Cold starting
- Thread starter kinneyt
- Start date
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Rush44
Well-known member
Using a good winter weight oil like a 5w-40 is an excellent help. Also storing the bike in a warm garage overnight is preferred. I've started a tradition of letting the bike run in the back of my truck while heading to the gas station (about 3 minutes away) to warm up the motor and oil sump. So far its worked well.
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snorider99
New member
If you have a diesel truck just put the bike at the back of the truck with the exhaust pointed on the motor.. that's what I do when I'm gearing up in the parking lot and it works great!
I am running the same oil you are Shell Rotella T6
I've got essentially the same bike, but I have a kickstart. I use it for the first start of the day.
I also have installed a ytz7s battery for more juice.
I run maxima mx530 oil, it's 5w30, full ester based synthetic.
I also have installed a ytz7s battery for more juice.
I run maxima mx530 oil, it's 5w30, full ester based synthetic.
Are you using the high idle when trying to start for the first time in the morning.
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portgrinder
Well-known member
if mine is real cold sometimes i pull start it. rope around your triple clamp. get some real good speed up and let out the clutch in 3rd
Absolutely, don't use the throttle, just pull the "enrichner" out for the first 2 min of idle time until the temps come up.. Usually then I shut it down and let everything warn up evenly while I change. THen it's the button for the rest of the day with no issues so far.
PS. I'm using a Yuasa brand battery, not a cheap alternative.
PS. I'm using a Yuasa brand battery, not a cheap alternative.
Any of the bikes with kick and button start kick and button at the same time seems to work the best. WR starts the second kick at 20 below KTM's are a little more cold blooded any bit of heat does help them.
I also only run 0-40 oil Yamaha or Amsoil even my recluse zstar pro aggress with that stuff.
cheers….
I also only run 0-40 oil Yamaha or Amsoil even my recluse zstar pro aggress with that stuff.
cheers….
Do you hit the button & kick it at the same time or kick then button? What is the timing between the 2?
I try to hit the starter at the same time as I start the kick.
It does not seem to be a problem if you lead with the starter a bit, the kick will give it the extra momentum and RPM for a easier start.
It does not seem to be a problem if you lead with the starter a bit, the kick will give it the extra momentum and RPM for a easier start.
I loaded up the bike last night for a ride this morning since we finally got some snow, but it dropped down to about 10 degrees last night. Bike started fine last night, but this morning I had to kick it and use the button and finally a hair dryer for a hour to get it to start. Too late to go now since I had meet up with the group an hours drive away. Guess I'm staying home again this weekend.
Starting to get very frustrated with this bike. I had a 700 Grizzly atv that started every time no matter how cold with just a push of the button, why is the bike such a pain in the a$$? It's a 2013 WR450.
Starting to get very frustrated with this bike. I had a 700 Grizzly atv that started every time no matter how cold with just a push of the button, why is the bike such a pain in the a$$? It's a 2013 WR450.
you could use a magnetic block heater stick on clutch cover and will keep the oil warm, or that heater core stuff for pipes wrap around motor.
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Freeride1
Well-known member
https://www.yamaha-motor.com/yamalube/categories/engine-oils/9/full-synthetic/7927/details
That oil and a bag over my pod filter to severly restrict air to my throttle body allow me to start my KX450 at sea level when it is close to zero. After that I do that 25 foot dryer vent on the truck exhaust to that bike with a cover over it for 30 minutes. The typical motocross bike only commented from 40 to 110 degrees if it is fuel injected so it needs a little help when it is cold out especially at low altitude like me. We ride right from the edge of the St Lawrence seaway to 3900 ft in quebec. The extra oxygen really makes then start hard.
That oil and a bag over my pod filter to severly restrict air to my throttle body allow me to start my KX450 at sea level when it is close to zero. After that I do that 25 foot dryer vent on the truck exhaust to that bike with a cover over it for 30 minutes. The typical motocross bike only commented from 40 to 110 degrees if it is fuel injected so it needs a little help when it is cold out especially at low altitude like me. We ride right from the edge of the St Lawrence seaway to 3900 ft in quebec. The extra oxygen really makes then start hard.
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torkd
Well-known member
Just changing the oil weight in my yz450 helped a lot. The first few rides I was still running 10w 40 like I do in the summer and the thing was terrible to start. 5w30 seemed to help in real cold temps.
I'm using the Rotella 5-40 oil in it. I'm thinking it's more something to do with the injector. It doesn't even seem to want to turn over, like trying to start it with the spark plug wire disconnected. Then after kicking on it for a long time it sounds like it's getting gas and trying to fire.
I have thought about getting a block heater, but what about when I unplug it and drive in the cold for an hour or two? I wonder if they make 12volt block heaters I could plug in while I'm driving.
I'm also wondering if the programming needs tweaked to get the proper mixture in the cold. Everything is pretty much stock on it.
Is the difference of the high compression engine in the bike making it so much harder to start than my atv was. That engine didn't care how cold it was, and it didn't even have a cold start button.
I have thought about getting a block heater, but what about when I unplug it and drive in the cold for an hour or two? I wonder if they make 12volt block heaters I could plug in while I'm driving.
I'm also wondering if the programming needs tweaked to get the proper mixture in the cold. Everything is pretty much stock on it.
Is the difference of the high compression engine in the bike making it so much harder to start than my atv was. That engine didn't care how cold it was, and it didn't even have a cold start button.
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Rush44
Well-known member
Warm your bike up in your garage every morning before the ride. And I don't mean just a minute or two.... Really warm it up. Even with a 1 hour truck ride it makes a big difference. I always start my bike before every ride now and no problems since even with electric start only.
The kick start bikes seems to like fast quick succession kicks in super cold weather in order to warm up the injector and get it moving fuel. Singe big kicks don't get the power flowing with thick oil and less engine rotation... Fast quick kicks with the high idle knob out gets it done. My buddy was kicking his KX450 for about 10 minutes straight yesterday morning when it was 5F out and I hopped on and did 8 quickfire kicks and the bike started right up.
The kick start bikes seems to like fast quick succession kicks in super cold weather in order to warm up the injector and get it moving fuel. Singe big kicks don't get the power flowing with thick oil and less engine rotation... Fast quick kicks with the high idle knob out gets it done. My buddy was kicking his KX450 for about 10 minutes straight yesterday morning when it was 5F out and I hopped on and did 8 quickfire kicks and the bike started right up.
Thanks for all the tips everyone. I left the bike in the truck last night and went out to start it this morning. Yesterday the temp guage said 12 degrees, this morning it said 28 and the bike started on the first kick, so it seems to only be a problem when it gets down to the low teens or more.
I like to get loaded up the night before a ride, so less stuff to do in the morning, and my garage isn't heated anyway, but warming it up before the drive seems to be the best idea. After an online search I ordered a battery warmer blanket. Someone else had tried it and says it works. $30 with shipping, so it will be one of the least expensive purchases for the snow bike I have made. We'll see how it works next weekend I hope.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevy-Ford-Dodge-Toyota-Nissan-Battery-Warmer-Temro-/390293994196?_trksid=p2054897.l4276
I like to get loaded up the night before a ride, so less stuff to do in the morning, and my garage isn't heated anyway, but warming it up before the drive seems to be the best idea. After an online search I ordered a battery warmer blanket. Someone else had tried it and says it works. $30 with shipping, so it will be one of the least expensive purchases for the snow bike I have made. We'll see how it works next weekend I hope.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevy-Ford-Dodge-Toyota-Nissan-Battery-Warmer-Temro-/390293994196?_trksid=p2054897.l4276
anything to knock the chill out of the motor and help get your cranking speed up. I have done the set it by the exhaust trick before when its down around 0. helps out a bunch even just after a few minutes. im sure the battery heater will work out fairly well.
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eskimojoe77
Well-known member
In my Ktm 525 here in Alaska I run Honda's cold weather 0w-30 4-wheeler oil and I've started it cold at sub zero temps. The colder it is the more kicking required (525 sx is kick only). But it will start, except at 20 degrees below. My leg ached after that day.
