I Hate My Bystarter

CaptDan · Post by **CaptDan** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:45 pm

Seriously, I really wish Honda would've provided a manual choke on the Spree. I've had nothing but trouble with that electric wizbang.

I've traced most of my WOT stuttering, poor starting and rich running to the ByPharter(tm). I suspect the replacement non-OEM part I got on eBay is no good. So I took the original bystarter, drilled a small hole in the snout where the lost needle went, and inserted a longer throttle jet needle in its place. I plunked it into the carb port, inside the air bushing.

The bike runs better than it has so far, but won't start worth a sh*t if it's sat for a few days. So - I crank in the air screw (manually 'choking' the engine} and the bike starts. Then I return the screw to 1 7/8s out. It's good to go for the rest of the day.

Has ANYBODY ever attempted to build a manual choke? I'm seriously considering it. Or, maybe finding a suitable Mikuni carb with an old school, mechanical choke affixed.

CaptDan

gitRdan69 · Post by **gitRdan69** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:53 pm

I have had the same thoughts, if you find a manual choke to pop on or devise something post it up, I will do the same, that is when I get everything else back together, as she's in pieces at the moment!

CaptDan · Post by **CaptDan** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:28 pm

gitRdan69 wrote:I have had the same thoughts, if you find a manual choke to pop on or devise something post it up, I will do the same, that is when I get everything else back together, as she's in pieces at the moment!

Maybe something as 'Rube Goldberg' as a remote 'airflap' cable. You pull a knob someplace, which in turn closes a swing flap on the airbox intake.
When the bike starts, you push on the knob, re-opening the flap.

Just a thought.

CaptDan

Kenny_McCormic · Post by **Kenny_McCormic** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:42 pm

My manual choke works pretty good. Pics later.

CaptDan · Post by **CaptDan** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:55 pm

Kenny_McCormic wrote:My manual choke works pretty good. Pics later.

Please! We WANT to see 'em.

CaptDan

gitRdan69 · Post by **gitRdan69** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:37 pm

I was thinking of something along the lines of blocking off the intake on the airbox, for simplicity, using a choke cable from the auto parts shop, similar to that on my buddy's muscle car. But then the idea of the choke on my old HONDA snowblower came to mind and, being an engineering student, with access to a machine shop and free materials I want to go above and beyond! Now I just have to find the time...

Chomping at the bit for those pics Kenny!!!

vinnie · Post by **vinnie** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:03 pm

I have a spare carb that's a manual choke - I was gonna stick it on my own nifty fifty but the air intake is smaller than my carb that has a bystarter.

It's funny that this thread just came up, my own bystarter was completely knackered, so I pulled out the needle completely and then just stuck the bystarter back on top, and now it runs like a dream! Does 55km/h easy. I just finished rebuilding the top end and am still ironing out a few little problems. I acutally just got home, pushed it about 6 kilometres home haha I think I forgot to put more petrol in after driving it around so much yesterday.

Let me know if you want pics of my manual choke carby.

Dac · Post by **Dac** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:09 pm

i was going to put a manual choke on my bike, but a bystarter is more then just a coke.

Kenny_McCormic · Post by **Kenny_McCormic** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:07 pm

Dac · Post by **Dac** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:17 pm

dude i was like "* is he pointing at??? i dont see anything, hes not holding anything... *...."

then i went up and read what you said before and laughed.

CaptDan · Post by **CaptDan** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:18 pm

Dac wrote:i was going to put a manual choke on my bike, but a bystarter is more then just a coke.

You mean it's a Pepsi?.

{jus kiddin'}

I've owned my bike for about six weeks, and though I've got plenty more to learn, here's what I know so far:

1. My original bystarter was messed up.

2. The replacement I ordered is also messed up.

3. After cleaning the carb five times, I 'buggered' up a dummy bystarter that seats firmly into the port and stays there.

4. I FINALLY reached 27 mph today, and there was plenty of power available to go at least 30. First time that's happened.

5. The bike won't start cold without futzing with the mixture screw.

Conclusion: Whatever the bystarter isn't doing doesn't appear to affect anything other than cold starting. At least on my bike, and far as I can tell. So I either need to spring for an OEM correct bystarter - money I'd rather not spend - or try something else.

As always, I'm open to suggestions.

CaptDan

CaptDan · Post by **CaptDan** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:23 pm

Dac wrote:
dude i was like "* is he pointing at??? i dont see anything, hes not holding anything... *...."

then i went up and read what you said before and laughed.

What am I missing? I don't get it?

CaptDan

CaptDan · Post by **CaptDan** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:26 pm

vinnie wrote:I have a spare carb that's a manual choke - I was gonna stick it on my own nifty fifty but the air intake is smaller than my carb that has a bystarter.

It's funny that this thread just came up, my own bystarter was completely knackered, so I pulled out the needle completely and then just stuck the bystarter back on top, and now it runs like a dream! Does 55km/h easy. I just finished rebuilding the top end and am still ironing out a few little problems. I acutally just got home, pushed it about 6 kilometres home haha I think I forgot to put more petrol in after driving it around so much yesterday.

Let me know if you want pics of my manual choke carby.

I tried leaving off the needle too and it caused the bike to run too rich.

But, yeah, I'd like to see the manual carby - so long as it's not a closeup of some fingers squeezing something I can't figure out.

CaptDan

Dac · Post by **Dac** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:54 pm

CaptDan wrote:
Dac wrote:
dude i was like "* is he pointing at??? i dont see anything, hes not holding anything... *...."

then i went up and read what you said before and laughed.
What am I missing? I don't get it?

CaptDan

when a motor dont have a choke or the choke is broken people put there fingers over the opening of the carb to "manually choke" it.

CaptDan · Post by **CaptDan** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:05 am

Dac wrote:
CaptDan wrote:
Dac wrote:
dude i was like "* is he pointing at??? i dont see anything, hes not holding anything... *...."

then i went up and read what you said before and laughed.
What am I missing? I don't get it?

CaptDan
when a motor dont have a choke or the choke is broken people put there fingers over the opening of the carb to "manually choke" it.

Okay, I get it.

But hey - what about people like me who like to keep the panels on the scoot? It's pretty hard getting to the motor's parts with those on.
Pretty optimistic of Honda - putting six bolts and a pair of screws on those panels apparently assuming we'd never have to get in there and do something.

CaptDan