It's possible that something may be occurring with the KACR to reduce compression to too low a condition for a good cold start, but I'd tend to think it's not a big possibility. Cold starting with at least sufficient compression should be relying more on the proper amount of fuel than just about anything else for the KLX. The choke with a drilled starter jet should supply enough fuel. I see several folks mention cracking the throttle for a cold start on the CV carb, but it's a fact that this will reduce the draw of fuel through the starter circuit. It doesn't mean the bike won't still start, but you pull less fuel through the choke circuit with the carb butterfly off of its idle stop.

 

I just soaked the whole carb in a can of berryman's chem cleaner for two days...still getting the same results. This bike WILL NOT start unless I turn the throttle in that certain 1/4ish position, choke on or off, doesn't matter. It is extremely hard to start. The bike will start though any time on a bump start. I just don't understand what the issue is, I'm completely lost.

 

I have to turn the throttle too...kinda lame but I'll deal

 

Try taking the carb off the bike and blowing through it with a leaf blower.Spaying it toaward a piece of cardboard you should see droplets spraying out, open the slide and it's a spraygun. This is of course much higher velocity than when your trying to start the bike. sometimes this will clear a clogged circuit. good luck
marc

 

I wouldn't have a problem with it if it would fire up every time, but it just doesn't. It also wants to idle high and slowly climb back down and die on me.

I have already blown high pressured air through every hole in the carburetor. I have a compressor and air gun. I have soaked the carb, replaced the low speed jet, use carb spray, everything I can think of.

Could my issue be related to me using 87 octane fuel? I just noticed today that it says to run 91+ octane. Could this be a problem with hard starting? It bump starts like a piece of cake though.

 

No I've ran both, no issues either way. If the bike doesn't get too cold at night, i can start it without choke with throttle and it iwll stay running, if I add choke, even IF it is warm, if I turn the choke off the bike WILL DIE. I have to give it throttle and slowly allow the rpms to drop other wise it will stall. Do you have a similar problem if it does even start?

 

Anyone near you with the same bike who might let you swap carbs as a test?

 

It will run with the choke off, but then I have to turn up the idle screw to keep it running at ~3000ish rpm.


I wish, that would make this a whole lot easier..!

Could my hard starting and idling issue be linked to my jetting settings? I'm only at a 20ft elevation with 70 degree+ days being the normal. Everything on this bike is stock, so the jetting is stock as well.

 

OK...way back earlier in this post you mention 45psi in the compression test. I'd say you've addressed everything you can with a valve check and such. I think now you need to get a shop or someone to double check that compression number. If that number isn't a lot closer to at least 100psi, I'd be concerned. I know the manual allows you to go down to the mid-60's, but I think most everyone gets higher than that with a proper compression guage and attachment. You may be chasing your tail with the carb until you can eliminate the compression issue with a quality guage and proper spark plug adapter setup.

 

My manual says 96 to 149 PSI, so I would think a recheck is in order before you get any further along with other things. Good luck with what you are doing. I'm chasing my tail with a different issue on another brand of bike, so I feel your pain. Hang in there.