The Starting Drill

 Cold engine starting

1. Make sure the bike has fuel, turn on fuel petcock.

2. Pull out choke knob (black knob on left side of the carburetor).

3. Dubach says “Prime the engine by giving the throttle two full turns (only if the bike has not been started in a day or two).” I personally never touch the throttle when starting, hot or cold.

4. Apply firm pressure to the kick-starter with your foot until you hit distinct resistance (this is the compression stroke).

5. While keeping pressure on the kick-starter, pull in the compression release lever and push the kick-starter past the compression stroke. The kick-starter needs to only move about 1 to 2 inches past the hard spot. That is all!

6. Release the compression release lever and return the kick-starter to the top.

7. Now, kick to start. Do not touch the throttle, as the engine will start and idle on it's own. If the bike does not start, repeat steps 4 through 7 only until the engine starts.

 Hot engine starting

1. Pull out the hot start knob (red knob on the left side of the carburetor).

2. Follow cold starting steps 4 through 7 until engine starts.

3. You may have to apply some throttle after the engine starts until you get the hot start knob pushed back in because the carburetor is sending a lean mixture while the hot start knob is out.

The only difference between hot and cold starting is which knob you use, choke or hot start. There is no need to deviate from these simple steps. DO NOT touch the throttle during hot or cold starting. Also, there is no reason to prime the engine again on the same day of riding.

Other helpful tips

	Become comfortable with steps 4 through 7. The faster you can get through these steps the quicker you will get going.
	You need to learn to to give the engine what it wants! Understand that the choke will give the engine a rich mixture and the hot start will give the engine a lean mixture. If you have kicked the engine several times during a cold starting procedure and it still won't start, maybe it has too much fuel. Don't be afraid to push the choke back in and use the hot start, even though the engine is cold, this will give the engine a lean mixture and that might be just what it wants.
	Make sure you don't go more than an inch or two past the hard spot when setting up your kick, and return the kick tarter all the way to the top.

 Starting a stalled / Flooded Engine

(From TT member Z4Me)

You have to clear the excess fuel out of the carburetor throat and combustion chamber.

1. Pull the compression release and hold it

2. Twist the throttle and hold it (do not twist more than once)

3. Kick through at a good pace 10-15 times (good pace means don't tire yourself out).

4. Close the throttle

5. Let go of the compression release

6. Pull hot start button out

7. Kick it

 Starting a Super Hot Engine

(From TT member SUnruh)

1. Turn the fuel off

2. Lay the bike on its left side till gas STOPS flowing out of the vent tube.

3. Pick it up and open the hot start

4. Slowly open the throttle to WFO

5. Hold the decomp lever all the way in

6. Kick it through 10 times or so

7. Release the decomp, close the throttle (do NOT touch) and turn on the gas

8. Do the normal start. It will fire in 1 or 2 kicks

 Starting an '03 250F or an Auto-Decomp Moded 250F

(From TT member YZ250F_Rider)

1. Jump on and kick it

2. Laugh your ass off riding away as the 01/02 riders are still looking for TDC.

 Links