4t starting

[thorns]

Got out to ride a few bikes in the weeked thanks to a mate from work.
Got to ride a KDX200, and a YZ250f.

Loved the 250f, BUT, man it was temperamental to start up.
Is there a particualr technique you need to use to fire these things up without kicking for 5 minutes on end?
Started easy cold first thing, but throughout the couple of hours of riding, if it stalled and was hot, even using the hot start lever, it would take a lot of swearing, cursing, and frustration before getting it back up running again.

Both myself and mate from work have never really used 4t's before, as it was borrowed from another friend for me to try out, so not sure if its standard, or we were doing soemthing wrong with kicking it?

From my experience in the weekend, would prefer a 4t as love the power delivery of them, but if thats what it takes to start them, not so keen.

Any suggestions or tips?

[barty5]

normally a good hard clean kick that follows straight through dose it. if tuned right and hot start etc are all clean plugs not worn out they start fine finding TDC can help as well yuoll find you dont always need the hot start either and most like to be in netural.

[Pornstar]

They hate being in gear for sure.

[scott411]

normally a good hard clean kick that follows straight through dose it. if tuned right and hot start etc are all clean plugs not worn out they start fine finding TDC can help as well yuoll find you dont always need the hot start either and most like to be in netural.

the trick with four strokes is to remember you have to turn the crank twice to get to the firing stroke, i good long clean kick is needed, on 250F's it does not need to be hard, but right from the top of the stroke of the kick start, you can not stab at them like you can at a two stroke, and if it is carb'd no thorttle when they are hot, and always out of gear,

[hayd3n]

find top dead centre and give it a nice good kick
my 88xl250 starts every time first kick hot or cold
i hold clutch in

[F5 Dave]

The early YZs were a pig, esp the (erm thinks) 01, apparently putting an 02 cam in them makes them easier to start.

A 6'4 mate had one & it stalled real easy so I'd stop my kdx every time as he kicked & kicked then give mine a quick flick to start it up, just to rub it in. Sometimes with my hand on the kicker.

& he had some leverage. I had no chance of starting his bike. He did meet some chap who had some technique of pushing the red button & taking the blue pill or some such witchcraft. I never listened 'cause it seemed like a total wind up but it helped.

Fortunately they blow themselves to bits so the problem isn't a long time frustration.

Semi modern 250 2 stroke will sort you out.

[takitimu]

I believe Honda had their share of issues with the 250 4/ as well, until they went FI.

Personally I like hitting neutral & then a little red button by my throttle, my kickstart is in a box in the garage.

[Blagger]

I don't know if what I do is finding top dead centre but +1 to kicking it over in neutral

I gently push it through 2-3 times until I feel the most resistance then let the starter come back up to just behind the top so as to give it a strong kick through - I jump right off the seat and give it everything if it's being a shit.

I find no throttle (if warm) but be ready to give it a wee blip if it's burbling a bit then dying.


Kicking over a 4T I'd give it about 3 or 4 times as much force as the 2T's I've ridden. Also if stopping regularly for a smoke or rest then choosing a spot at the top of a hill where you can crashstart it in 2nd is worth trying.. good luck

[flyingcr250]

I believe Honda had their share of issues with the 250 4/ as well, until they went FI.

Personally I like hitting neutral & then a little red button by my throttle, my kickstart is in a box in the garage.

i think ive used a kick starter 5 times over the last 4 years, electric start is god

[meteor]

My 08 CRF250R can be a bit of a tart at times! Cold easy! Hot, use the hot start, take the slack and then about 3-5mm more of throttle, in neutral and a good long strong kick. If that doesn't work... I'm fucked! Mine can't take the 'blip' on startup as it'll shut down flooded then I'll have to clear the carby and start again.
Love the bike, just gotta know how she wants to play. Can also stall a bit easy too coming down the revs. One day a FI model will be in the garage.

[motor_mayhem]

i think ive used a kick starter 5 times over the last 4 years, electric start is god

As long as your bike still has a kick start that's great, but if you have an sxf with electrics on the fritz then it tends to burden your mates who have to tow start or push start you.

[flyingcr250]

As long as your bike still has a kick start that's great, but if you have an sxf with electrics on the fritz then it tends to burden your mates who have to tow start or push start you.

what else are friends for ??:shifty:

[takitimu]

As long as your bike still has a kick start that's great, but if you have an sxf with electrics on the fritz then it tends to burden your mates who have to tow start or push start you.

My take is they are pretty reliable, I can believe you'd have issues with a bad battery/start it in gear/have a fan/dodgy starter motor, but otherwise I can't see how you'd run them flat to be honest, I've sat there for 2 minutes on the starter without it going flat ( my own fool fault, over oiled a air filter ) & been in places with alot of stopping and starting without even coming close to a flat battery.

I could be wrong, but I reckon the stator is pumping a fair bit of juice into the battery.

P.S. The only time my bike has been involved in towing it was doing the towing, towed a 300exc pretty well actually.

[Buddy L]

With starting my bike i find, if i rush it, its only going to make it worse and take 3 times as long.

Stall bike while cold or not hot from hard riding
* find neutral
*find TDC (top dead centre)
*good long kick

Stall bike while hot (hard riding)
*find neutral
*find TDC
*hold in hot start
*good long kick

If your bike is a YZF of any early year 400, 426 etc don't stop anyone to help as you will only drain there life and take up half there day.
You have to wait for a solar eclipse before one of those will start if stalled.

[BoristheBiter]

With starting my bike i find, if i rush it, its only going to make it worse and take 3 times as long.

Stall bike while cold or not hot from hard riding
* find neutral
*find TDC (top dead centre)
*good long kick

Stall bike while hot (hard riding)
*find neutral
*find TDC
*hold in hot start
*good long kick

If your bike is a YZF of any early year 400, 426 etc don't stop anyone to help as you will only drain there life and take up half there day.
You have to wait for a solar eclipse before one of those will start if stalled.

I just pull clutch it, press red button.
why it took me so long to buy a bike with electric start i will never know.

[driftn]

First time I dropped my 09 yzf, I sat there kick the f#$k out of it with and with out the hot start. Eventually got it going, the trick was Pull the hot start and kick gently, first time, every time! from there on then.

[thorns]

Thanks guys, will give those tips and tricks a go and see how we go this weekend.
Although, am thinking of just getting a electric leg and being a lazy bastard :shifty:

[Ride it till the red]

One thing that hasn't really been mentioned is the possibility of the bike not being quite right. With the 4 strokes it only takes a worn piston, bad jetting, or out of spec valves to make the starting process significantly harder. I would speak to the owner about how he starts that particular bike and if he normally has issues. I know none of my bikes have ever given that level of trouble to start in any situation, however I have seen mates have no end of trouble with starting worn out older bikes despite following good 4t starting practices.

[crfchick]

I agree with RITTR. My RMZ250 was a PIG to start. I put it into the shop to get the vavle clearances checked and turned out the whole top end was stuffed, camshafts all burred and everything. Beware!


One thing that hasn't really been mentioned is the possibility of the bike not being quite right. With the 4 strokes it only takes a worn piston, bad jetting, or out of spec valves to make the starting process significantly harder. I would speak to the owner about how he starts that particular bike and if he normally has issues. I know none of my bikes have ever given that level of trouble to start in any situation, however I have seen mates have no end of trouble with starting worn out older bikes despite following good 4t starting practices.

[Jay GTI]

I agree with RITTR. My RMZ250 was a PIG to start. I put it into the shop to get the vavle clearances checked and turned out the whole top end was stuffed, camshafts all burred and everything. Beware!

Third this one, 4Ts don't like poor valve clearances, hard starting can be a sign of a poorly maintained bike.

Of course, I just hit that little red button, don't even need to put it in neutral.... and it's not failed once, even after leaving the bike neglected in the garage for a couple of months.

[Reckless]

Jeepers a whole damn thread on how to start a 4 banger no wonder I ride a 2T :eek5:

[BoristheBiter]

Jeepers a whole damn thread on how to start a 4 banger no wonder I ride a 2T :eek5:

Why, can you not start one either?:innocent:

[Jay GTI]

Jeepers a whole damn thread on how to start a 4 banger no wonder I ride a 2T :eek5:

ha ha yeah with my old RM if I got to three kicks and it hadn't started, I'd forgotten to turn the fuel on.

[Reckless]

Why, can you not start one either?:innocent:

Ha dont wanna try but I'll give you 10 outa 10 for a damn good come back line
:yes:

[barty5]

Why, can you not start one either?:innocent:

i didnt think rick rode at all any more a lot myself at the mo but then i dont have a bike

[Reckless]

i didnt think rick rode at all any more a lot myself at the mo but then i dont have a bike

Ha Barty been Damn lucky to even keep hold of the bike with the shit I've been through mate! But did Desert Storm and a few other days.
Was out the sandpit for a ride and met with Evan and Poggy couple Sundays ago! Slowly gettin back:)

[barty5]

Ha Barty been Damn lucky to even keep hold of the bike with the shit I've been through mate! But did Desert Storm and a few other days.
Was out the sandpit for a ride and met with Evan and Poggy couple Sundays ago! Slowly gettin back:)

your lucky ive sold every thing all bike are gone bike hoist sold my truck and boat is now up for sale and ill still owe a shit load a $$
no bikes or toys for a while and to top it single again

[oldskool]

Ha Barty been Damn lucky to even keep hold of the bike with the shit I've been through mate! But did Desert Storm and a few other days.
Was out the sandpit for a ride and met with Evan and Poggy couple Sundays ago! Slowly gettin back:)
As I recall it you spent most of your time up at the sandpit sprawled back on my recliner knocking back a woody !?!