Hard to start cold- 2009 CRF450R

[rpitman]

Most of the time my 2009 CRF450R takes 10-20 kicks to start when cold. I ride with several other 09 450 riders and most of them are hard to start cold but start fine when hot. I ride in San Antonio and it's about 90+ degrees and high humidity when we ride. I've had this bike about 1 year and it has gone through spells of hard to start,easy to start with no apparent method to the madness. I've checked valves, new plug, has about 25 hrs ??? What else?

[The Captain]

Whats your method?

Tried and true from cold is 4 smooth primer kicks, pull fast idle, 1-2 kicks from tdc.

[rpitman]

Thanks- I will try your method. I don't think I have one, at some point I just start kicking and praying

[The Captain]

lol, yeah, that doesn't seem to work with the FI.

[Mx_dudenick92]

i have a hard problem starting mine cold too. I leave the fast idle knob off for the first 2 or 3 kicks, and after that i pull it out and ive had good luck with that also.

[GUTCH]

Turn your idle up to 1850rpm (when at operating temp) like the Captain said, long full kicks is key.

[kholcombe392]

I have the same problem. If you keep kick will it flood the bike?

[mrfoster]

The Captain's approach is the proven method. Works every time.

[H Bomb]

also i agree if you don't kick it from all the way from the top to all the way through then it won't. as long as you do the 3-4 light primers and then 1 hard one from tdc all the way through the stroke you should be fine

[H Bomb]

also if you just cleaned your air filter and put fresh oil on it and put it in the bike right away and try to start it, then it will give problems starting bc the bike has a sensor there that detects either the fresh oil or water etc and won't start. so i let mine sit overnight then put them in. did that once and it wouldn't start up

[ebeck]

the bike has a sensor there that detects either the fresh oil or water etc

What? Does the kill switch light light up like a car idiot light or something? I never read anything about that in the manual. I drained the oil, put fresh oil in and went riding. Where are those sensors?

[The Captain]

What? Does the kill switch light light up like a car idiot light or something? I never read anything about that in the manual. I drained the oil, put fresh oil in and went riding. Where are those sensors?

The sensor in the air box just to the left and below the filter is the Air Intake Temp. Sensor.

[ebeck]

the sensor in the air box just to the left and below the filter is the Air Intake Temp. Sensor.

Ohhh, oil on the filter.... I thought he meant oil and water IN the bike. Like a crank case oil sensor. I was like what, no freaking way, ha ha

[MMH]

Whats your method?

Tried and true from cold is 4 smooth primer kicks, pull fast idle, 1-2 kicksfrom tdc.

Fast Idle - is this the choke knob?

[Shawn_Mc]

Fast Idle - is this the choke knob?

Yes, as FI doesn't have a "Choke" but neither did the old FCR's either.

The FCR's had an ericher circuit that just opened a passage from the bowl to the throat of the carb that was exposed when you pulled the knob up.

[CRFPOOR]

I had the same problem untill I got Eddies map!

[biasion]

hi, i have same problem, my 09 crf 450R start on only connecting the car battery to the system from the red diagnostic port under the unit, if I turn off and kicks without the battery my bike don't start, next turn off I check the capacitor condenser, it less than 1 volt, I tried to charge the capacitor directly to the battery and connect without battery but not start anyway, I'm forced to connect the battery to the circuit to get it started

what's the problem ???? i think be the stator give little current to the starter ????

[Shawn_Mc]

hi, i have same problem, my 09 crf 450R start on only connecting the car battery to the system from the red diagnostic port under the unit, if I turn off and kicks without the battery my bike don't start, next turn off I check the capacitor condenser, it less than 1 volt, I tried to charge the capacitor directly to the battery and connect without battery but not start anyway, I'm forced to connect the battery to the circuit to get it started

what's the problem ???? i think be the stator give little current to the starter ????

The capacitor is dead. Its supposed to charge up when you kick it to run the fuel pump. Thats why if you jump yours with the truck battery it runs. Youre firing up the fuel pump so its got fuel. If the charging system didnt work, it would die when you pulled the battery off.

[biasion]

ok so you think the condesor is the problem? if i so many kicks and next check the capacity is less of 1 volts....... are there other condensor not oem for try?

[gotwings]

1. Send ECU to Eddie Sisneros (contact info at top of forum thread list).

2. To start the bike,you have to start from TDC (top dead center). You can't just kick blindly from anywhere in the motor's rotation. To find TDC, rest your foot on the kicker and give a LITTLE pressure. As the motor turns over slowly, you will eventually find a harder spot in the rotation. Keep pushing a little harder to just get past this hard spot. You will feel like the kicker went over a hump and setted against another hard spot. STOP. Return the kicker to the top and give it a man's kick like you know it's gonna start and it will. Works every time(or every other time).