Hitchcocks Forum

Hi there,sun out so got the Electra out.

Took ages to start on button,just churned and churned until finally started
Once going started easily all day.
What should I be checking to sort this problem.
Cheers
Jenks

Probably just needs a more regular application of winter dirt on the tyres,,,,,,,,,,,

Too late for this year though, supplies ran out on 20th March

Could quite possibly be stale fuel in the carb. It is worth draining the carb if you're not using the bike for a bit. The petrol evaporates leaving gum behind.

Charge the battery, even though (or maybe because!) it churned a lot. Put a NEW sparkplug in.

I'm saying that because (i) it has worked for me, (ii) it's dead easy to put a new plug in anyway, (iii) it can't do any harm. Worth trying with new petrol, though a lot of people seem to say most fuel problems are electrical???!?

Atb Chris

Mine is exactly the same. Fine if it is used every few days but after a couple of weeks it can be a pig to fire. I don't think it's battery related as it is the same if it has just come off charge so I would imagine it is fuel related either being stale or evaporating. Having said that when it does fire it is always just as you release the starter button when max power is restored so short bursts are better than prolonged turning over. I just live with it the knowledge that it will eventually go.

Yeah, sorry if I sounded flippant, I meant it as a sensible(ish) comment. I use a fuel stabiliser in my mower over the winter, seems to help.

Mine was a bit reluctant to start yesterday. I put it down to 5 months old fuel. What I normally do is , when I am returning home I turn off the fuel and partially drain the carb so at least when I go to start it again it gets slightly fresher fuel. So long as its used fairly regularly it tends to start 2nd or 3rd kick. I never use the electric foot from stone cold

Meant to say when I park it up for the winter, I take it for a long run then run the carb completely dry. I have done this with all the bikesI have owned and have never had a gummed up carb