Absolute noob question..

[Haylo]

The Choke. Do I always leave it "ON" while riding? I'm pretty sure I drove 10 miles home with the choke "OFF" thinking the bike was buggered.. Then I realized it was off, turned it on (I think it was on..) and the bike worked fine, now I'm just confused.. or have I got my ON/OFF around the wrong way and was riding with the choke on making the bike flood?

I think it goes like this: Leave it on, if the bike doesn't start or it's really cold, turn it off, soon as bike starts keep revs up and switch to "Detent/Half", then switch to "On" and ride?

Or do I switch it "ON", then switch it off once riding or warmed up..

I realize you're going to think I'm an absolute moron, but I've never ridden or driven anything with a choke before, and my understanding of a choke was that it gave the engine more fuel, making it easier to start?

Edit: I'm reading a CG125 manual, similar to my bike, it says to start on a cold day, choke "Off", start the bike, then immediately after the bikes srated, "detent/half", wait 30 seconds to warm up, then "on". Then I just ride with the choke fully open until I stop?

[druidsam]

i think you may have your on/off mixed up..you should never ride with the choke on,its only there to start the bike.. what i do is this,,
1-ignition on
2- choke on full
3-start the bike and let the revs build
4- choke goes to half way position, then i put on my lid and gloves
5- ride away untill i get to the main road(its about 150 yard away)
6- choke off completely
7- and full steam ahead


.............................Sam

[Haylo]

When the manual says "open", that means on, right? If it does, then either the bike really is nackered and I need to drive with the choke on all the time, or the choke settings for a CG125 and a CTM125 are round the opposite way and I've been riding with the choke off without realising like I was supposed too..

[druidsam]

Originally Posted by Haylo

When the manual says "open", that means on, right? , or the choke settings for a CG125 and a CTM125 are round the opposite way and I've been riding with the choke off without realising like I was supposed too..

is the correct answer .. when the engine is at normal working temperature,having the choke on will cause the engine to flood and it wont run properly , i think you have been doing things correctly and have somehow got a bit confused



............................Sam

[Haylo]

I'm presuming I rode home with the Choke on then, would explain the jolting and popping and not being able to get over 35, too much fuel, not enough air. Cheers Sam.

What I can't understand is why this bloody manual says to start the bike on fully closed, switch to Detent once the bike has started, then after the bike has warmed switch to fully open.. surely that's suggesting that I should be riding the bike with the choke fully open.. Or maybe that's the warmup pattern they suggest so you don't flood the engine while it's cold..

Eh.. Yeah, I think I've got it now mate. I'll hop on tomorrow and play with it, get a tipex and mark whats what. :$

[druidsam]

Originally Posted by Haylo

What I can't understand is why this bloody manual says to start the bike on fully closed, switch to Detent once the bike has started, then after the bike has warmed switch to fully open.. surely that's suggesting that I should be riding the bike with the choke fully open..

i dont understand that either unless its referring to the butterfly flap in the carb, when the choke is ON the flap will be closed this restricts the amount of air allowed into the engine for cold starting

when the choke is OFF the flap will be open allowing the correct amount of air for the engine to run normally

i hope im explaining this clearly



........................Sam

[Haylo]

Yes mate you are. I'll play around with it tomorrow and mark the setting that doesn't make the bike jerk and flood, and runs smoothly at high revs when warm, that way I know it's the right one because if it wasn't it wouldn't be able to burn all that fuel with the lack of air.

[Maxingwell]

I did a similar thing when I first got my bike
The choke was the opposite way round to the bike I did my DAS course on. I rode it home with the choke half on and couldn't understand why it was stalling at junctions!
I quickly learned I was wrong thanks to the guys on here.

[Haylo]

Originally Posted by druidsam

i dont understand that either unless its referring to the butterfly flap in the carb, when the choke is ON the flap will be closed this restricts the amount of air allowed into the engine for cold starting

when the choke is OFF the flap will be open allowing the correct amount of air for the engine to run normally

i hope im explaining this clearly



........................Sam

You were right mate. Asked my dad about it, he explained it and it's exactly what you said. The book does want you to ride with the choke open (off) to allow more air into the carb, and to start it when it's cold etc you start with the the choke closed (on) as to restrict the air to make the air-fuel ratio richer.

Thanks allot for the help mate.

[SimonH]

Originally Posted by Haylo

You were right mate. Asked my dad about it, he explained it and it's exactly what you said. The book does want you to ride with the choke open (off) to allow more air into the carb, and to start it when it's cold etc you start with the the choke closed (on) as to restrict the air to make the air-fuel ratio richer.

Thanks allot for the help mate.

Hmm, I've been playing with engines since I was 16, about a zillion years ago and I've never heard the choke described like that, it used to be either out (on), or in (off), or somewhere inbetween. Out was full choke to get a cold engine started, and as soon as it was running smoothly, push the choke in (off). Am I getting old ?

Si