Just purchased a new-to-me ’82 FT500 with 3,300 miles on it. Entire bike including engine and exhaust are bone stock. It seems a little hard to start and feels a bit underpowered when riding down the road. However it runs smooth if I ride away with the choke on when cold, and will idle fine once the engine’s warmed up. I am keeping this bike on a trickle charger and the battery is showing xx.x volts across the battery terminal at idle.
Maybe it’s just me being picky, or not knowing the exact starting sequence. However, it did not start the first time for the PO as well, and I am wondering if that is a symptom of simply the carb needing to be rejetted, or if there are other issues. The bike eventually comes to life, but maybe after 3-4 revolutions of the starter when the engine is cold or has been sitting awhile.
I would like my engine to come to life on the first or second revolution of the Ascot’s fragile starter motor, but it doesn’t. Maybe I just need to learn the starting routine, but after reading the “Ascot essentials” article, I went ahead and ordered the 2x oversize jets from Mark at Thumper Stuff, in hopes of getting my bike to fire and hold idle a bit more quickly. I could just go ahead and install the jets, but am kinda’ curious before I do as to what are the specific advantages of the upgrade.
For instance, once I install the new jets and a new float bowl gasket, will my FT500 start more easily when cold? Will it need less choke? How well will it start when warm? Will it have better performance off idle, at certain RPMs, or everywhere in the power-band? Lastly, are there any other adjustments I need to make to the carb once I install the up-sized jets?
In the long run, I am hoping that the new and bigger jets will help my bike to start a little easier, perform better, and relieve some of the stress on my starter motor. Thanks again folks for your feedback.