87 XR600 How do I make this beast start!

[RShaips]

I have a 1987 XR600 that I have been messing with for a while and need some suggestions. When I first got it it would start,but then it had ignition problems(no spark) and I set about fixing it. I checked the stator, replaced the coil and CDI box and then I had spark. I also cleaned out the carbs several times and also put on a FMF pipe slip on that I got with the bike. Now heres the deal, it will not start by kicking, no matter what you do. I have to pull it to jump start it, even then it takes a while before it will fire. Once its started and runs a little it will start easily. It runs great, I plan on opening up the airbox and putting a UNI filter in also. My feeling is that it needs to be rejetted. I don't know whats in there now. Any recomondations? Otherwise I got to find something I can start! I have read every starting technique and procedure on this site. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[blacktdi]

I have a 1987 XR600 that I have been messing with for a while and need some suggestions. When I first got it it would start,but then it had ignition problems(no spark) and I set about fixing it. I checked the stator, replaced the coil and CDI box and then I had spark. I also cleaned out the carbs several times and also put on a FMF pipe slip on that I got with the bike. Now heres the deal, it will not start by kicking, no matter what you do. I have to pull it to jump start it, even then it takes a while before it will fire. Once its started and runs a little it will start easily. It runs great, I plan on opening up the airbox and putting a UNI filter in also. My feeling is that it needs to be rejetted. I don't know whats in there now. Any recomondations? Otherwise I got to find something I can start! I have read every starting technique and procedure on this site. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

It is very difficult to see from here what the problem is. It looks like it has something to do with your choke. It is probably not getting enough petrol. Take the carb off and check if the choke is working correctly and also clean it completely. If it is running okay dont start messing about with your jet settings. Is it a standard XR600 or one with a big bore kit?

I cleaned my carb and adjusted the valve clearences and know it starts with one kick, cold or warm. Only when it is very cold outside I need the choke and have to kick two times.

[RShaips]

Carbs are spotless, Coke works, I cleaned them several times when I was having troubles with it initially, then found out it was a weak spark. It is stock and it does smoke a little at startup. I don't believe it has ever been apart to adjust valves or anything else. thanks

[DGXR]

I've heard many people say that hard starting might be caused by tight valves, so check the valve clearance first. If that does not help, get it started and run it hard for about 1/2 hour, then look at the spark plug. The spark plug will tell you whether the jetting is on or off. Also the general "seat of the pants" feel of how the engine is running. Your 600 should have tons of power, idle evenly, rev freely and have good compression braking.

[Beyond The Pale]

Play around with the jetting, but if that doesn't help try replacing the stator. I had the saem kind of symptoms on my 93 600. One day while out for a ride I could not start it. I was on a hill and I was able to bump start it. My stator measured OK, but in the end it was the stator that was bad. I didn't replace mine, I rewound it. Starts great now.

[j5hunter]

MY 87 XR600 HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. i PUT A NEW COIL ON AND IT STARTED TO WORK BETTER. COUPLE MONTHS AGO I PUT ON A NEW STATOR FROM RICKY STATOR AND I HAD TO PUSH IT THE FIRST TIME BUT THEN IT STARTED FINE AFTER THAT. THE OTHER DAY I WALKED OUT AND IT FIRED ON THE FIRST KICK. IT NEEDS A REALLY GOOD SPARK TO FIRE THAT BIG PIG OF A PISTON. IF YOU HAVE TO LOOK CLOSELY TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A SPARK THEN I WOULD LOOK TO THE STATOR. WHEN THEY ARE WEAK THEY WILL STILL WORK BUT NOT START EASY. THE DARN THING IS TO HEAVY TO PUSH WHEN EVER I WANTED TO GO OUT. NOW MY 3rd GEAR IS SLIPPING. NOT SURE WHAT I AM GOING TO DO YET.

[RShaips]

I have a very nice spark, took the stator out and put in a different one and checked it and it was also good. Bike runs and idles great once its started. The only thing that makes me wonder is when I have my son pull me on my Kawasaki Brute 650 is sometimes the motor has turn over for a while before it will fire. We raced back on the road and my ATV is just as fast as my bike!

[Motosprtman]

Could be something as simple as the float height, with all else being correct as you have said. Sounds LEAN on cold start, probably stock jetting too, contact XR's only and see if they have some reccomendations or a jetting kit for you. If nothing else go up one on the main and get a bigger pilot jet also. Especially since you are running an aftermarket exhaust. Your plug should be a nice tan on the center electrode if all is correct in jetting, although your pilot / starting circuit could still be lean.

I am not sure but I would think this kit would work as teh carbs are very similair on the XL / XR of that era.

http://www.dynojet.com/pdf/1330.pdf

[RShaips]

Pop started it yesterday and rode it around for a while. Ran great, started easily several times after I killed it in the woods. Then about an hour or so later after I had shut it off my kid went and started it right up, fired on first kick then started on second kick. I am going to uncork it and then see what it does. Thanks for the help

[Border Patrol]

Pull the decomp lever and open the throttle all the way. Give it about ten kicks and then let go of the decomp and close the throttle and try to start it. Any difference? Could be a leaky float valve. What does the plug look like?