Emergency start procedure - my bike won’t idle / my bike dies immediately after starting

[skipperT]

Do this if you attempt to start your Tracer/FJ and it stalls immediately. And / or the engine seems to catch briefly while cranking, but then stalls when the Start button is released. Example below. 

First procedure: After charging the battery, try to start the bike again but just give the throttle a SLIGHT turn (barely cracking it open). Hold the throttle in that position while attempting to start until the engine coughs and it catches. Then gradually close the throttle holding a slightly higher than normal idle speed for 30 seconds or so. Be ready to turn the throttle down QUICKLY as necessary so that the engine doesn’t race too high or pin to redline after it catches and begins to run. 

Then let go of the throttle after 30 seconds of holding it at fast idle, and the bike should continue idling normally. Let it warm up minimum 5-10 minutes before turning off again. (Or until the cooling fan cycles).

If barely cracking the throttle while cranking over (procedure 1 above) doesn’t start the engine try:

Second procedure: cycle the key off, pause, then switch it on again. Wait for fuel pump to cycle. Hold throttle wide open and press the start button to crank engine over. BE READY if engine catches to immediately close throttle from WOT to just barely being “held slightly open” - so that the engine doesn’t pin to redline! Hold high idle as described above in first procedure. 

If engine doesn’t catch immediately continue to hold the start button while cranking the engine over with throttle held wide open for 5-10 seconds max. Turn key off, pause, and then try first procedure as outlined above (throttle cracked open).

This will ONLY get a bike started again if the spark plugs are slightly wet and battery is strong. If your battery is weak (engine speed slows while cranking) charge or replace the battery. Try again with strong battery and/or replace your spark plugs. 

To prevent this from happening, avoid starting the bike from cold and shutting it off without a proper warm up period. At least wait until it idles down normally (from higher/cold idle speed) before turning the engine off. This will save you a lot of grief at some point…

ONLY use this procedure to start a bike that can’t seem to stay running after the Start button is released.

 

Under normal circumstances you should NOT TOUCH the throttle while starting your bike, just as you wouldn’t put your foot on the accelerator pedal of a car/truck while starting.

-Skip

Edited February 22, 2022 by skipperT