Hard starting after letting bike sit

Discussion specific to the 1995 - 2006 KDX200 (H Series) and 1995 - 2005 KDX220R (A Series) models sold in the USA
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bergilong
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Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by bergilong »

If I let my KDX sit for a week or two it becomes extremely difficult to start. After I get it to start up, I will be able to easily start it again. Does anyone know what might cause this problem?
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by KDXGarage »

Do you use ethanol based gasoline?

Do you turn off the petcock and run most of the bowl out before cutting the engine off?
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Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by SS109 »

The carb bowl is empty. I run ethanol and run the bowl nearly dry after a ride. Next ride I turn on the petcock, tip bike over till it pees out the overflow line, bring it back upright, pull choke, and start it. :supz:
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Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by thirdgenlxi »

When mine did that it was the float valve in the carb... Put a new one in and started first kick almost every time after that
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Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by thirdgenlxi »

Can try leaning it over to the side and drain some gas out of the carb before trying to start it and see if the prob goes away. Or shut the gas off just before you shut it off, and see if it does it the next time
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by bergilong »

Jason wrote:Do you use ethanol based gasoline?

Do you turn off the petcock and run most of the bowl out before cutting the engine off?
I do use ethanol gas, but I drain the bowl nearly empty before shutting it off
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by bergilong »

I drained some gas out by leaning it over and still can't get it to start
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by bergilong »

Okay, I got it to start. After killing it, I was then able to start it first kick. It does just sound like the float was stuck closed. My carb is extremely clean inside. Maybe it just needs a rebuild
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by david »

Have you tried a new spark plug? I can let mine sit for months and it will start 3rd kick w/choke, cold.
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by doakley »

Mine is doing this same thing and none of the above fixes has worked. I have to use ether when it hasn't been run for a while. After that first start it cranks first kick every time. Very frustrating. I'm going to change the jet block gasket just on general principles.
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by bergilong »

doakley wrote:Mine is doing this same thing and none of the above fixes has worked. I have to use ether when it hasn't been run for a while. After that first start it cranks first kick every time. Very frustrating. I'm going to change the jet block gasket just on general principles.
Yeah, it's really annoying. Let me know if anything fixes it
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by BigH »

I see these posts were from 2016. I now have the same thing. I installed a carb rebuild kit on it. It always started 1st kick unless very cold. I agree very annoying! I have a fmf pipe & silencer, boysen reeds, & stock jetting. plug is still not brown on chop test. Still black but has run pretty well. What jetting are most running. I ride @ 600 to 900ft.
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by bertos883 »

When I had issues starting my '01, I tried a bunch of stuff, but ended up changing the pilot jet from a 48 to a 45. Now she starts easy all day
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Re: Hard starting after letting bike sit

Post by ohgood »

Fuel on, choke onlean it over, and cycle the engine 5-10 times to pull fuel into the engine, then kick it.
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