GearJammer

The chopped Trumpet doesn't have a battery. Am running a battery eliminator (Mity Max) that has an internal capacitor for at least some electrical storage.

During these colder months, have ridden less & alternated between the chopper & the Rebel, choosing the Rebel a bit more for convenience & to keep some miles off the Trumpet.

The last 3 fire-ups of the Trumpet:
Chop had been sitting idle for about 3 weeks, stored inside an unheated shop. It took about 100 kicks to finally get her started. Initially, I'd attributed it to not having changed the straight 50W to 20W50 (and that does play into this to some degree)

Next fire-up, another 3 week interval, same thing...kick, kick, kick & then FINALLY fire-up.

Third fire-up, 2 day lay-off since last ride, started getting spark on the 2nd kick!

Here's my theory: The internal capacitor only stores x amount of juice (sorry, but I don't know the actual rating & the Mity Max is a closed unit) The colder temps gradually drain whatever juice is in there & if left idle for too long, it nearly depletes the capacitor charge. These 100 kicks before fire-up on the 1st two examples: I'm thinking that the non-spark kicks are adding juice to the internal cap, amp by amp, (generating a low-amp charge from the alternator with every kick, which manually turns the crank & in turn the alternator), until the cap is near full charge again & then it starts to allow actual spark for fire-up. This is based on the 2 day lay-off that gave me spark quickly/normally since it hadn't been allowed to drain off for a longer period of time.

Does this sound likely ?

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"Ridin' Ain't A Hobby, It's A Lifestyle"

1986 450 Rebel

Big_J

Sound good if nothing else. I know that the cap will drain like a battery over time. And the rest sounds like a good theory also. But my VLX is so cold natured, if I left it sit for 3 weeks it takes forever to get it running, I think just being stubborn and cold natured has something to do with it also. But the definite power loss through the cap isnt making things easier.

Later

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GearJammer

Thanx, CTC...

Part of my New Year's resolution is to get back in the groove with bike maintainence & projects. (Got lazy thru the holidays starting with Thanksgiving ) Will see if the cap continues to hold it's charge with more frequent running of the chop.

What you mentioned about Japanese bikes in general being cold-blooded is something relatively new to me & had learned it after scoring the 250 Rebel (1st Jap bike ever owned here)

The old Triumphs are traditionally more warm-blooded & can be set to fire on the 1st kick, tho' that type of tune requires a too rich condition, so I prefer the normal 3 kicker start-up over the "it's a 1st kicker" conversation, LOL! Used to run it as a "1st kicker", but upon tear-down, paid the price cleaning up excess carbon build-up due to the rich condition. After the rebuild, set it back to where it should be & am glad I did.

I'd guess the cap would not only loose it's charge like a battery would in colder weather, but the cap probably isn't rated anywhere's near what a regular battery would be as far as "cranking amps", etc. so will just keep an eye on it.

Thanx again...

__________________
"Ridin' Ain't A Hobby, It's A Lifestyle"

1986 450 Rebel

Big_J

the cap will is more for a quick shot of power, and the amperage is not as significant as a battery. Might be worth looking at a replacement if there is a fair amount of age there. But sometimes the old kickers just want to make sure they do their part for generalfitness among the biker community.

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GearJammer

ROTFLMAO!!! Can't say as I'm that motivated for aerobics workouts, Brother...ROTFLMAO!!!! Kicking leg (the bad leg, no less) would be twice the size as the left & would require some special tailoring..hehehe.....

__________________
"Ridin' Ain't A Hobby, It's A Lifestyle"

1986 450 Rebel

GearJammer

Hmmm....I'm not so sure my theory on the cap is correct. Still want to bounce it off my landlord when I get a chance. Having given it more thought & after still experiencing some very stubborn starting requiring w-a-y too many kicks, this may be carbueration, rings, valve adjustments or some electrical gremlin. Time will tell & keeping my fingers crossed. (Once she's running & warmed up, things are much better, but something's definitely not quite right)

__________________
"Ridin' Ain't A Hobby, It's A Lifestyle"

1986 450 Rebel