I may have posted this question before but couldn't find it with a search.....
I've noticed the last few riding seasons that I've had to use my fast idle knob to keep the bike running when starting from cold. Not that weird, I suppose, but I never had to use the fast idle, ever for the first 10 years I owned the bike no matter how cold it was out - it would idle up by it's self without any intervention by me. Now it idles up immediately when started but will drop down within a few seconds and stall if I don't assist with the fast idle. Is there an idle adjustment somewhere that I'm missing or is poor cold idling a sign of something else?
Thanks for any advice.
Hi Bucko,
There is a fast idle adjust you can try although if the bike doesn't run like it used to it is probably something else. I marked the location in red on the bike detail.
Dave
Hi Dave:
Thanks for your note.
The part in the manual that you posted refers to the idle adjustment, not the fast idle. The idle adjustment is used to set the appropriate idle for a 'warm' motor.
I suspect I have a sensor that's not reading accurately - making the ECU think the motor (or possibly air temperature) is warmer than it really is and so leaning out the mixture causing a cold motor to stall. I was hoping that someone would say: 'yea, that's a common problem and this is how to fix it'.....
Gotcha, Troll would be your best bet. He's the master at these things.
Dave
When did you last change the air filter?
John.
If I were you, the first thing I would do is clean out the throttle body plates. Crap builds up on the back side and the edges of the throttle plates and the bore of the throttle body, itself. Clean rag, old tooth brush and seafoam...There are 2 fast idle solenoids inside the right side air box. When you key on, they should click...both of them. A lot of people disconnect them because the noise is irritating. I removed mine and the vacuum plumbing, completely. When I start mine cold, I either hold the idle speed up for a few seconds with the twist grip, or set it up and hold it with my Vista Cruise...I removed mine because I was doing a demo of a restricted area riding exercise on a cold day, the solenoids clicked off just as I was doing a tight right turn inside the box and the engine stalled...damn near dropped the bike!
Quote from: John Hopkins on January 13, 2014, 18:25:13 PM
When did you last change the air filter?
John.
Hi John:
Good question! It was long enough ago that I don't remember, but having stated that, I never ride in the rain or in dusty areas (as in gravel roads) so I doubt it's plugged up - but it's a good tip and I'll check that (I have two new filters, including an K&N, sitting in boxes somewhere so it'll be an easy fix if that's the problem.
Maintenance is likely the prime cause. Ensure you have done all the PM's and then see what happens.
Chief:
PM = Prescribed Maintenance ? (sorry if that's a dumb question)
Or Preventative Maintenance... Carbs used to get nasty inside and need cleaning now and then. Fuel injection IS NOT immune from the same thing...remember Seafoam is your friend!
Quote from: Bucko on January 14, 2014, 12:49:07 PM
Chief:
PM = Prescribed Maintenance ? (sorry if that's a dumb question)
Ask a woman..
John.
;D
Yeah, old Navy... PM = Preventative Maintenance - they are listed in the user's guide and manual. Also, here...
1500 - http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/pm.html (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/pm.html)
800 - http://www.VulcanDrifterRiders.com/pm800.html (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/pm800.html)
Hi Chief:
Thanks for posting that.
I've done everything on the list reasonably recently with the exception of: Air Cleaner; throttle control system (I've never done any of that - need to read up on it); Rad hose connections (I'm loosing some coolant so I need to check those); spokes and Rim (I'll do that at tire change time which will be this spring - at least for the rear).
Check this out: http://www.gadgetjq.com/tb_cleaning.htm
Good stuff! Thanks for posting Troll
Thanks Troll! I can see from the pics that a toothbrush would be good for getting way down there.