Are these problems all linked ?

[Captain Black]

Had a few Issues with my 89 PD lately. Did a thread on my glowing red hot header on the left side, and also a recent thread on smooth throttle action. I read a few threads re poor cold starting last night, wich my bike has also been suffering from. Does'nt want to catch, feels like It's running on one cylinder and Is slow to pick up etc etc, but generally ok once I'm out and about. Anyway long story short and after reading I think a "Cobster" thread, I changed my cork float bowl gaskets as per Rob's comments, to see If It was sucking air and not fuel. Without any luck. So I took the coil and leads off my basic 80GS and put them on my PD, It seemed better but I will be cautious about claiming a fix until the bike Is stone cold over night. I thought It worth posting a photo or two of the PD coil, and HT lead which looks like It's had some water ingress, and Is only on one outlet ( the dreaded left hand side), the right side being perfect. Could this be the cause of the overheating on the left cylinder, and Is this enough to cause the bike to be poor on cold starting etc. Not sure If any water would damage the coil long term, or If a wire wool and meths spirit clean would restore It to as new. Any thoughts please ?
Here are the photo's If It helps anyone else with similar cold start Issues. Guess I'm lucky I can play the Interchange parts game to try and find problems rather than order stuff from motorworks and play the guessing game.

 

[Kenny]

Interesting....definately a poor connection there. Don't forget in the float bowl at the bottom there is a tiny brass jet..remove this and clean it out, will help with starting.

 

[Captain Black]

Just give It a little go as I could'nt wait til tmrw. First Impressions Is It starts a lot better, but does'nt need full choke and can take running with no choke more or less straight away.
Why's that then ??
Might try It tmrw morning early when It's cold without choke first to see If It likes It.
I think these bloody airheads are alive they have so many quirks.

 

[cobbster]

The only thing that I would add is battery condition, the amount of effort to start from stone cold is the highest, the colder the more effort.

I would also try the reverse, your PD coil, HT leads etc... on Basic if they are the same, this will help find out what works.

 

[Captain Black]

The only thing that I would add is battery condition, the amount of effort to start from stone cold is the highest, the colder the more effort.

I would also try the reverse, your PD coil, HT leads etc... on Basic if they are the same, this will help find out what works.

Yep I will put the PD HT leads and coil on the Basic. I've cleaned up the offending green fur on the left side now so It may well cure the problem anyway.

 

[Captain Black]

Well I think I've sorted the bloody thing. Had to draft In my 70 quid Aldi compressor mind

Swapped Coils/HT leads with my basic and that ran as always lovely. Even swapped the spark plugs, same still perfect. Added new cork gaskets to the float bowl on the PD, still lumpy and crap at cold starts.
So took off both float bowls, removed the little jet that chokes the engine and cleaned out with compressed air.
Bingo!
Starts on half choke now, still does'nt like full choke but runs smoth and settles with the choke off after only 30 seconds or so.
I'll go for another test tmrw, but did 50 miles today and It feels really smooth and responsive now. Apart from a huge backfire at high speed when my main tank ran out and had to switch to reserve.
Hope I'm done now, quick oil and filter change and It's ready for Europe this summer.

 

[cobbster]

Glad you got it sorted, have found out why your coil was corroded on one side?

 

[Captain Black]

Glad you got it sorted, have found out why your coil was corroded on one side?

Not sure but I fancy water has played a part. It's cleaned up fine and Is now in It's new home on my 80 Kalahari.