Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway.

bergstrom25 · 04-10-2013, 11:34 AM

Just put on a new petcock and fuel hose, cleaned carb, and new spark plug.

When I start the bike cold I switch it to prime, do I need the choke on full when it's cold? When I let it warm it, I pull it the choke back to about half and the bike makes this sort of sputter sound. Once its warmed up I let off the choke and after a while it runs fine, just wondering why it sputters. Kind of sounds like it's not getting enough fuel. This is my first bike, a 2006, so I'm very new to all this. Any help would be much appreciated!

Fawlty · 04-10-2013, 11:45 AM

Hi and welcome. You have come to the right place. I haven't been here long, but I do know that there is nothing these guys don't know about these bikes.

You should switch the petcock to ON and keep it there. When cold, fully open the choke, leaving the throttle closed. Wait half a minute, close the choke and you should be good to go.

If you haven't got them already you can download the owners manual and the workshop manual from this forum.

Good luck.

Water Warrior 2 · 04-10-2013, 03:36 PM

Here's what Lynda did to start her GZ when cold.

Full choke, no throttle. As the engine warmed up a little the revs would pick up. She backed off the choke slowly to reduce the revs as it warmed more. Once the choke was fully off the bike was usually good to go.
While waiting for the engine to warm a bit you have a nice little period of time to check all your lights for proper function, put on your helmet and gloves
Usually the first start of the day was the only time the choke was needed.

mrlmd1 · 04-10-2013, 06:47 PM

Once the bike starts, just give it 30-60 sec to run as you put on your gloves and helmet and zip up your jacket, slowly turning down the choke as the revs increase. Then ride off at a moderate speed. Within a half mile-1mile you should be able to turn off the choke completely. Do not sit in the driveway waiting a few min for the bike to warm up - ride it, that's much better.

**jonathan180iq** · 04-11-2013, 10:21 AM

:plus1: To all above

bergstrom25 · 04-11-2013, 04:24 PM

Thank you so much for the help. I think i've pinpointed the problem. I don't think the battery is getting enough voltage to the engine. Last night my green neutral light wouldn't turn on when switched in neutral. When I started the bike this morning, it started with a slow chug-chug-chug, got slower, and finally all I could hear was the engine turning. I'm gonna test the battery in a bit, could it be any other electrical problems? Bike's got 13,000 miles on it, so I'm hoping it could be just time for a new battery. I'll keep ya posted.
You all are awesome by the way!

**jonathan180iq** · 04-11-2013, 04:34 PM

Do you have a voltmeter? Check it and see what you get. If you don't have a battery tender, get one. They're pretty cheap.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic- ... 42292.html

bergstrom25 · 04-11-2013, 04:40 PM

No, but my neighbor, who is also by mechanic does. What does the battery tender do? I'm very new to bikes, and I'm very keen on learning.

**jonathan180iq** · 04-11-2013, 05:45 PM

A battery tender just keeps the battery charge topped up when the vehicle isn't in use very often.

If he has a volt meter, just touch it to each terminal on the battery and see what reading you get. Should be anywhere from 12.3+ You can also jump start these things from a NON RUNNING car. Just hook up your jumper cables like you would when boosting a car but don't crank the car. It will supply your bike without enough UMPH to get her going, if indeed the battery is the problem.

mrlmd1 · 04-11-2013, 06:53 PM

A fully charged battery will read 12.6-12.8V at rest. It sounds like you have a dead or discharged battery that needs to be charged. If you get the bike started by jumping it from a non-running car or other good 12 V source (battery) do not let it sit idling in the driveway - you will not charge it that way. The bike has a real puny charging system and needs to be run at at least 2500-3500 rpm to get any significant "juice" out of it. Take it out for a half hour or more ride to charge it, or leave it on a max 2 amp charger for 6 hours or so, or on a battery tender, and then try it again.

04-10-2013, 11:34 AM	#1
bergstrom25 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Corpus Christi,TX Posts: 12	Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. Just put on a new petcock and fuel hose, cleaned carb, and new spark plug. When I start the bike cold I switch it to prime, do I need the choke on full when it's cold? When I let it warm it, I pull it the choke back to about half and the bike makes this sort of sputter sound. Once its warmed up I let off the choke and after a while it runs fine, just wondering why it sputters. Kind of sounds like it's not getting enough fuel. This is my first bike, a 2006, so I'm very new to all this. Any help would be much appreciated! __________________ Clock Champions: We work on the OTHER side of time. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-10-2013, 11:45 AM	#2
Fawlty Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Murcia, Spain Posts: 683	Re: Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. Hi and welcome. You have come to the right place. I haven't been here long, but I do know that there is nothing these guys don't know about these bikes. You should switch the petcock to ON and keep it there. When cold, fully open the choke, leaving the throttle closed. Wait half a minute, close the choke and you should be good to go. If you haven't got them already you can download the owners manual and the workshop manual from this forum. Good luck. __________________ "It begins here for me on this road. How the whole mess happened I don't know, but I know it couldn't happen again in a million years." (Johnny Strabbler-The Wild One 1953)
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04-10-2013, 03:36 PM	#3
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. Here's what Lynda did to start her GZ when cold. Full choke, no throttle. As the engine warmed up a little the revs would pick up. She backed off the choke slowly to reduce the revs as it warmed more. Once the choke was fully off the bike was usually good to go. While waiting for the engine to warm a bit you have a nice little period of time to check all your lights for proper function, put on your helmet and gloves Usually the first start of the day was the only time the choke was needed. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

04-10-2013, 06:47 PM	#4
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. Once the bike starts, just give it 30-60 sec to run as you put on your gloves and helmet and zip up your jacket, slowly turning down the choke as the revs increase. Then ride off at a moderate speed. Within a half mile-1mile you should be able to turn off the choke completely. Do not sit in the driveway waiting a few min for the bike to warm up - ride it, that's much better.
	0

04-11-2013, 10:21 AM	#5
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. :plus1: To all above Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

04-11-2013, 04:24 PM	#6
bergstrom25 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Corpus Christi,TX Posts: 12	Re: Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. Thank you so much for the help. I think i've pinpointed the problem. I don't think the battery is getting enough voltage to the engine. Last night my green neutral light wouldn't turn on when switched in neutral. When I started the bike this morning, it started with a slow chug-chug-chug, got slower, and finally all I could hear was the engine turning. I'm gonna test the battery in a bit, could it be any other electrical problems? Bike's got 13,000 miles on it, so I'm hoping it could be just time for a new battery. I'll keep ya posted. You all are awesome by the way! __________________ Clock Champions: We work on the OTHER side of time.
	0

04-11-2013, 04:34 PM	#7
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. Do you have a voltmeter? Check it and see what you get. If you don't have a battery tender, get one. They're pretty cheap. http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic- ... 42292.html
	0

04-11-2013, 04:40 PM	#8
bergstrom25 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Corpus Christi,TX Posts: 12	Re: Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. No, but my neighbor, who is also by mechanic does. What does the battery tender do? I'm very new to bikes, and I'm very keen on learning. __________________ Clock Champions: We work on the OTHER side of time.
	0

04-11-2013, 05:45 PM	#9
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. A battery tender just keeps the battery charge topped up when the vehicle isn't in use very often. If he has a volt meter, just touch it to each terminal on the battery and see what reading you get. Should be anywhere from 12.3+ You can also jump start these things from a NON RUNNING car. Just hook up your jumper cables like you would when boosting a car but don't crank the car. It will supply your bike without enough UMPH to get her going, if indeed the battery is the problem.
	0

04-11-2013, 06:53 PM	#10
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Bike making a sputtering sound with choke on halfway. A fully charged battery will read 12.6-12.8V at rest. It sounds like you have a dead or discharged battery that needs to be charged. If you get the bike started by jumping it from a non-running car or other good 12 V source (battery) do not let it sit idling in the driveway - you will not charge it that way. The bike has a real puny charging system and needs to be run at at least 2500-3500 rpm to get any significant "juice" out of it. Take it out for a half hour or more ride to charge it, or leave it on a max 2 amp charger for 6 hours or so, or on a battery tender, and then try it again.
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