Airheads Beemer Club Forum - Recent Posts https://www.airheads.org/community/ Airheads Beemer Club Discussion Board en-US Fri, 15 May 2026 08:21:20 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: Hard Starting https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17144 Tue, 12 May 2026 11:28:17 +0000 On a properly prepared bike, pointing the choke lever down should get an immediate response from the starter button and the engine should start running at an elevated RPM immediately. Rarely ever should you need a second try.

]]> Richard W https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17144 RE: Hard Starting https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17143 Mon, 11 May 2026 15:01:23 +0000 Thanks for your replies.  I am much closer to having this figured out.  Before the rebuild I have always "helped" the choke by giving her a little throttle.  I saw on a YouTube video that you should not do this because you screw up the choke by opening the butterfly in the carb.  I gave it a try and she did start MUCH better.  I still have to finesse her a little to keep her running until she is warm.

Thanks for your quick replies.

]]> Curtis Nugent https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17143 RE: Hard Starting https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17142 Mon, 11 May 2026 01:32:36 +0000 I will also ask... during the carb rebuilds... were both carbs disassembled at the same time ? 

If so, the enrichener plates (the discs under the cap with 4 tiny screws) can be installed in the wrong carb. (Right plate installed in LH carb.) When that is done, the "chokes" cease to supply enough fuel for a cold start. 

 

Hope this helps.

]]> Richard W https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17142 RE: Hard Starting https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17141 Sun, 10 May 2026 22:41:09 +0000 @8053 Totally understand.  My wife also suffers from Parkinson's.

 

I may have figured this out.  I'm going to let her sit overnight and try to start her tomorrow morning.  I'll let you know how it goes.

]]> Curtis Nugent https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17141 RE: Hard Starting https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17140 Sun, 10 May 2026 21:56:21 +0000 Curtis, my correct phone number is 309 251 0877. I have Parkinson's disease and my typing was never very good anyway. 

]]> James Strickland https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17140 RE: Hard Starting https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17139 Sun, 10 May 2026 20:19:45 +0000 @8053 Thanks for the reply.  Yes, I was holding the choke wide open and the choke levers on the inside of the carbs are moving.  Let me check under the tank and I'll get back to you.

 

Again, thanks!!!

]]> Curtis Nugent https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17139 RE: Hard Starting https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17138 Sun, 10 May 2026 19:29:30 +0000 Ok, I saw the video.  Definitely insufficient cold start enrichment. Were you holding the cold start "choke" lever all the way open,? and do the enricher levers on the inboard sides of the carbs open up all the way as well? The reason I ask is that there is a 1 in to 2 Bowden cable splitter under the fuel tank on the left side that can be troublesome. It is fixed to the frame in a little bracket and if it looses that relationship to a fixed point, it defeats the enricher function.  text me at 309 251 9877 and we can arrange a phone conversation.

]]> James Strickland https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17138 RE: Hard Starting https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17137 Sun, 10 May 2026 16:56:23 +0000 The video doesn't play on my browser. If it were my project, I would pull the intake tubes and mist the carb throats with starting fluid to see what happens. If the motor lights right up, the enricher circuit (cold start function) is not functioning properly. There is a lot going on with the cold start enricher circuit. Next, I would look at the jet in the float bowl that feeds the enricher take-up tube. This jet can be obstructed with crud from the bottom of the float bowl and is easily overlooked. Next, make sure the enricher lever on the left hand set is pulling open the enricher levers on the inboard side of both carbs. Beyond that. I would wonder of the variable jet disk in the enricher is correctly assembled.

]]> James Strickland https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17137 Hard Starting https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17136 Sun, 10 May 2026 14:38:34 +0000 I am haveing a hell of time getting my 1985 R80RT started after having the carbs rebuilt and engine desmogged. Hopebully this video works and you can hear what is going on.  I have checked the valves and float bowls for debris.  I'm at a loss as to why it will eventually start, but starts so rough and hard.  Right now I really don't trust it for a longer ride.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RDN-RUHCeS_ln62M0uRFGCMtyQacfvjN/view?usp=sharing

]]> Curtis Nugent https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/hard-starting/#post-17136 RE: Centrifugal governor removal https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/centrifugal-governor-removal/#post-17135 Fri, 08 May 2026 18:04:53 +0000 This is the optical trigger unit (little green card + trigger wheel) on the front of the alternator (Enduralast system from EME).

]]> David Elkow https://www.airheads.org/community/my-airhead-needs-help/centrifugal-governor-removal/#post-17135