skromfols
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« on: August 14, 2011, 12:13:02 PM » |
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Yesterday I was the ride leader for our mixed motorcycle group. I was trying to coordinate too many things in getting the ride organized and going and forgot to close my choke when we started. I noticed while riding aggressively when I backed off of the throttle the bike would backfire through the pipes, which it never does. I thought that I might have a vacuum leak or fouled plug and was going to check it this morning. When I looked at the bike what I noticed was that my choke lever was about 1/4 open and realized that I had forgotten to turn it off yesterday. Since I only use the choke when first starting the bike it must have been on all day yesterday, for about 150 miles.
My question is, have I done any serious damage to the bike? I started it up and it seems to run fine, but if it's really a choke and not just a fast idle I was running it very rich for 150 miles.
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NITRO
~KP~
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« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2011, 12:51:27 PM » |
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I did that once and have had no problems thousands of miles later. I wouldn't worry about it. And if the lever was only open 1/4 the way, it's doubtful that the "choke" was even engaged.
Try riding now and see if you still have the same problem. If so, check that the clamps on the intake boots are tight, they loosen over time. Be sure to check the ones below the throttle linkage cover as well. If they're good, move on to the vacuum lines...
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When in doubt, ride far.   |
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MP
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1997 Standard and 2001 red/blk I/S with sidecar
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« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2011, 01:38:03 PM » |
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I doubt if anything bad happened. As Nitro said, close it, and take it for a ride.
MP
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Scranton, ND "Riding with Cycho"  |
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skromfols
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« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2011, 01:44:13 PM » |
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I'll try that later today. I did start it and it started right up and sounded ok, so hopefully it didn't do any lasting damage. Thanks for the responses.
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cookiedough
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« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2011, 04:15:29 PM » |
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you're fine. I think, at least on my Valk I/S, the choke on even 1/2 way makes no difference except for that extra last hard 1/4" push down to engage the choke fully when cold starting it.
So it ran rich just a tad, no big deal.
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skromfols
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« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2011, 05:17:26 PM » |
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I guess I misstated what I did wrong. I pushed the choke lever down until the choke was about 1/4 of the way on, instead of the lever just being 1/4 of the way through its travel. I know that the choke doesn't start to close until the lever is about 1/2 way through its travel and you feel the resistance. So I was about 3/4 through the actual throw of the lever, which I think has the choke about 1/4 of the way on. My concern was from a problem my friend had with his Harley. He rode it with the choke on and he said that it washed down his cylinders so that they scoured and he had to rebuild the engine. I'm not a mechanic, so I always worry about things that I don't fully understand. And I would sure as hell hate to hurt my Valk !!
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hoser
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« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2011, 06:39:26 PM » |
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I rode mine 75 miles with 1/4" left, got a little poorer gas milage that day, but no other effect. That was at 55000 miles, I've got 88000 miles it now. I think your are just fine.  Hoser |
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I'd rather ride my bike and think about God than sit in church and think about my bike 99 Tourer
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Valker
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« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2011, 06:45:48 PM » |
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Only POSSIBLE problem might be oil contamination. Check the dipstick level and smell it for gasoline. Change the oil if level is too high or heavy gas smell.
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Cholla
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« Reply #8 on: August 14, 2011, 06:52:45 PM » |
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Hey, I can relate, but probably worse!  I was in Colorado a month ago and left my choke on full for about 28 miles from Granby to Kremmling one morning. Kinda got out of my routine taking off as I was gabbing with the motel owner and excited to ride when I took off. She ran OK on the hwy, but the main thing was that it wouldn't idle. Felt pretty humbled when I found the problem when I got back into my "routine" (key on, check choke, hit starter, ...) at a gas station I stopped at. I flipped the choke up/off and away I went without a hiccup for the rest of my trip. Probably have 2000 miles on it since the incident and everything is fine. I replaced the plugs when I got home for peace of mind, but they looked just fine. I'm guessing you'll have no problem too... Good point by Valker about the oil too! |
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Like many travelers, I've seen more than I can remember and I can remember more than I've seen...  '03 Valk Std, KLR650 |
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skromfols
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« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2011, 08:42:16 AM » |
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Checking the oil sounds like good advice, and I've probably got 40,000 miles on my plugs so I might as well change them also. The bike seems to run just fine, so I think things are OK. Thanks to all for the info and support. I'll just be a little more careful in the future.
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TAZ
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« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2011, 09:59:03 PM » |
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I did that and had a witch doctor bless my bike with a dead Prairie Dog when I was out in the Badlands of South Dakota....seem to work fine and I will forever be ungrateful to that witch doctor.......thanks Cholla where ever you might be hiding! Next year can't wait.....payback will be so much fun....hehehehe
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