Common symptoms of a bad bystarter?

[skelter79]

I have an 87 Spree that takes like 30 kicks to start when cold. When warm it starts with 1 maybe 2 kicks. Otherwise the thing runs great. Does this sound like a bystarter problem? Just wanted to get some input before I bought a new bystarter! Thanks!

[Bear45-70]

If after it starts it runs crappy and you have to keep it reved up with the throttle, then yeah, it sure sounds like it.

[Clivester]

Depends on what form of "bad". There are usually 2 situations.

Stuck in extended position - bike will be hard to start until warm as described above.

Unable to extend - (the wax has leaked, the element shorted/discontinuous, or wiring issue) the bike starts easily but runs like crap when warm due to too rich condition.

Check the bystarter off the carb, measure the needle tip distance from the plastic case, apply 12V (polarity not too important), after 5 minutes re-measure. It should extend several mm. Can also check resistance across the wire and compare with spec in service manual.

[grm]

I am having a similar problem, do they make a manual choke that fits or a different carb that will work?

[Bear45-70]

Yes.

https://www.1977mopeds.com/product/1535 ... Choke-Kit/

The problem is you have to run without plastics, cut a hole in them or rig up some sort of linkage.

[Fishman43]

Good link Bear, I would run one of those if I hadn't spent so much time getting a functional bystarter.

[tazland001]

d*** bear that manual choke looked kewl. You guys always find the coolest little gadgets.

Taz

[Bear45-70]

d*** bear that manual choke looked kewl. You guys always find the coolest little gadgets.

Taz

I actually didn't find it, I just saved it when some one else originally posted it on here. I figured if my bystarter ever when crapo, I'd just do the manual thing like I did on my F250 with it's 460.