trouble starting 640 ADV

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Tree

New member
So this is the first winter that i have my KTM. IT has been sitting for a couple of months now in a carport. Anyways i tried starting my Adv the other day and the battery is now almost dead from trying to start it with no success. Today i pulled it out so i have more room to kick her over and still no luck. When i stop sweating and rest my leg again i will go back out and try some more. Do i just need to be more stubborn than she is and keep going or am i seriously missing something?

And there seems to be a pretty decent amount of gas coming out of that little hose that is attached to the carb.

Starting to remind me of my KX250 days.
 
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PistolPete

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If there is gas coming out of the hose that leads form the carb and the bike won't start......it sounds like your float needle is getting stuck basically flooding the bike. Take the carb out and give it a good cleaning. Shove it back in and give it another go.
 
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Tree

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thanks. At least i know what to look for now. Have done enough work on carbs this winter should be a "breeze."

Any other things i should be doing to the carb while im in there??
 
Sparkle

Sparkle

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Hi Tree:

Don't tear your carb apart yet...

Starting an engine in the cold that's been running a short time ago, and starting one that's sat in the cold are different things. If the battery is low, you may not have enough juice to give you good ignition, so make sure the battery has a good charge.

If the weather has been freezing and the bike has sat for months, every droplet of moisture in the fuel will be ice....take an 'in-car' heater (not to close to the fuel) but close to the carb, put a blanket over the bike and let it warm up a few hours. Then, without touching the throttle, and with the choke on, kick.

It might help if you lean your head close to the bike and whisper..."it's spring time baby".

Sparkle



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Tree

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sounds like an easy enough thing for me. Ill try and put her inside for a little bit seeing as i have no heater.

Thanks again.
 
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franhoser

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normally i put antifrezze in the gas and let it run trought the carbs before storing the bike for the winter to avoid such problems. I put it in everthing witha motor like lawnmover,2 stroke blower,etc. You can buy it Crappy tire for like 5 bucks a small bottle. I think it's called gas saver. Also the best thing to do I heard is make sure that the gas tank is totally full so there is no air pockets in the tank.

Like sparkle said if you can warm up the bike for a few hours and making sure your battery is fully charged, try again and it should work.
 
Dorky

Dorky

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I'd fully charge the battery and after warming per Sparkle's advice, try to electric start it with a nice fresh battery charge.Use full choke and don't touch the throttle until itcatches when starting. (You don't have to worry too much if you dotwist it by mistakeas it's probably not a pumper).

My 640 is easy to kick when warm anda bit iffy to kick when cold (in a warm environment)but I don't think I could kick start it from a winter cold.Mine always starts easilywith the electric start on a full battery.

G
 
Phoenix

Phoenix

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My winter routine(or non riding time)has been to start my bike once a week. Full tank after last ride. Still on the same battery since new(2005). I usually grab a beer and start it up and chat with it about future rides........darn I,m typing out loud again;).

Cheers, Alex.
 
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PistolPete

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Guys.....all good advice about the winter starting/storage advice, but he did mention that there is fuel coming out of one of the lines coming off of the carb. I guess the carb could be stuck due to frozen water droplets. Whether it is a stuck float needle or moisture, pulling the carb out and cleaning it should get it running...might as well dump in some fuel antifreeze in the tank too.

Tree...kicking the 640 takes a bit of getting used to. When I had my 2000 640 enduro it would start first kick every time, but only when done correctly. When the bike was cold I would pull the choke, kick it over a couple times, turn the ignition on, push the kicker to compression, pull decomp and push the kicker just enough to get it past TDC. Let the kicker return to the top and kick it with a good amount of force. Sounds more complicated than it actually is.

I have also read that the 640 will not kickstart with a low battery. Some guys have had some luck in disconnecting the headlight so there is less draw on the already low battery in order to give as much juice as possible to the ignition system.

Hope you get it running.
 
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caribooster

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I have owned a couple of LC4s and I would concur with Dorky. She loves a fresh charge on the battery as well as warmer temps (ie ~+10 degrees). If you can park it inside a garage over night that should help out. Be sure that you do not have the headlight on. When my battery is low this can make the difference between starting and swearing. I was going to get mine going today but got held up with the house. Next weekend for sure...:dr: Good Luck!! :clap:

Brad.
 
ktmken

ktmken

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I have made it a practice to keep a battery tender on the battery all winter.
I lost a battery on my LC4 one winter. If you can't get power to your bike, take the battery out and bring it to the power.
Warmer weather would sure help also. :X

KTMKen
 
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Tree

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so i put the bike inside for the night and i have a charger hooked up to it. But before i did that. I turned off the fuel tipped her over and got what gas i could out of the float bowl. Tried kicking it over again for a little bit wide open throttle no choke, no ignition. Then turned the fuel back on and the ignition on and went to town for a little bit no throttle, then with choke for a bit then no choke. Nothing.

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I will let you know what i did to get it started when i finally do.

And the tank was full of gas when i parked it.
 
Island Hopper

Island Hopper

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Like Pete stated, the fuel running out the overflow could suggest a stuck float.... Sometimes a couple careful taps on the side of the float bowl with a screwdriver handle is enough to free it up... These bike are tough to start with a surplus of fuel in the combustion chamber....
 
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Tree

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thanks for all of the help guys. Put the bike inside over night with a charger on it. The next morning i came in, turned the key, and barely pressed the ignition button and it came to life. She seems eager enough to get out and stretch the legs a bit. Couple more weeks and ill be back out.

thanks again.
 
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Bayner

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I"m glad you got it going. I found out after wearing my leg out kicking mine over with a dead battery that it will never start with the headlight on. If your headlight comes on with the ignition, unplug the bulb, otherwise just make sure it's switched off. Trust me, you'll kick until you feel like selling the darn while the bulb robs all the power for the CDI....
 
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Loz

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c337b wrote:
I keep my bike in a nice warm spot.

Frank you lucky bastard. I tried that a few weeks ago and got told it smells! Back to the drafty shed I went. Ho hum.........

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