Engine Stalling

Right, I know this sort of topic has been covered before, but I am still a new boy and this is my first winter....so please humour me!

Over the last couple of weeks, when I have been starting up in the morning (the bike that is), I've had the choke out and the bike running......after a few minutes the revs drop (while the choke is still out) and if I don't give the throttle a few revs the bike stalls. Regardless of what position the choke is in at this point the revs do not climb. Is this normal. Also, until the bike has been running for 5-10 minutes it often stalls when idling at lights, unless I keep the revs up.

Now I kind of thought I would need to adjust the throttle cable a little to compensate for the revs, and it hasn't seemed quite right on a couple of occasions, but I was a bit confused about the choke. Does this sound like it needs a new cable, or are my troubles the sort that could be easily cleared up with some sort of fuel additive or hotter spark plugs to compensate for the cold weather.

Once it is nice and warm it runs like a dream, so I was just presuming that the problems with stalling were normal......but I am happy to listen to any suggestions to make life smoother.

Either way, I still had a big grin on my face when I got to work.....although my lips were blue

pro fst and hotter plugs, its the damp cold and I find foggy weather thats the worst dpr 8 plugs are hotter, I wouldnt worry about the choke too much you can see the slide throgh the side so you can se the play you have, mine just comes out the side on a piece of sealed wire.

i removed the choke cable on mine i only use the small tab on the left of the carbs. (less to go wrong)
i let it warm up on the choke for 30s-1min.. and then set off, compensating on the throttle. It will also stall if i let it go. When warm its fine though

[madhatter]

Originally Posted by stef

I let it warm up on the choke for 30s-1min.. and then set off, compensating on the throttle. It will also stall if i let it go. When warm its fine though

.

Yep...my 750 is the same. If you let it run for too long on the choke, it.....well....chokes itself and you have to "blip" the throttle. Same thing when setting off cold, it will stall at the first junction if you don't control it on the throttle. I have also found even when hot if you suddenly come from 80mph to a sharp stop, this can also make it stall. Other than that she generally runs quite well, just a bit "farty" at 30mph.

Thought it was just one of the joys of riding a V-Twin.....never occurred to me there might be something technical to improve it.. ...I leave that sort of thing to techno-boffs like our Yerbs.. :lol:

My 600 is pretty much the same.......it likes to be warmed up for a good few minutes before setting off otherwise it stalls.

As long as it ain't just me then!

And it's still a lot more fun than driving to work! Roll on 4:30.....

[madhatter]

Originally Posted by Mark Walker

As long as it ain't just me then! And it's still a lot more fun than driving to work! Roll on 4:30.....

It just means you need to be a more skilled biker to ride a Ducati, than your average plastic bubble crotch rocket pilot!!

by the way.....just hijacking my own thread, what tyre pressure should I be looking at for a 600......seem to have seen a number of different suggestions over the last couple of weeks, but need a better idea before I try and check the pressure when I get home tonight........

30 33 front rear respectively, you could all increase the idle tickover a bit if you are a stalling a lot.

[spacemonkey]

...but of course only turn the screw in when the throttle is opened or you will bore a hole in the slide, which will cause it to stick, then your in a world of hurt...

really nick? I thought it was just the idle jet?!

The tick over speed is adjusted by a simple throttle stop screw. No risk of damage to the slides or anything else that i can see..

[spacemonkey]

That's alright then! As my bike is 120 miles away from me I can't pop out and look-I'm just going on experience from other machines that I have had the mispleasure of knackering...

Seems to be going okay now.....probably just needed a damn good run out....usually only get to use it once or twice a week, but this week (and next) the non-driving love of my life is working at a different hospital so I don't need to drive her in........hence the bike is out to play everyday! Was running like a dream this morning! Still think I might need to adjust the throttle slightly....but still loving it......

Mark, I have had exactly the same problem on the short run to work and home, even if I let her run for a good few minutes before set off, then I put her into first and she stalls, and at every set of lights and roundabout.

Some cheeky git at work said a bike like that should only be used for fun!! I was a bit worried when she got me home with one cylinder firing, and sounding like a tractor! Spark plugs were gunked, so now regularly watching them! She is in the garage and has been for a week plugged into the optimiser It is reassuring to find out about these quirks and that it seems pretty normal, and I still love Munch...........but roll on SPRING