After yrs of restoration, i finally drove my truck to a car show today. My 1st venture of more than a few miles. It's 40 miles to the show. I start by using the choke and she fires right up. I get to the show and they have a poker run around town, I don't use the choke of course and she starts superbly. Then we grab a bite of lunch and walk around for about 3 hrs. Starting the truck to head home i pull out the choke and it's hard to start; so i push the choke back in and she fires off. Question-- If I use the choke to start the day, do i need to use it again the same day? Seems like yrs ago I didn't use the choke except in the mornings? Help me remember....!! thanks, PUT-PUT
Each engine will let you know what it needs. If it starts without choking and doesn't stumble when you accelerate the chokes not needed. In warm weather it probably will just take a little choke first start in the morning and if it's cold as frosties berries then it might take it every time it's off for anytime at all. As soon as the intake manifold is warm enough to vaporize the gas then the choke isn't necessary. Check your exhaust flapper to make sure it's free and working, if it's stuck open or if some yoyo ties one open then choking is needed much more often and that means more raw gas to wash down the cylinders and dilute the oil.
I second Evan's opinion. Each engine likes something different. Also the other basic settings such as valve adjustment,points,timing,etc... combine to change everything. Have you recently checked them ? If the weather is nice & warm you should not need to choke her more then the first start. Sometimes mine just likes a little more throttle when first restarting which is why I just pull out the T handle slightly.
What They Said ! Above 40° F you shouldn't need any choke atall . as soon as the engine starts , push the choke in as far as you can with out the engine stalling and as soon as you're in top gear , it should _ALWAYS_ be shoved all the way in . Proper tuning negates the need for any choke unless it's below 40° .
Thanks guys! Sometimes she sits for several days before being started, i'm talking up to 2 weeks. I'm in North FL, so it's only below freezing about 8-10 days a years. Thanks again and best wishes to all. Keep um rolling!
Hey Mr Put Put where was the show, Im in South Alabama and sorry I missed it, I have a 1950 model 1/2 ton that im working on now, do you reside in NW Fla any other shows on tap in the general area? Take care Ken
The only way I could get mine to start was with starter fluid. Now, since I've decided to stay with my mighty 228, it wants to start right up. The only thing it won't do is take me seriously when I stomp down on the pedal. I can almost feel it look at me like, "Let's not get carried away here- I know how you change your mind- I'm not doing THAT until you've painted me, changed some more stuff on me, and said your sorry for EVER doubting that I was the right choice!"
After it's been sitting a week or two , the fuel in the carby often evaporates , except in the accellerator pump well so pump the pedal to the floor and release three times , pull the choke right out and give 'er the go ~ having the choke closed and the throttle wide open will create a strong vacuum that will help the fuel pump to pull fuel all the way up faster . Of course many here have an electric fuel pump , in this case just switch on and wait for it to begin to labor , indicating the float bowl is full , then follow your normal starting drill . -Nate
alabama50 - I'm in the Freeport area. The show was in Crestview. The DeFuniak Springs group should be having a show in the near future if i recall correctly. The Crestview club is the Spanish Trail Cruisers and they have a website you can access by searching on their name. They use to provide info on other local shows. PUT-PUT
Nate, i'll try that next time. My truck is pretty much all original with the exception of the a/c and alternator to run the a/c. Did have to put a pusher fan on it. thanks for all the help over the last 6-12 months. I see you like BMWs, is that 2 wheel or 4?
Speaking of BMW's, (nate is a two wheel and I'm a four wheel BMW guy) but if anybody is in the Nashville Tn area tommorrow and want to drive any brand new BMW our dealership (BMW of Nashville) is having a breast cancer drive. All makes and models of BMW's that you can just hop in and go take for a spin. Pretty cool thing, not everyday they let just anybody drive around a $100k car and not expect you to buy it.
Yeah . two wheeled Beemers ! I'm wild about the /5 series and I have a bunch of them . I even have William Shatners 1973 LWB R75/5 " Toaster " ~ he bought it but didn't like it so he left it in his garage for a few years , that's where I found it after I broke my backand couldn't ride my beloved Harley Panhead anymore.... I ride a Kooky Kommie Ural 650 OHV ' Tourist ' too ~ a wierd but wonderful bike . PLEASE guys ! don't use Ether (starting fluid) to fire up your recalcitrant engines ! it detonates and this is like hitting the piston crowns with a BallPien hammer ! if your engine has over 60 PSI compression there's NO WAY it won't start if you tune it carefully.....
Nate, Fantastic about the Beemers!! i rode them for years and more than 100,000 miles. Had 75 R90/6, an 82 R 100 which i rode with a Hannigan and then converted to an RT. I have a 69 R60US sitting in the barn. Need to restore the 69. I have quite a few parts and the engine isn't frozen up. Catch you later.. Put-Put
/2 Beemers Yep , that's a right nice Moto bike ~ I had me TWO R69S' , both were early with Earles forks though . one was fully loaded up with factory acessories , tach , HD generator , Albert mirrors , dual Tractor seats , HUGE Hoske fuel tank with toolbox , Akront wheels , Hella bar end turn signals and on and on... I prolly should not have sold it to my buddy for only $4.5K but he's nice and so..... I hope you take it out and ride it occasionally , they were NOT meant to be museum pieces , I rode mine "The Ton" up Rt. 99 to a BMWMOA camping event . My first R60 Beemer was a 1968 R60US , I gotta love those telescopic forks . I have a US model front fender on my favorite SWB /5 , as the /2US fender was designed for an 18" tire and the /5 uses a 19" tire , I have to choose replacements carefully else they'll rub on the fender stays . Ride Safe !
