TOPIC:

Is the nord west supposed to have a decompression device fitted to it as mine struggles to turn on the starter when the choke is on or if the throttle is slightly open when it's cold. To start it from cold I have to press the starter button and wind it with the choke off and wait for it to fire and pull the choke as soon as it fires and hope it catches. There must be an easier way than this. Once it starts out runs fine and starts no problem when it's hot. Any help,is appreciated

No decompression device as far as I know.

Battery well charged?

Good spark?

I had trouble with a tuned 604 Nordie once (early true CDI ignition) and cleaning the pips on the rotor and sensor and checking the air gap helped. If it was really cold I used to go a grade softer on the plug.

See this in Hints & Tips:
www.gilera.org.uk/GeN/index.php?option=c...nts-a-tips&Itemid=64

Ah, if it struggles to turn over at all it might be worth checking the starter relay and the starter itself, plus cleaning up all connections and earth. Presumably the starter sprag clutch is OK - no nasty graunching noises?

Out of interest - have you tried a jump start from a car battery. Before I sussed out the 604 problem that was sometimes the only way to get it going as it turned it over much faster.

Watt wrote:

To start it from cold I have to press the starter button and wind it with the choke off and wait for it to fire and pull the choke as soon as it fires and hope it catches.

One of my Nordwests in the 90's was exactly the same, and the only way I could start it from cold (apart from by spraying Bradex Easy Start in the air cleaner ) was by following points 3 & 4 in the Hints + Tips linked to by 72degrees.

"4.Push the starter button (you did put the kill switch to on first didn't you?)
5.While the motor is turning over *slowly* pull the choke knob out. With luck you will hit the sweet spot and the beast will fire."


Chris

I have charged the battery (new) and the starter has been reconditioned I have fitted a new spring to the sprag clutch. And I have tried jumping it from the car still struggles to turn over.
Chris A that is the only way i can get it started
Once it is hot it starts no problem
Is this normal.

Don't know if it could be called 'normal'.

Of the three Nordwests I've owned, one of them would only start like this (when it was two years old), the second one, of a similar age didn't require that routine, and perversely the current one, which is twenty four years seems to start easily when cold.

I did get used to it, if it's any consolation. There is also a handlebar mounted choke conversion that might make the whole performance a bit easier if you can't eliminate the problem.

Chris