srx starting

[guest1559]

Hi all,
As a recent convert to the cause, not singles, I've been riding them for an awful long time, but Jap singles as opposed to brit singles, I would appreciate your help.
I have fairly recently bought a Yam SRX 600 with a bit of a difference, it is a 620cc with carrillo rod, lumpy cam, Bob Farnham tune etc.etc. I love the thing to bits and it really flies. However, it seems a real sod to start, particularly if it's been standing a while.
What I want to know is, is there a particular technique to starting SRX's rather than just kicking in the hope that it will go.
I know from the old stuff, Velocettes in particular, that I can start a Thruxton in a kick or two whereas a newbie would be there all day, it's just down to knowing how to do it.
Any help would be appreciated.
Pete

[SRXweb]

Listen to the "click".

When you gently push the kick starter down with your foot, you must hear a "click" sound. When it sounds, stop pushing and let the kick starter move up.

Then push hardly with your kick. It should start ... generally after few test.

The decompressor cable must be set larger than generally indicated in books.

[SRXweb]

The dose of choke is important as well. When the engine is hot, no choke.

My "technique" (sorry for my written english) when the engine is cold : turn the gazoline cok (fuel tap ?) on PRI position. Two kickstarter pushes. Two little (slight) throttle rotations. Choke on maxi position.
Push the kickstarter till the "click" sound. And a deep and full power push on the kicksarter. After 3 or 4 pushes on the kickstarter, it should run 

When engine is hot : almost the same but no choke

But my experience with SRXs is that none of them has the same way of been lighted (did I really make a play on word ?). You must find her own way. She will give you the keys.

[Steve H]

Does it still have the standard Yamaha carbs fitted ?. These seem to be particulalry prone to ageing the fuel, my SRX, an SZR600 and Skorpion all would refuse to start if left more than a couple of weeks. The cure I found is to drain the carbs before trying to start it.
My similiar spec SRX with Keihins seems to respond better to slow light kicks rather than quick 'all my weight' kicks. I also tend to vary my technique, if it doesnt fire within two kicks with one technique I adopt another approach. Oddy sometimes it will start just when trying to find TDC. 
Practice makes perfect but after 15+ years of ownership it still sulks occasionally

[guest1559]

Thanks fellahs,
She does have Keihins Steve, the aging fuel thing is a possibility, It's not something I have suffered with much, I always use Shell Optimax in my bikes because of it's low ethanol content and even over winter I have not had a problem, however, I have not had this bike long and have only done a few miles so far, and I don't know what was in the tank when I got it, might try draining it off tomorrow and starting again.
I got her off the devils own website (ebay) went over to Oxford to get her, bought her back to Kent together with reams of paperwork, and discovered that the owner  that had had the tuning work done lived about three miles from me, so she has come back home.

[Richard]

I second Steve's comments - the Yamahas really like fresh fuel, even if its from the tank.  I never understood why but got to be a dab hand at draining them.

Modern petrol does seem to have a few issues - I guess I don;'t ride my bikes often enough for it.

[guest1559]

Thanks Steve, Richard,
I drained the fuel, gave her a lazy kick as opposed to the the jump on it with all my weight type, and she was away.
It's a bit tight draining the fuel into a receptacle, I get a bit paranoid because the Optimax, although it has kept me away from any ethanol type issues, even with my Metisse glassfibre tank, sure isn't petrol like mother used to make, it makes a fine paint stripper, better in fact than Nitromors these days.
Thanks once more for your help.
Pete

[Richard]

Congratulations.  Fit a permanent pipe to the carb drain, makes it easier to put the waste fuel into a receptacle - which I have in the past then bunged into an MZ with no side effects.

[Steffan]

That would be the 2T variety.

Skorpion packed up the other day, teacup's worth of water in the tank - and a ten year old battery are a bad combination.

Steffan

Ride em often ride em hard

[squirrelciv]

Ride em often ride em hard

We are still talking bikes right?? 

[Steffan]

Well it's a principle that may apply in other circumstances, you know Pat?