Having not ridden my '09 for a few weeks I had the much discussed no start problem. Tried the rocking thing several times, but still no pops after about 15 short tries. I was about to try the "drain the carb" thing and while looking for the drain plug something came to me. Our old British bikes sometimes wouldn't start if the idle/slide was too high.

So, I backed off the idle screw about 3/4 turns and it started immediately. Another benefit was the idle with the choke on was about 3,000 instead of 4,000 rpm. The only drawback was if you let it idle this way very long, the exhaust becomes too hot to run the idle screw back up with your hand so had to get a long screwdriver to turn it back up.

Anyway, this is another thing to try the next time your KLX won't start after setting a while.

Norm

 

Good call on lowering the idle screw. I still wonder about these starting issues on the KLX being connected to a low fuel level in the float bowl. Your lowering of the idle screw position closed up the butterfly a bit which increased vacuum draw to make pulling fuel out of the bowl easier. Am I thinking this through correctly...at least as a reasonable possibility?

I'm curious on your mention of having to use a screwdriver to turn down your idle. Does the '09 not have the remote **** like my '06?

 

TNC, it has a remote ****. The problem is that the **** is too close to the exhaust pipe to use your fingers on it after the pipe gets hot and the idle needs to be increased back to where it was. Maybe others could do it but I kept burning my gloves. So, after the pipe gets hot it is easier to turn it with a screwdriver.

Norm

P.S. Yes, you're thinking it through correctly.

 

The '09 must have the idle **** on the right (exhaust) side if I'm understanding correctly...like my KLR650. My '06 KLX has it on the left (non-exhaust) side via a remote cable ****.

 

Correct, on the '09 the idle **** is on the right and very close to the exhaust pipe.

 

even easier and always works for me is hold you hand over your exhaust hole to create back preasure and just crank the motor. Right when it sounds like its trying to start move your hand

 

Hey, never thought of that but it should work fine. That's the usual way to choke a small model airplane engine.

 

liberate the fuel screw access, get a kouba t screw for $20, adjust and enjoy good starting

 

I'll have to try the hand over the muffler one. Right now, I slowly pull the choke out as I crank the bike over that method works good for me.
Dan