HELLCAT won’t start in cold

[Mowgli]

I just received my hellcat a few weeks ago and have put about 25 miles on it. Little thing is great when it’s warm outside but lately we have had 50 deg mornings and I can’t get it to start at all with the cold weather. I tried for awhile one morning till I noticed the starter getting hot (used in short burst). I let it cools back down and put a space heater next to it and 5 mins later it turns on. I’m guessing this is a carburetor issue? How do I get it so I’m able to start in the cool weather and also when we hit 95+ deg days

[culcune]

I only had experience with vertical thumpers, but when I was commuting on my TMEC 200 enduro in the winter in Yuma where it could be in the 30s Faranheit in the early mornings, I had to use the choke to start it and warm it up. Not sure how the setup is with the Grom-cloned 125cc horizontal thumpers' carbs, but that is my first (un)educated guess. I only throw it out there for the reasons to start with the simple stuff first. But you might not have an easily accessible choke, or a choke that you can access like the enduros' carbs.

[Mowgli]

The choke is mounted on the bars. This is trying to start it with the carb choke fully closed(pulled backwards)

[Hellkitty]

The choke is mounted on the bars. This is trying to start it with the carb choke fully closed(pulled backwards)

The choke on mine is closed (choke on) when it is pulled toward me (sitting on the bike)

[Mowgli]

The choke on mine is closed (choke on) when it is pulled toward me (sitting on the bike)

Mines the same as that. Are you running the stock carb on yours? Or have these cold weather starting issues

[Bruce's]

Have you removed the air filter and visually checked the choke plate is closing ?

[Mowgli]

Have you removed the air filter and visually checked the choke plate is closing ?

I have. Even after pulling the lever all the way closed I’ve also reached to the carb and pushed it the rest of the way closed since it seems like the cable didn’t have enough tension

[wlfpck]

Pull the choke and give it like an 1/8th throttle when you try and start it.

I have no idea if this is just due to the stock carb/intake but I've never had an issue with mine, but I'm on the Mikuni VM22.

Never had the stock carb/intake on long enough to test it in the cold.

[Mowgli]

Pull the choke and give it like an 1/8th throttle when you try and start it.

I have no idea if this is just due to the stock carb/intake but I've never had an issue with mine, but I'm on the Mikuni VM22.

Never had the stock carb/intake on long enough to test it in the cold.

I tried that also. No luck. Where did you get your carb from?

[wlfpck]

https://www.cajunmaddogs.com/product-page/fuerza-carburetor-upgrade-kit

[Mowgli]

I adjusted the valves and that seems to have fixed the issue

[culcune]

I adjusted the valves and that seems to have fixed the issue

Considering these engines are pretty much scooter engines, that makes sense. Scooters need to be adjusted every 600 miles. For comparison--my TMEC 200 enduro I put about 12000 miles on commuting in the desert southwest for 2 years, including 6 months of near/at 100 F afternoons, I NEVER adjusted the valves. (TMEC uses a Zongshen-OEM 196 cc engine in their enduro)

[Mowgli]

Well I though I had fixed it. 65 deg out side. Sat in the garage overnight and still same issue. Garage was probably 55deg

[Chinabike]

Well I though I had fixed it. 65 deg out side. Sat in the garage overnight and still same issue. Garage was probably 55deg

You upgraded your carb? what size and jet sizes? Have you played with them?

[Mowgli]

You upgraded your carb? what size and jet sizes? Have you played with them?

Not yet. I ordered one and it will be here Friday. I just adjusted the valves so far but that didn’t help the cold start issue I’m having

[Chinabike]

Not yet. I ordered one and it will be here Friday. I just adjusted the valves so far but that didn’t help the cold start issue I’m having

I would just see how it goes after you put in the new carb, so you can adjust the fuel/mix screw and dial it in better. You going to remove the airbox and other egr stuff?

[Mowgli]

I would just see how it goes after you put in the new carb, so you can adjust the fuel/mix screw and dial it in better. You going to remove the airbox and other egr stuff?

I’m not sure yet. I’d like to keep the factory air box but I really doubt it will fit with the carb so I’ll most likely use the filter that came with it.

I just went to drop something off at the post office right now and the only way I could start it again was with the space heater next to it. This sure is annoying

[Weldangrind]

I bet if you went up a size or two on the slow jet, the problem would go away.

[Megadan]

I bet if you went up a size or two on the slow jet, the problem would go away.

This. Go up a pilot jet size (Slow Jet in Keihin speak).

As air gets colder, it gets more dense. More dense air = more oxygen. More oxygen = needs more fuel.

If a bike is hard to start when it gets cold, it's because it is too lean. The choke is just there to block air and help correct the AFR for cold starts. (unless it has an enrichment circuit, which these dont)

Generally, a good rule of thumb for using a choke is that you shouldn't need to use full choke until the air temp is below 50 degrees F. Above 50, and your bike should start and idle on half choke from a cold start. If you need full choke above 50, and adjusting the mixture screw (if it has one) makes no difference or takes more than 2 turns out from seated, then go up to the next size on the pilot/slow jet.

Chinabikes are notoriously lean jetted across the board, which is done in an effort to get EPA certification. It makes them a pain in the rear to cold start.