Problem to start when warm

[Kimsp]

I have problem to start my xs1100 when it is warm, has enyone one answer for that
Thanks Kim

[sixtysix]

Usually this is a rich condition on the carbs, have you cleaned them? Do you have a new clean air filter installed? Does it do it if you switch the petcocks to prime? What kind of fuel milage do you get (in US miles/US gallon)?

[nashville_bill]

Try opening the throttle a little when starting after warm.

[Mike Hart]

I moved this thread to the XS/XJ Discussion area, where it rightly belongs

[Geezer]

How's the airfilter? If it's dirty, it can have this symptom.

Always check the easy stuff first.

Geezer

[buffalo]

Does the engine seem to be cranking fast enough or slow? I had a problem last summer when hot the engine would not crank fast enough. Using the kick starter it would start fine. Turned out to be the engine ground cable on the back of the engine to the frame under the battery tray. If it seems to spin over plenty fast, opening the throttle wide open to start will tell you if it is a rich condition (carbs leaking, high floats, etc)

[skids]

Re: Problem to start when warm

Once in a while after the engine is good and hot, if I break for lunch, I actually have to pull the "choke" open to move gas into the pilot circuit again. I believe the heat from the engine "evaporates" the gas in the pilot circuit passages (don't really know). Once it kicks, I immediately cut the choke.

Originally posted by Kimsp
I have problem to start my xs1100 when it is warm, has enyone one answer for that
Thanks Kim

[Jean Luc]

After I put a 4:1 on my XJ I had big problems with warm starts. When dead cold with full choke, she fired instantly. A hot restart, crack the throttle and the engine lit instantly. But, if I went to a buddies house, sat around for a few hours, I would have to dink around with throttle and choke and hope she would light. One time I sat in front of a buddies house for ~1/2 hour before I got her to start.

I put the stock exhaust back on (mainly because I hated the very loud note) and now she lights right away no matter what the temp. I suspect she was running lean and a warm start aggrevated the condition.

[ACE]

I have the same trouble. Cold starts are great. When warmed up it will start good within 5-10 minutes. Half an hour she will crank awhile, hard to start. My only thoughts were the carbs or even the coils? It doesn't get good milage and I know the carbs need cleaned. Checking the plug color it seems right.

Lets face it. There are more treads here on carb problems than anything else! When and whenever I find "the cure" I'll let ya know.
ACE

[Jeff]

I guess I can feel lucky. Since I cleaned the carbs out for the 3rd time..... mine starts hot or cold with no more than a second on the starter. She actually starts better hot. Usually I don't have to even hold the starter button... just press it.

[noeleo]

I guess I'm lucky, too. Mine starts good, hot. Cold is another story. Choke doesn't seem to help, either. Oh, well. Really needs to warm up some anyway.

noeleo

[planedick]

Lucky too...

Ole "Rusty" starts as soon as I get one cylinder to go over TDC, hot or cold with no choke, all this and a good reliable, smooth idle around 500 RPM. I have to admit that the learning process tuning those carbs was long and painful. When you finally do get it right it is a very rewarding feeling. I had changed to the Jardine 4/2 slipons which made for more agravation. Sure runs great now, nice orange plugs and around 35 MPG unless I get on it hard a lot.

[Winterhawk]

guess I'm lucky, too. Mine starts good, hot. Cold is another story. Choke doesn't seem to help, either. Oh, well. Really needs to warm up some anyway.

Might check the choke openings in your float bowls. They can be really tough to clea n out sometimes. Use a smal single strand of cable of the likes to run in the openings. Then check with spray contact cleaner of such.

[thumperjsa]

I have a similiar issue and started a thread on this but not sure if anyone came up with a good result.

My carbs are clean and are set correct and the color of the plugs are right on.

Cold starting the engine works well, even without the enrichment circuit. If I run for like 15 minutes or more and shut down without letting the engine settle down before shutting it off, It seems the engine won't crank. Particullarly if I try to start within 15 minutes of shutdown.

If I open the throttle about half-way, it will turn over fine. Since opening up the throttle, just lets more air in, I figure this 25 year old engine has to much friction to turn when hot. Opening the throttle must somehow let it breathe beter so it can turn the engine.

Perhaps someone with more knowledge can go further into why opening the throttle lets a hot engine turn over better.

[planedick]

Hard cranking....

It looks like the real problem is the battery or maybe curroded connection(s). Check the battery and especially the terminal connections and the ground strap connection to the frame. If you don't have enough "juice" to crank it over smartly there isn't enough left to run the ignition.