XTZ 660 Tenere '94 cold start problem
 

Hello!

I have a problem w/ my newly acquired motorcycle. It just refuses to start when cold. The mechanic changed the air filter and adjusted valve clearances.
The thing is, that it starts w/no problem if it was previously running at least 10 secs. It'll start with the touch of the start button until it gets cold. When cold it just doesn't start. I tried different tecnics to start it w/full choke, w/half choke, wo choke, w/throttle, wo throttle... Nothing seems to work but removing the spark plug, dry or heat it (it is soaked w/ gasoline), few turns wo spark plug to clear the cylinder and reinstal the plug and voila.... (if I do not drain the battery earlier).
Someone suggested checking the ignition coil for cracks. He said he had identical problem on his bmw '85. After changing the coil, the problem was gone. I removed the coil but there are no visible damages there. Could this be the problem?
Otherwise the motor runs great. The consumption is normal with 5,5l /100km I presume...

I had a similar problem with my 99 XTZ660 when I first bought it. Thought I had pulled the choke on and cranked for 5 minutes before flattening the battery. It would start when hot without a problem, but when cold would take forever.

Tracked the problem down to a stuck choke plunger in the carb. Removed the tank and LHS fairing to access the LHS of the carb, and undid the brass nut that secured the mechanism into the carb. This allowed the plunger to be removed and lubricated with WD40 or similar.

Fired first go when put back together. Seemed the choke had not been working after all, and the collective wisdom with this motor is that they are buggers to start without it working properly.

Good luck
Stuart

Cold start
 

My 98 xt600 does the same when the idle is set to high. It floods instantly and I have to take out the sparkplug and dry it.

My suggestion: turn the idle right down and try again from cold - even if you have to keep it running with the throttle.(Give it the smallest amount of throttle your right hand is able do, while cranking to get it to fire)

Then turn the idle up bit by bit, letting it cool down every time. If you go to high it will flood agian tomorrow morning.

If I turn my idle screw 1/8 turn out the bike wont idle and 1/8 in it floods the spark plug with feul in the morning. took me a week of small adjustment every day to get it right. Mine rev at 1600rpm but im sure every bike is different.

Good luck
It might help or not....

PS: If you spray bug spray or deoderant(any flamable airosol) in the airbox while cranking you can sometimes get a flooded bike to start.

Thank you Stuart an Hanzie for good points....

The bike is at the mechanic at the moment. I pick it up tomorrow. We'll try changing the ignition coil (with one that is known good) and we'll see. I have allready messed with the choke system when I changed the choke wire and it seems to operate well. If the problem remains, I'll check the choke again and if that doesn't help, I'll start tinkering with idle mixture screw.
There's got to be a solution and I'll find it:))

I'll let you know the results...

Thanks again for help and greetings to you people down under.

Idle screw
 

Hi

Just to make sure Im not talking about the idle mixture screw but the idle screw that dictate how high the bike idle when the throttle is closed. On my bike its outside the carburator with a spring on it and you adjust it by hand.

Hanzie

other threads
 

I suggest you look through the other threads that are in this technical forum as well.

There is lots of other advice; I have a TT600R which has been a pig to start over the past month - there is a lot of information in two recent threads and I think the engines are very similar (someone can correct me if that is not so).

I read most of the threads that are in here about starting Yamaha bikes in the last month and I got mine going yesterday!!:clap:

One point: I believe in changing one thing at a time and watching for what that does before moving on to another idea - it works for me!

Good luck with the trouble shooting!

Dave

After one week of using known good ignition coil and cable there is no difference. I can exclude the spark plug, cable and the coil.
I tore down the bike and cleaned all the electrical contacts and sprayed them with contact spray. No difference.
Set the idle mixture leaner, no difference. The thing just doesn't want to start. It seems it gets too many fuel at the first turn. The spark is soaking wet. If I change it, it fires rigt up.
I also tried to lower down the idle speed as Hanzie suggested. No difference.

Yesterday I acquired carb repair kit. I think it has to be a problem with the carb not sealing sth right....
I'll clean the carb and change the sealings and floater valve tomorrow. The problem is I dont have the service manual. Actually I have one in german but my german is *very* bad.
I would be very grateful if someone here could send me at least the carb chapter of the service manual (in english) for the '94 XTZ 660 Tenere 3YF or direct me to an internet resource.....

Thanks for help!!!

If you understand spanish you can download an XTZ660 parts catalogue from Catalogo de Partes

In any event you may find the graphics useful :)

:eek3: I just checked this ... the catalogue is in english :clap:

cold start problem
 

Hi,
I had a similar problem that was fixed by replacing the needle and seat although my float bowl was overflowing.
Try starting it with the fuel tap off after it has been turned off overnight and/or with the fuel tap off and using aerostart (ether-mix spray).
Unfortunately, now my bike starts fine cold without choke but doesn't want to idle and won't start when it is warm.
Choke appears to be mechanically functional so I am going to have to check seal etc next.
Any tips there anyone?

xtz660 cold starting forever :)
 

dear Ivchxtz660,

I have absolutly the same problem with my new (new but 1996 ) xtz660 , we think that the problem is in the carb, will take it off for a closer look on monday. I think the problem is in the choke system, the cable, lever, etc.. it is not functioning right, something there!

You did'nt write how you survived this problem, can you inform me before monday? And maybe your german service manual can be helpful 'coz my german is not so bad.

nice weekend rides to all;

If your bike is not starting from cold have you tried draining the fuel from the carb by undoing the drain screw.
Retighten the drain screw you get fresh petrol from your tank and some times this will help start the engine.
The part of the petrol which ignites evaropetes alot quicker then the old type petrol, its possible that the ignition part of the petrol that has been sitting in your float bowl has evorapted.

drain screw
 

thank you bolla,

I will try this before I start taking all down. it looks like that the previous owner has played with the drain screw several times before (I think we speak about the same screw, just under the carb looking from leftside) because the threads head looks damaged. I will try to drain it if it turns :))

That is the screw
if it is damaged you should order a replacement screw.
Good luck

Have you checked the air fiter is clean and not collapsed? I had very similar problems which were traced to the filter being dirty and choking the airflow enough to flood the bike from cold.
Andy