Electric start bad for engine?

[flyandride]

I was riding today with someone who had a '13 WR450F.  He said that his mechanic told him to only use the electric start when absolutely necessary. That it's bad for the engine.  And that the engine "gets a memory", so that it will only start with the button.  Also to never use the button until the bike is broken in.  

I've never heard this and think his mechanic is full of shit.  

He also said  that kick starting spins the engine faster, this one I could believe.  

I do all my own work and have an '09 that lights right up with the button so I use it.  

I told him I would ask on TT and tell him what I hear.  What's your take on this? 

[JVP]

The E-Button is a great thing. That being said, I think your mechanic is crazy to a point. I never start the bike with the e-start when it is cold. I use the kick start. When the bike is cold (First ride of the day) it does put some stress on the electric motor and the engine due the oil being at the bottom of the case. The bike should start within three kicks. If not you have other issues, such as the valves are tight or carb is out of adjustment. After that I use the magic button the rest of the day. The bike is designed to use the button.

[KennyMc]

The E-Button is a great thing. That being said, I think your mechanic is crazy to a point. I never start the bike with the e-start when it is cold. I use the kick start. When the bike is cold (First ride of the day) it does put some stress on the electric motor and the engine due the oil being at the bottom of the case. The bike should start within three kicks. If not you have other issues, such as the valves are tight or carb is out of adjustment. After that I use the magic button the rest of the day. The bike is designed to use the button.

I agree with not using the e-start when the bike is cold, but isn't that just to not put the strain on the electrical system (the battery and the starter).  This would mainly be due to it taking longer to start when cold due to the gas not vaporizing as quickly.  Can't see how it would do any damage to the internals of the motor though.  But, it's been awhile since I've stayed in a Holiday Inn Express ?

[707ktm]

Guess I should put a kicker on my Chevy.

[still2smokin]

 

  And that the engine "gets a memory", so that it will only start with the button. 

 

 

http://youtu.be/5hfYJsQAhl0

[KennyMc]

Guess I should put a kicker on my Chevy.

Now you're just being silly............right??

[GuyGraham]

He's full of shit, on all points, except regarding kicking turning the engine over faster

 

My 08 has over 350 hour (>7000miles) on it and I have never kicked it, only used the button since new

 

The only point of note, is don't strain the electric starter by cranking it non stop if it doesn't fire up, and if the engine has stalled just past the auto decomp closing and the electric motor won't turn the engine over, just rock it backwards to move the piston back down the bore and allow the auto decomp to work, don't keep trying to do it on the button coz it aint gonna work no matter how many times you press it

Edited March 30, 2014 by GuyGraham

[FORMA MOTO]

 

I was riding today with someone who had a '13 WR450F.  He said that his mechanic told him to only use the electric start when absolutely necessary. That it's bad for the engine.  And that the engine "gets a memory", so that it will only start with the button.  Also to never use the button until the bike is broken in.  

I've never heard this and think his mechanic is full of shit.  

He also said  that kick starting spins the engine faster, this one I could believe.  

I do all my own work and have an '09 that lights right up with the button so I use it.  

I told him I would ask on TT and tell him what I hear.  What's your take on this? 

 

 

I'ts bullshvt

That person is not a mechanic, he just works at a shop. 

There is a difference.

..and kicking actually spins it faster, but that's not really important

[flyandride]

I forgot to mention, the owner of the bike said the frame was titanium!  I know that's BS.  It's aluminum. 

[FORMA MOTO]

I forgot to mention, the owner of the bike said the frame was titanium!  I know that's BS.  It's aluminum. 

 

You need to kick this 'owner' in the balls real hard. He's obviously in need of an Ego adjustment.

[KennyMc]

You need to kick this 'owner' in the balls real hard. He's obviously in need of an Ego adjustment.

No, he needs to hook up the electric start to the owners balls and crank it for about 10 minutes.........hot or cold

[L. Euler]

Electric motor start is a very mature science.  It does no harm to the engine or starter motor if used when cold.  My 03 started first compression cold or hot with the estart.  I almost never used the kick starter.

[grayracer513]

I forgot to mention, the owner of the bike said the frame was titanium!  I know that's BS.  It's aluminum. 

 

It's the new aluminum titanium.

 

I had a frame made of unobtanium once, but the engine remembered that I used the electric starter and started secret dealings with the forks, and, well, things got real ugly.

 

And that's as credible as the guy "who had a '13 WR450F", don't you think?

[vlxjim]

I herd that riding the WR450F was bad for the engine.  Also real damage can happen to the engine if the engine is allowed to run. It has been mentioned that if you don't allow the engine to run that no damage can occur. So it make sense that the starter is bad for the engine.

 

Wisdom to live by.