How long can I keep the choke on at full...?

[dirtridden]

Hi everyone! I am so happy i found this site. I am a newbie with a new CRF250X 06' (bouhgt 8 months ago new) that immediately after my 100 mile maitenance my bike does not want to stay on after I push in the choke (all the way in), forever to warm up. The manual says i can only keep it on for 15 second or riskengine damage. My friend says some guys keep it on for up to a minute no problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Total newbie to site and bike.

[Sundog]

If the bike is warm and won't run after you have the pushed the choke in (and it ran fine before) then you have a plugged pilot jet.

Once warmed up does it run fine with no choke?

[dirtridden]

Yes, pretty well except for the occasional bog at 1/4 thot and the fact that it takes forever to warm...

[dirtridden]

Does anyone have any input on how long I can keep the choke on? Also, i read a thread were it said that there is a half way point on the choke, is this true for crf250x 06' bikes. Sorry i am coming off so lame but this is all new to me. Any input will be approciated...trust me.

[Sundog]

Does anyone have any input on how long I can keep the choke on? Also, i read a thread were it said that there is a half way point on the choke, is this true for crf250x 06' bikes. Sorry i am coming off so lame but this is all new to me. Any input will be approciated...trust me.

I can't answer you question as I don't have a 250X. But be patient....this board get a lot of viewing and someone will be able to help you.

[x052]

I have an '06 also and have experienced this to be a very cold blooded bike and yes I too was adhering to the 15 second rule but that is not enough time when she's cold and when it's cold out. I start my bike with full choke, let it run for about a minute feeling totally guilty for 45 seconds of that minute. I then give a little test of the throttle slightly and if she hesitates I reach down to the choke and pull it to the halfway mark which is not a setting that it will stay at by itself, I have to manually hold it there which I will do for a few seconds, after that I release the choke and let the bike idle while I get geared up the rest of the way, by then she's warm and happy

[jtmach1]

I pretty much use the choke only to start it and when it starts I almost immediately turn it off and just let it idle until warm. I'm sure the techs at honda didn't pull the 15 second number out of their butt and put it in the manual. If the manual says 15 seconds then I wouldn't test it. Not to be a jerk, but I'm assuming your friend isn't a motorcycle tech so take what he says for what it's worth and follow the manual.

[dirtridden]

Thanks all very helpful info.

I will wait for replies...just so anxious to figure this out and yes my friend is no mechanic. Thanks for letting me know that there is no offical position for mid way for the choke. I thought something was wrong with my choke when it didn't sit mid way on its own.

[busted bones]

how long i keep the choke on is direct proportional to the temp for me. if its above 70 degrees out ill only have it on when i start it the shut it off, if its between 50-70 i have it for 15 seconds then let it idle until warm. anything lower than that i have the choke on for 30 seconds to a minute

[x052]

I agree too that the Honda tech's obviously know what they are talking about and would not arbitrarily put a time limit on the use of the choke. I see some of the replies are coming from warmer California climates where that might work consistently. Here in Washington state when you get ready to hit the trail at 8:00 am and it's 40 degrees out, the bike will stall after you push the choke in after 15 seconds so I feel the correct answer to this question is dependant on your climate conditions where you ride and the time of year.

[dirtridden]

I have to agree with it being dependent on the current temp as well since during the summer i had no issue with warm up and the choke but recently it's been but arse cold at gorman in the early AM. The other issue i was having sound to be a clogged fuel jet since the bike seem to rough idle and boggy when i do get the bike on and shut the coke off right before it turns off. I am going to clean that bugger ASAP.

Aside from opening the carb up to clean it out, is there some kind of fuel /carb cleaning I can put in the gas tank that will do the job over time instead?

[jtmach1]

I agree too that the Honda tech's obviously know what they are talking about and would not arbitrarily put a time limit on the use of the choke. I see some of the replies are coming from warmer California climates where that might work consistently. Here in Washington state when you get ready to hit the trail at 8:00 am and it's 40 degrees out, the bike will stall after you push the choke in after 15 seconds so I feel the correct answer to this question is dependant on your climate conditions where you ride and the time of year.

Very true...good post. I know my bike starts without the choke in the summer time, but now that it's a bit cooler I have to use the choke

[jd3020]

Yes, here in Kansas right now, I could shut the choke off after 30 to 45 seconds and the bike would die, it is cold out!!!

I just don't give it gas and let it idle on the choke and test it every few seconds off choke, as soon as it will idle off choke, albeit rough, I will leave it off choke and let it idle for 2 to 3 minutes before trying to use in this cold climate.

[x052]

Yes, here in Kansas right now, I could shut the choke off after 30 to 45 seconds and the bike would die, it is cold out!!!

I just don't give it gas and let it idle on the choke and test it every few seconds off choke, as soon as it will idle off choke, albeit rough, I will leave it off choke and let it idle for 2 to 3 minutes before trying to use in this cold climate.

Excellent point made on the rough idle, it has been my experience too that when the bike gets to the point that it will rough idle I know then that the bike won't die so I can leave it to warm up while I finish gearing up.

[hodaphile]

Are you talking about idling with the choke on or riding with choke - big difference. I start it on the choke and let it idle until it bogs/stutters. Usually 1-2 minutes. Your choke richens the mixture so the risk is fouling plug if you run too long.

I think the 15 second prohibition is to keep you from riding the bike with the choke while it is still cold - the choke will act as a crutch allowing you to race the motor while it is still cold and promote a cold seizure. Without the choke on you can't give it gas until it fully warms up and reduces the risk of pushing hard until you reach operating temp. That's why I never ride on the choke.

[moose offroad]

You really need to clean and adjust the carb even when brand new.

Some bikes sit on the show room floor for long periods of time with gas in the carb, and that will cause clogging and trouble with idleing.

These bikes are lean when stock already.

Spend a couple of hours and do the CCC mods.,Buy a JD Jet kit, install it.

Trust me, the differance is night and day in power and smoothness.

[condor74]

I pull my choke when I start mine cold let it idle for about 15 or 20 seconds and then jump on and take off. I usually reach down and shut it off once I am moving. I think the engineers are just being conservative cause the only problems I have every seen with all my friends that ride is one guy let his warm up with the choke for about 5 minutes (he got sidetracked doing somthing else). At that point the bike started overheating......all this is just my opinion...and you know what are opinions are like.