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Hello all.
Hoping someone can help me with a small problem. Just got the bike out of winter storage and started getting it ready for the upcoming season '03 KDX220. I put in fresh oil, new plug, clean/lube air filter, drain carb/tank and put in new fuel. Kick, kick, kick....nothing. Outside temp about 15C.
Took carb off and took apart everything, soaked in varsol, cleaned jets put it all together........kick, kick, kick......nothing. Checked spark & perfect and smell of gas on plug.
I put a little fuel straight into cylinder, one kick and away she goes!! No problems starting after that. Let her warm-up, change plug again and did plug chop test....Perfect!
Toward the end of last season, it also became harder to start as the temp dropped but once warmed, no problems.
Note: When cold I always go through the same procedure to start. Tilt until a little fuel runs out of overflow, 2-3 slow kicks and then main kick.
Anyone have any thoughts on cold start issues?

Thanks in advance
Ditton

Proper spark plug, gap, and possibly a fatter pilot jet should help.

Choke working? Don't jet for start-up.

Thanks guys for the quick response.
-Gapped the spark plug (.7mm) before installing
-When cleaning carb, took apart choke valve before immersing body in varsol (1 day), just a matter of removing from body isn't it??. Seemed to be working when I finally got it started, had choke open, then closed after a minute or two....seemed operational. Anything I can check with the choke? Didn't see anything in manual

Thanks again
Ditton

Are you over oiling the filter?

Don't think so.........too me anyway.......
Soaked (UNI 2pc in oil) in container then wrung/squeezed out both pieces until no more can be squeezed. No residue dripping into air filter box.
Not sure if this is correct and I have always thought of this as sticky point(no pun intended) as to what is too much or not enough.

Will try when I get home
-Try starting, if will not go then
-Remove air filter and try starting again (short time if runs so won't suck in crap)
This would eliminate air filter, no?

Info and tips greatly appreciated.
Ditton

Ok, another update.
Still no go when cold, even with air filter off.
Just thought I would post the Carb setting as well as what the manual indicated stock.
As in my carb:
Needle- 3rd slot from top
Main- 145
Pilot- 42
Air Screw- 1.5 turns out

As noted in manual(stock)
Needle- 3rd slot from top
Main- 160
Pilot- 48

So, I guess original owner re-jetted.
I live in Southern Ontario.
Anyone have any thoughts if jetting could be the culprit?

As for the choke, I took it out again. It locks in place when in carb but will not lock when out, is this normal? Kinda new to this, but how does the choke work when in the carb as I can't see it contacting anything, manual wasn't much help here either. I'm more use to the mechanical lever type on my snowblower, etc.

Thanks again
Ditton