within a month of getting a brand new bike. I'm not real sure what causes it but it's annoying.

**Louis** · 08-08-2008, 08:07 AM

Still the same issue... Getting annoying.

New info, my friend was following and told me that on a cold start (we were leaving from work in the afternoon so the engine was cooled down), when I accelerated a bit more aggressively, he was seeing a bit of blue smoke out my exhaust. Am I really burning oil? Could it be related?

What would cause this? Valve adjustment required?

Easy Rider · 08-08-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

.....he was seeing a bit of blue smoke out my exhaust. Am I really burning oil? Could it be related?

What would cause this? Valve adjustment required?

Hopefully he is wrong about the color......and it is just water vapor....but....
Probably time to take a close look at the plugs. If they are starting to foul, that might explain your cold starting problem. Loss of compression could also contribute to the problem.

Sadly, valves out of adjustment don't cause oil burning.
Oil burning is not something you can solve with an "adjustment".

womper · 08-08-2008, 09:25 PM

a little off topic, but what does cause oil burning?

cruznut6 · 08-08-2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by womper

a little off topic, but what does cause oil burning?

If the rings are worn or cylinder wall scored, oil will leak past them and will be burned during combustion.

Easy Rider · 08-09-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruznut6

If the rings are worn or cylinder wall scored, oil will leak past them and will be burned during combustion.

The other probable cause is worn valve guide seals.......sometimes both valves AND rings contribute.

In some engine designs, it could be a head gasket leak but that is rare and usually has other symptoms too.

07-14-2008, 07:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	Harder to start in the morning Hi all, My SV650S has been harder to start for about a month. This weekend, I changed the spark plugs, the oil was changed maybe two months ago. I changed the radiator coolant as well (regular coolant safe for aluminum is ok right?) I also found gas additives to clean the injectors. By this morning, it still took me two tries to get it going. Any ideas? I'll tweak the idle speed a tad, just to try but other than that I have no ideas. __________________ Louis

07-14-2008, 09:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	I'll double check the battery. In the afternoon, the bike starts just fine, only in the morning when it's cooler does it do that. I cleaned the airfilter, didn't see any spiders. __________________ Louis

07-14-2008, 10:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	Thanks Annie, I'll keep that in mind as well. __________________ Louis

07-14-2008, 03:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
DrBob In The Zone Joined: May 2004 Bike: several Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 2,751	Hell, I'm harder to start in the mornings lately also. Give it a cup of coffee or a red bull- works for me. You say it has been humid. Did you happen to leave it with the tank nearly empty? A little condensation in the tank will cause this problem, and if your favorite gas station has started mixing a percentage of ethanol into the gas then your bike will be more sensitive to condensation. It can be cured with a bottle of dry gas. __________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog!

07-22-2008, 09:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
tallannie Can Ride And Chew Gum Joined: Dec 2006 Bike: C50 Boulevard Location: Hillsboro, Oregon Posts: 2,115	EArth to Louis !! __________________ .... Just in Time moto-cookie delivery

07-14-2008, 08:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Apertureguy Throttle Jockey Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: New York Posts: 3,248	I'm having the same problem these days...I guess my body can't take the abuse like it used to. Went out for a few hours on a friends wave runner yesterday. Paying for it with pain this morning. As for your bike...how's the battery? Got a full charge? It would seem you had checked the fuel, coolant & lubricants...so that leaves the battery...oh and the air mixture. Maybe you're just not getting enough cranking amps? Or there's a big nasty spider living in your air intake. Other than those ideas...look to a professional.

08-08-2008, 08:07 AM	#16 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,657	Still the same issue... Getting annoying. New info, my friend was following and told me that on a cold start (we were leaving from work in the afternoon so the engine was cooled down), when I accelerated a bit more aggressively, he was seeing a bit of blue smoke out my exhaust. Am I really burning oil? Could it be related? What would cause this? Valve adjustment required? __________________ Louis

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