Cranky when Cold

[boxerengines]

Hi:

I have a 1971 R60/5. Alltogether the bike is in good shape but it certainly does have its issues.

When it is cold it is super cranky. It'll start no problem but often expels clouds of white smoke when starting. Once it warms up its fine. I always shut the fuel off when I stop and I rebuilt the carbs fairly recently.

Bigger problem is: even if I let it warm up for 4 mins or so it really doesn't want to go. If there is any kind of hill in my way I am not getting up it until the bike is good and ready. Once it warms up it goes like crazy but when cold it will stall if I put it under any load.

Ideas?

[vanzen]

Tune

[Major Softie]

I thought someone here knew my wife...

[ME 109]

I thought someone here knew my wife...

Kurt, does your wife have relations in Australia?

[boxerengines]

Valves are adjusted, plugs are good, timing is set, carbs adjusted, wife is divorced. So not sure what is going on.

I am just wondering if particularly bad performance when cold along with the white smoke at start is a sign of valve issues or ring issues.

[dwerbil]

Valves are adjusted, plugs are good, timing is set, carbs adjusted, wife is divorced. So not sure what is going on.

I am just wondering if particularly bad performance when cold along with the white smoke at start is a sign of valve issues or ring issues.

If you park the bike on its side stand, it will collect a bit of oil in the left(lower) cylinder causing a smoky start up. Then it should burn off the next few seconds or minute or two. Seems the longer it is side-stand-parked, the more smoke there is. The all do it...such is the start-up life of horizontally opposed engines.

So...between that being said, and your divorced wife (hopefully) not possessing any supernatural powers, maybe your carbs need another fuel-air idle adjustment. Just another thought here...does your choke cable function properly?

[boxerengines]

Thanks for the replies.

Its an R60/5 and there is no choke, just the "ticklers" to drip some gas in at startup.

I do leave it on the side stand, since my center stand is broken (another project I need to get into) and its on a steep hill too, so I guess that is the smoke on startup.

I am going to take another wack at adjusting the mixture on the carbs. Anyone seen a good video on the process? I get confused by too many words

Sure wish this bike had a vac port to hook a gauge or balancer to. There is none on my model. I have the snail suck-o-meter but it isn't great, and it is one side at a time.

[Duane Ausherman]

Vaccum gauges are not the answer that many want. One still must know what to turn and how much. Your description sounds lean to me. After it starts, do you tickle it again so that it will pick up rpm with the throttle?

[boxerengines]

"Vaccum gauges are not the answer that many want."
True: vac gauges tell balance, not mixture. But you need both. I really wish I could find an old crusty airhead expert around here to take me through the balance and mixture setting process one time so I could do it myself in the future with some confidence.

"After it starts, do you tickle it again so that it will pick up rpm with the throttle?"
No, I have not been doing this. Usually it'll cut out if I give it any kind of throttle just after start. And we are talking 55f degree weather. Is that the right procedure: tickle it again once started and the engine is cold?

[Dave Backmarker]

This did sound like a lean condition as Duane suggested. But, have you you tried replacing the condenser? Is it new and possibly made in China? Same questions for the points.

DaveM
1975 R90S, 2000 R1100RT