What would make my ol' 99 EC300 so hard to start?

[flatout111]

First of all, I am not very mechanically minded. Just being honest. Just a casual trail rider and sometimes go to the moto tracks. I've got an old 99 EC300 which is a nice trail bike. Old, for sure, but still cool.

My main issue is it is just super hard to start. When cold, I find it easiest to prop it up beside my shop so I can get a more forceful kick. pull the choke, don't give it any gas and it will kick over pretty quick if I start it once a week. But again, when cold you have to kick the hell out of it, honestly.

Once warm I can start it without having to prop it up and do the super kick but it still is far from easy. I am only 140 lbs and honestly when I stall it in tight terrain it wears me out having to kick it over. makes riding this otherwise great bike not so enjoyable.

Sure, I could take it to my local bike shop but not sure if want to put a whole lot of money in it and they charge a stupid amount to work on GasGas bikes and I honestly don't have a lot of money.

I've added some real cool parts to the bike and it is really a great bike but is a real pain to start, especially cold.

Any advice or help would be appreciated. I know its difficult without seeing it but worth a shot.

Pics attached. She runs real good and looks great fro the year but is a pain to start and restart.

 

[jimjim]

Check your reeds,look for damage,that can make it hard to start.

 

[bowhunter007]

Do you know how hours on the top end? When mine was overdue, it was nearly impossible to start. Once fired, she ran fine...just down on power.

 

[Rick]

First of all, I am not very mechanically minded. Just being honest. Just a casual trail rider and sometimes go to the moto tracks. I've got an old 99 EC300 which is a nice trail bike. Old, for sure, but still cool.

My main issue is it is just super hard to start. When cold, I find it easiest to prop it up beside my shop so I can get a more forceful kick. pull the choke, don't give it any gas and it will kick over pretty quick if I start it once a week. But again, when cold you have to kick the hell out of it, honestly.

Once warm I can start it without having to prop it up and do the super kick but it still is far from easy. I am only 140 lbs and honestly when I stall it in tight terrain it wears me out having to kick it over. makes riding this otherwise great bike not so enjoyable.

Sure, I could take it to my local bike shop but not sure if want to put a whole lot of money in it and they charge a stupid amount to work on GasGas bikes and I honestly don't have a lot of money.

I've added some real cool parts to the bike and it is really a great bike but is a real pain to start, especially cold.

Any advice or help would be appreciated. I know its difficult without seeing it but worth a shot.

Pics attached. She runs real good and looks great fro the year but is a pain to start and restart.

Try turning on the gas and leaning the bike to the left until you get a little dribble of fuel to come out of the over flow hose.
Then choke it a give her a strong kick, make sure you follow through with the kick.

Replace plug and make sure it is gapped to proper spec.

I agree with checking the reed pedals for broken or damaged tips.
Same with the topend....low compression will have a negative effect on cold starting.

Hope this helps

 

[bowhunter007]

If you find yourself inclined to tinker...take pics, as you go. Photos during unfamiliar mechanical projects have saved me more than once.

 

[flatout111]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll keep you posted.

 

[thejackrabbit]

try using a 2002+ yz250 kick start its much longer and comes out past the foot pegs making it much easier to get a good kick on it

 

[WAZ]

My EC300 was a right pain to start, I tried the YZ kickstart lever but it didn't help. Then I did a top end rebuild including reeds, and now it starts first kick. My reeds were burnt, chipped, delaminating and generally not sealing, so I think they had the most effect on starting.

 

[flatout111]

It probably does need a new top end so that is probably the issue. But it does start a bit easier when warm. Would it do that if it is top end? Sorry for the ignorant question. As I stated, I'm not that mechanically minded.

 

[stian]

an old buddy of mine has this old 200 Gasgas at the MX track. Havent done the top-end in 8 years. And this bike gets the beating everytime ;p

Reeds+plug+top end, 1 kick.

 

[Daniel123]

It probably does need a new top end so that is probably the issue. But it does start a bit easier when warm. Would it do that if it is top end? Sorry for the ignorant question. As I stated, I'm not that mechanically minded.

Had some recent troubles with my gasser to regarding intermittent ignition problems... Just to make sure check your resistance on the secondary on the HT-coil. Had starting issues on my ec 300 2005 with the br8es plug on my bike due to too high resistantce on the secondary coil beacause of the extra 5k ohm or something in the spark plug. Also some have resistors in the caps to... Changed to b8es and i have a super healty spark again and i dont even have to kick hard... A good tip i found on this forum for the reeds is to turn the upside down to get a tight seal if they arent damaged

 

[adddy]

one thing to try (like you said after the bike is not started for a while) is i agree let the float fill completely, but also before the kick put it in gear and try to push the bike back and forward with the clutch puled, you can get the plates sticking after these lay up periods of a few weeks, just braking the oil surface tension stops this drag resistance that the motor needs to start easily