paulwlms
XS400 Member
Hello everyone,
I am new to this site and love motorcycles. In May of this year, I bought a 1977 xs400. It had 3800 miles on it and I bought it for $250. I put $400 in to get it running, and it runs great. However, I have never owned a bike with only a kick start before. I am having issues with starting the bike. I started it right up and rode it home from the repair shop with no problems. I parked it in my garage for 3 hours, and then I decided to take it for a spin before I went to work.
It started on the second kick, but when I let go of the throttle (thinking it would idle), it died. It started up again but died right away. Then I could not get it started again.
I did something next that I probably shouldn't have done. I put the gas lever on PRI for 2-3 seconds, then put it back to ON, and I opened up the choke.
When I kicked it again, gas started coming out the left side of the bike and dripping down the side. Every time I kicked it after that, gas poured out. Then I closed the choke. Gas kept coming out. After 10 minutes of trying, I gave up. I never did get it started. Someone told me that it sounds like I flooded it.
I have only been used to electric starts, so I am probably doing something wrong. I just don't want to go somewhere, and then be stuck for 30 minutes (or longer) trying to start the bike up again.
So my question is: Is there a technique that people can recommend that guarantees that my bike will start after only a few kicks? I know it's not the bike as it runs great. But starting it is hard for me and I am sure it is because of something I am doing wrong.
Thanks.
I am new to this site and love motorcycles. In May of this year, I bought a 1977 xs400. It had 3800 miles on it and I bought it for $250. I put $400 in to get it running, and it runs great. However, I have never owned a bike with only a kick start before. I am having issues with starting the bike. I started it right up and rode it home from the repair shop with no problems. I parked it in my garage for 3 hours, and then I decided to take it for a spin before I went to work.
It started on the second kick, but when I let go of the throttle (thinking it would idle), it died. It started up again but died right away. Then I could not get it started again.
I did something next that I probably shouldn't have done. I put the gas lever on PRI for 2-3 seconds, then put it back to ON, and I opened up the choke.
When I kicked it again, gas started coming out the left side of the bike and dripping down the side. Every time I kicked it after that, gas poured out. Then I closed the choke. Gas kept coming out. After 10 minutes of trying, I gave up. I never did get it started. Someone told me that it sounds like I flooded it.
I have only been used to electric starts, so I am probably doing something wrong. I just don't want to go somewhere, and then be stuck for 30 minutes (or longer) trying to start the bike up again.
So my question is: Is there a technique that people can recommend that guarantees that my bike will start after only a few kicks? I know it's not the bike as it runs great. But starting it is hard for me and I am sure it is because of something I am doing wrong.
Thanks.
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