Are All Hondas Hard Starting

[67nova]

I have a 84 200m.The 3 wheeler runs great but when i first start it cold i choke it full and it starts right up then i put it to half immediately and then take off and it seems to miss and backfire like its flooded with the choke off and then all of a sudden it died and wouldnt start pulled plug wet burned it off put it back in ran fine.The plug was new so it wasnt the plug.Are these machines that touchy or what.How should i start this 3 wheeler.Also i have a 82 -185 and 82 -200 and there very touchy also.Should i choke them full or half or what.

[Unclediezel]

Keep the process the same---but allow some time for the choke to do its Job----The motor will run much better when its warm--but you have to let it reach Operating temp before you expect any results from it

[Tri-ZNate]

Yeah ya have to let it warm up. Give it about 1 min then take the choke off and it should be fine.

[TeamGeek6]

No engine should be run until the block or jug are hot enough to be uncomfortable to touch (140*F) . Running them cold causes cylinder damage. let it idle several minutes and as its warming up, slowly take the choke off.

Not doing so can foul the spark plug and make it die suddenly.

[NOS_350X]

My 350x I start and go. My other 350x's i let warm up. I have yet to see a damaged cylinder because of it.

[Tri-ZNate]

A four stroke can handle a "start-up-and-go". Do it to a 2 stroke and yes damage will occure. How many times do you let your car or truck (gasoline powered) warm up before you start traveling? And a four stroke wont foul the plug when it dies from too much choke.

[TravEX]

And a four stroke wont foul the plug when it dies from too much choke.

Try to get any 400EX owner to believe that.


Back on topic, all the Honda thumpers I have/had do have a particular technique to start, with my EX being the hardest. The best I've found is bout 5-6 pumps, full choke, and 2-3 cranks works the best. I get em off the choke as soon as possible and keep em at a fast idle for bout 2 minutes, then easy riding for bout 5 minutes.

[Kintore]

On my 200, all depends on how long it has been sitting. A week of sitting, full choke and like 4 pulls and shes up and ready to go. Keep on the throttle for about 30 seconds then half choke and run her for about 2 mins. Then no choke and drive it!
For a few days of sitting, full choke- 1st pull and same steps above.

[ClayW]

I think that most 85 and older hondas are a bit cold blooded. The 86-87s crank great. Fire right off.

[bonkers_200s]

Mine only does that when the plug is just about fouled, cleaning your plug does next to nothing, the part of the plug that you can see, is not the part of the plug that becomes fouled.

But yes, every Honda owner has their own ritual that they have to learn to start their machine, it not that its hard to start, you two just don't understand eachother yet, treat it like a soft woman, whisper in it's intake, pat it gently on the fuel tank, eventually, she'll talk to you and tell you what she likes.

[RedRider_AK]

My ATC 110 would start in the first few pulls with full choke, if it was working that day. Sometimes it just wouldn't start for anything, even with primer in the cylinder.

[Chrisbroeders]

my 87 250x quad is hard starting if i dont fire it up over a weeks time i ave a hard time to start it... usually like 2 kicks and she fires.. sometimes without any choke

[TeamGeek6]

A four stroke can handle a "start-up-and-go". Do it to a 2 stroke and yes damage will occure. How many times do you let your car or truck (gasoline powered) warm up before you start traveling?.

I always warm my 4 strokes up. You kids arent experienced enough to understand the long term engine damage done by cold running. First theres sulfuric acid formation that etches the cylinder walls. The unburned liquid phase fuel washes the walls and rings down and dilutes the oil. This is well known in automotive engineering, but is far beyond mechanics training.

Which is why my engines never wear out. My dodge van is over 300,000 miles and runs like a raped ape. My father in law does the same thing and his Chevy 350 is at 400,000 and they still drive it across country on vacations.

My Father in law talked with a GM corporate rep a few years ago about this subject, mostly oil change intervals. The GM rep said they were more than happy to sell new engines to yall that dont take care of them.

They tell you to "start and go" to conserve fuel and keep emissions down, but they magically forget to tell you how that cuts engine life in half.

Because they are in the business of selling new vehicles!

[crackshot]

hmmm. my 1983 Nissan Sentra manual says warm up for 10 seconds to get oil to top end and drive as normal. 185000 miles and running great so far.

[holmstrom]

hmmm. my 1983 Nissan Sentra manual says warm up for 10 seconds to get oil to top end and drive as normal. 185000 miles and running great so far.
Thats because engine wear happens when you first start the motor and all the oil is in the pan and no oil pressure. Sure putting it in gear and driving away as soon as it starts is bad. Waiting 10 seconds is enough time to reach proper oil pressure and circulation.

[250rmanfmf]

Not warming up an engine is not good, Metal expands when its heated up. Why do you think we break engines in? The pistons and rings will actually expand on a fully heated engine vs. a cold engine. Oil pressure is a plus but within the first 10 seconds its usually there. Just because you dont have problems with your engine at high milage when you are starting and going doesnt mean its good for the engine, 4 stroke or 2 stroke its good to warm them up before riding.

All in all people we do what they do, everybody has an opinion. Thats mine!

Also about the orignal topic, Hell my Hondas start up better than my Yamahas, my 250r starts on 1st or 2nd kick, and my Raptor 660 is somewhat hard to start along with my Yamaha R1. I have had better luck with Hondas and Kawasaki's starting better than Yamahas. Thats just me though

Tyler

[Unclediezel]

This is well known in automotive engineering, but is far beyond mechanics training.

!
.Mr Geek--

I would gladly get on my knees and gravel at your feet --but you see after 20 years of "Mechanics Training" I cant bend Over anymore........
WTF???
GM rep? Oil Change Intervals? selling motors to those of us who cant take care of them?---HOGWASH----These are the same people who use electric oil pumps--and warranteed 34,000 engines last year alone---POP A FUSE-BLOW A MOTOR!!!

Just for argument--(Because we all know Cold Fuel is not as volatile as warm fuel)

How does this apply to a 2 stroke? There is no oil pressure---And the sulfuric residue is present in anything that burns Hydrocarbon based fuel--


The true facts here----You must establish normal operating temp before you can achieve proper fuel atomization----
#2---The sulfuric acid "WASHDOWN" is a result of moisture---which is a result of not reaching a temp high enough to "Steam-Off" any accumulated water.The vehicle with 2mile trips a day will be dead in a year--but the 500 mile a week cars will last forever-----My dodge Charger has 2 "QUARTER MILLION MILE" badges on it ---and I make it a point to drive it on a daily Basis.

[RedRider_AK]

Thats because engine wear happens when you first start the motor and all the oil is in the pan and no oil pressure.

That reminds me of something my Auto Shop teacher once thought of installing on his Bronco. It's an electric pump that draws oil over your valvetrain before you start it up. Basically, he said that if you had something like that, you could drive a car every day for your entire life and you'd never wear out the valvetrain.