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The day I went to try this bike out, the seller said, "I just had it out for a farewell ride... it's warm, so no need for the choke." I got on, kicked it and it started, idled and ran fine.

However, I think I now know why he said that.

Since I bought it, this bike has started with just a few kicks, hot or cold, no choke. From cold, it would idle kind of high for about 8-10 seconds, then quickly settle down. In general, I would describe the carburetion as a little fat, but rideable, and it improves as it warms.

The other day, after a week of no riding, I went to kick it over for a spin around the yard... and got nothing. I pulled up the choke knob and it revved quite high when I kicked it over. I shut it down immediately, pushed the choke off and kicked again, this time it did like it usually does; revved a little high, then quickly settled down.

Between the slightly high rev at a cold start (no choke) and the very high rev from cold WITH choke, can anyone guess what might be wrong here?

Thanks!

Mine (89 e-series) revs with the choke on but I click it off almost right away and just feather the throttle until it's ready. Doesn't rev as high as yours maybe but it does rev up.

My jetting is spot on, and on a cold engine I can start it without the choke only if it's hot out. When I do use the choke, I usually click it off after about 5 seconds anyway.

all you have to do is turn the gas on, put the bike in 2nd gear, hold the throttle wide open, and rock the forward and backwards a few times. this will get fuel into the cylinder, and you wont be lean at startup.

^ Yeah, try that. I always turn the gas on, and lay the bike on it's side for a few seconds.

To the OP

What you described sounds normal.

My KDX will start high with choke; I use it only to get it fired and shut the choke right off. The KX does the same.
My KTM will start cold with or without the choke but easier with the choke. Same thing, though, idles high at first.

KarlP wrote:To the OP

What you described sounds normal.

My KDX will start high with choke; I use it only to get it fired and shut the choke right off. The KX does the same.
My KTM will start cold with or without the choke but easier with the choke. Same thing, though, idles high at first.

if you do what i said, it wont idle high. then you dont have to play with the choke at all. just try it.

kdxmaniac:

I tried your suggestion, and the engine revved very high on the first kick, as if I were holding the throttle open, just like when I use the choke. High enough to make me hit the kill button quickly so it didn't hurt itself.

I'm wondering if I have a case leak. However, as I said, the revving goes down as it warms BUT the amount of time I first mentioned was way off. It takes over 30 seconds for it to start to settle down.

have you checked around for a leak somewhere? Loose bolts, cracked intake boot, base gasket etc? anything obvious you might be missing?