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Old 30th November 2008, 00:02   #1
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Best way to Start a Royal Enfield in Cold Mornings

Hey guys,

i am having trouble starting my royal enfield bullet electra these days. it takes around 8-10 kicks before the bull gets started and then i have to warm it for 5 mins. I certainly know that this is not a normal behaviour.
Please let me know what can be the problem? Do i have to get its tuning done? or adjusting the fuel supply would do?

Also Senior Bulleteers, suggest the best ways to start any Royal Enfield in cold mornings.

Thanks
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Old 30th November 2008, 13:45   #2
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dude, its winter, so the temp is much lower and hence the starting issues. nothing different to be done. just pull the choke and kick it a few times more than normal. in a few months you will see that it starts easier.
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Old 30th November 2008, 14:35   #3
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Obviously using choke is recommended.Then ,you know Bullet how to kickstart ?
it is a nice practice to switch off the ignition ,press de-compressor lever and give 2-3 kicks to spread the oil layer.
Then ,switch ON ignition and press de-compressor lever and give a full kick.during the return of the kick ,give a half-kick easy.This way ,Bull will start unless it faces some problems.


Else ,try the steps of troubleshooting:
1.check the fuel filter.make sure the fuel flow from tank is OK.

2.if above is correct ,then the next reason is a stuck float/flooding carburatter/cleaning carburatter .
3.Now ,how is the compression of your bull,s engine?do that if above steps cant solve your problem.
check for white fumes as well ,means a weak worn out engine(I hope unlikely)

4.and check for a quirky ignition switch ,key(on/off switch was doing a random start-stop in my case) - that was the case for mine(resolved) .

5.then there is the TCI related problems which I am not aware of.

Good Luck!
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Old 30th November 2008, 14:59   #4
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Tune the pilot circuit for a slightly richer mixture and your starting woes would go away and the bike would warm up faster. Once the winter goes away set the tuning back to normal.

or

Activate the choke, pull in the decomp give it a few kicks, release the decomp and start the bike. Ride the bike for a Km with the choke on (if closing the choke will make the bike behave as it's starving for fuel) and once properly warmed up close the choke and ride.
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Old 30th November 2008, 19:52   #5
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thanks guys for your quick replies....

anyways i got the fuel supply from the petrol tank adjusted today. the mech told me that it was very less n thats why my bull was taking time to start.
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Old 1st December 2008, 01:09   #6
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Since its an electra i dont think you need to use the decompression lever.

Get the carb tuned
My RE Machismo 350 and STD 350 Both start on 1st or 2nd Kicks even in the coldest mornings of north India.
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Old 1st December 2008, 06:26   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by streetrage911 View Post
thanks guys for your quick replies....

anyways i got the fuel supply from the petrol tank adjusted today. the mech told me that it was very less n thats why my bull was taking time to start.
is the case with few bullets.
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Old 1st December 2008, 07:06   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by streetrage911 View Post
Hey guys,

i am having trouble starting my royal enfield bullet electra these days.
Also Senior Bulleteers, suggest the best ways to start any Royal Enfield in cold mornings.Thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by deepclutch View Post
it is a nice practice to switch off the ignition ,press de-compressor lever and give 2-3 kicks to spread the oil layer.
Then ,switch ON ignition and press de-compressor lever and give a full kick.during the return of the kick ,give a half-kick easy.This way ,Bull will start unless it faces some problems.

Else ,try the steps of troubleshooting:
1.check the fuel filter.make sure the fuel flow from tank is OK.

2.if above is correct ,then the next reason is a stuck float/flooding carburatter/cleaning carburatter .
3.Now ,how is the compression of your bull,s engine?do that if above steps cant solve your problem.
check for white fumes as well ,means a weak worn out engine(I hope unlikely)

4.and check for a quirky ignition switch ,key(on/off switch was doing a random start-stop in my case) - that was the case for mine(resolved) .

5.then there is the TCI related problems which I am not aware of.

Good Luck!
well.... check the fuel flow and ignition. If both the above are working fine, try this.
(1)Make sure all your light switches are in off position.
(2)Switch off the ignition
(3)turn on the fuel tap
(4)give 3-4 sedate kicks
(5)turn off the fuel tap
(6)switch on the ignition
(7)give a strong kick.

So instead of the pre-starting exercise you do, try doing just as above.

cheers!

This is a very popular techniqe beng used to cold start a bike.

Last edited by nikkibike : 1st December 2008 at 07:08.
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Old 1st December 2008, 08:28   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akshay4587 View Post
Since its an electra i dont think you need to use the decompression lever.
I suggested the use of decomp lever to serve another purpose infact. Since this starting trouble is due to a lean circuit you can use the decomp lever to give couple of kicks to let some fuel into the cylinders. Too much and it would result in a flood.
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Old 1st December 2008, 17:03   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akshay4587 View Post
Since its an electra i dont think you need to use the decompression lever.

Get the carb tuned
My RE Machismo 350 and STD 350 Both start on 1st or 2nd Kicks even in the coldest mornings of north India.

Guys i know you all would kill me for asking this question, but considering the fact that i am new to English Lady and i dont have much knowledge about her, still i will ask. What is a decompression lever and where is it located??


thanks,
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Old 1st December 2008, 20:40   #11
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^It is located on the LHS Handle similar to choke lever in 100cc moped bikes.Bhai jaan ,you would like to read this article :
http://cybersteering.com/cruise/feat...et/bullet.html
and refer your Owners manual to identify parts.
I think you may be confused with Neutral Lever also?It is located on the gear box
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Old 1st December 2008, 21:44   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deepclutch View Post
^It is located on the LHS Handle similar to choke lever in 100cc moped bikes.Bhai jaan ,you would like to read this article :
Cybersteering.com - The Bullet: Mystries & Myths
and refer your Owners manual to identify parts.
thanks deepclutch for the information.

Quote:
Originally Posted by deepclutch View Post
I think you may be confused with Neutral Lever also?It is located on the gear box
i know where it is
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Old 2nd December 2008, 09:35   #13
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Well I think we have a truck load of information here from everyone. Initially when I bought my bullet I didnt have a clue about what really this machine is all about. But now I suppose i have found a trick to get it started up in the mornings.

This is what I do.

1. Turn the choke "on"
2. The ignintion "on"
3. pull the decomp and then give 3 or 4 soft kicks.
4. get the kicker lever half way down with the decomp and then release it
5. Finally kick the **** out of that kicker and I can hear the "delicate sound of thunder"

I hope this helps others as well.
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Old 2nd December 2008, 23:30   #14
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When parking at night, ensure that the piston is at TDC. Can help to start the bullet at first kick.

One has to understand that the same technique will not work on all Bullets - each one has it's own quirks. Assuming the timing is right, carb is in good shape etc, most bullets would start in first kick. One just needs practice.
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Old 3rd December 2008, 01:28   #15
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TDC ?

i am sorry please pardon my ignorance. what is TDC

and regarding the starting a lot of information has been given out.

only practice that i have been following is.

first kick with the decompression and the choke on. this should not be the starting kick though

second kick a little bit more strong one and this would start the bullet idle it for 2 minutes and thats you good for the days. this the way my bullet starts be it summers winters or what ever.
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