Okay, this WORKS. I do not know why, but it does. It is cool here now, low 40's in the day, 20's at night. The KLX always needed 20 or 30 seconds of cranking (5 to 8 second intervals) to start after sitting a few days. So, last week, after reading this post, I shut the gas off as I was riding home and let the bike run out of fuel in the garage. Today, I turned the gas on, put my helmet on, hit the starter and in less than a full crank the engine started and ran 100%. A-FREAKING-MAZING!!!!

 

YES!!!!! you are proving my theory. I did the same thing today, it was 25 degrees and I had run the gas out the KLX and it started right up this morning after only about 3 seconds. Before that I had forgot to empty the fuel and left the bike for 3 days and guess what....yea that's right, cranked and cranked, finally after about 3 minutes of on and off cranking it popped and finally started. If I did that on the XT 225's they would have never started. Glad to hear it, I really don't care why, or have some sort of OCD yearning as to why the way we do it works, all I care about is IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I don't know why or how it works, but it sure seems to work. Thumbs up beej

 

Come on ol guy its deej not beej, but I understand because you're old right? Just messing with ya.

 

Oh, I almost hate to do this. I did a similar test. Got sick of the long crank after sitting for more than a few days. My discovery is that the fuel evaporates from the fuel bowl slowly. So slowly in fact that the needle dries up and sticks in the seat. The fuel level gets so low that it cannot start a cold engine, but since the needle is stuck the gas won't come in even though the level is very low.

Try this, shut it down normally. Wait two weeks. Tap the float bowl witha screw driver handle rather firmly with the petcock "on". Wait ten seconds. Start the thing. I've tried it on mine and the results are the same as running the carb out. Running the carb out achives the same result since the needle no longer is touches the seat and therefore cannot sitck shut.

 

Ok Deej, gonna try your little technique tomorrow. I have not ridden in about two months, and its been sitting in the garage with a full tankand the gas shut off. I tried starting it a couple of weeks ago, and nothing. Just the sound of the battery getting low. Figured it may have been the spark plug since the last time this happened (back in Aug or Sept) I pulled the plug out, wiped it off and ended up jump starting it from my car.

It took quite a while, but it started then. Might not work this time for as long as it has been sitting and I don't want to burn up the starter.

Wish me luck.

 

One thing though, if all you did was to shut off the gas before putting it away, I can't guarantee it will start. For me and the three bikes I have in my garage, the only way they will start if they sit for more than a day or tow is yes turn off the gas, but if I don't get some or most of the gas out by letting the engine run, I can guarantee that none of them will start. I am open to the idea that maybe the needle is getting dry or stuck, but if that's true, I will still be using my way, I'm not sure tapping on the carb is the easier way, or that it is good for it.

 

that was all I did, shut off the gas. will be draining float bowl and probably be tapping on it a little too just to make sure.

but what is the size of that allen bolt on the bowl?

 

OK picture this...I'm in my underwear heading out to the garage to get the size of that Allen head screw, now if that isn't dedication then I don't know what is.[8D]

Ok I just got back, and the size is......3 mmNow the real question is can you get the vision of a fat guy with no shirt in his tighty whiteys out of your heads...yea I didn't think so.Its 11:30 and I have to get up early, heading to Kingston tomorrow. Later all, and have a good weekend.

 

Just remember next time, its a whole lot easier to just turn off the gas and let the bike run for a couple of minutes than it is trying to loosen that pesky little screw behind the exhaust....or to hit the carb. I'm just saying