1982 R65LS starting problems

[Sekiar]

I got a new to me nice R65LS that starts great if the temp is above about 85-degrees, however it has now cooled off to about 70-degrees and I'm having trouble starting the bike. I choke and hit the start switch.....when I let off it stops running.....If the battery doesn't run down and I keep trying it will finally start and keep running. The bike runs and rides great with only 20k miles.....any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as this one of my favorite rides of all of my Beemers. Charles

[20774]

Have you confirmed that the choke is actually doing what it is supposed to? Seems like a classic problem in that at warmish temps, the bike starts fine, but when the temps go down, the mixture needs to be richened a little to help with initial running. Follow the choke cable down to the carbs and confirm that the lever moves on the inside of the carb. Even if it does move, it could be that the internal mechanism is not really doing its job...could be that the o-rings in there are shot.

[donbmw]

Clean the carbs and make sure the passageway in the bowl for the choke is not plug. I sounds like the carbs. Sounds like the bike sat for awhile.


Also check out the R65 Fourm http://suraklyn.com/yabb/YaBB.pl
Don

[skiteach]

If it runs on choke, not off choke, the idle circuits in carbs are blocked and choke is working. If it dies with release of starter, it's more electrical.

[flash412]

Replace the internally-corroded Beru spark plug caps with NGK.