Hi, I've got a 1983 XT600 34L that seems to be a bit of a problem starter, I can't find anything obvious mechanically and tried loads if variations of technique etc. for starting it but nothing gives consistent results, nearest I have come up with so far is to kick it with choke on and no throttle until it spits a bit then choke off and keep kicking (and cursing/praying) with a little throttle on but it's far from an easy starter. So any suggestions for different methods would be welcome.

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1983 Yamaha XT600 Tenere 34L

I had trouble starting mine ....with a backfire too.....turned out the carb boots had split and once replaced started second kick.....does it run ok or idle badly or misfire?

It's here in this forum. Someone called it that, the holy grail. How to start an XT 600.
I have had mine for 3 years and i still can not start it on demand every time. Like a battle of wills, i do not always win.

There are things that make it easier:
You must set your decompression cable correctly. Research it.
If you have a dirty fuel tank and/or a leaky float needle or if your engine is not in a good condition, take the bus. Get the parts and fix it.

To start:
You must consider the temperature. Cold and choke you will need. How much you will learn. Mostly full choke. And NO THROTTLE. ALWAYS.
You must learn where to 'park' the crankshaft before you kick. Very important and not easy. You can listen to the clicks the decompressor makes.
Or you can find TDC at nearly the end of the kickstart stroke. Viewed from the side the lever should be at 7 o'clock and piston at top dead centre firing position.
Now release the lever to the top and calmly push down. If it does not start, kick again from the top. The engine stops in the right place, no need to find TDC.
Starting from hot is the same. Just no choke. And NO THROTTLE.
It is said that one can start and XT with the hand, and i believe it. There is no compression, taken care of by decompressor.
But not always. Sometimes i am not perceptive enough.
Cold; after 4 kicks with full choke and not started, it will be too rich and will not start.
Hot; 4 kicks (without choke) and it can be too rich and will not start.
At this point i want to walk away. Hey, it's not my bike, just trying to steal it...
Here i learned:
When failed starting cold, open the choke. Open and hold the throttle wide, gently kick the engine over a few times to dry it out. Now try starting again. If it starts you will need a little throttle to keep it going.
When failed starting hot, also open the throttle wide and gently kick the engine over 4 or 5 times to dry it out. You may want to operate the kill switch here to avoid a backfire. Now try starting again.
These steps may be repeated until you learn just what your XT is telling you and the engine starts.
It's also a great way to save that magnesium clutch cover from fracture due to booting the engine over compression.

Thanks for all that, it should keep me occupied for a while trying different things, I've definitely walked away from it a few times!
It does backfire sometimes when I have been kicking it with the choke on for a while but once it starts it runs OK, has to get warmed up before it will idle. It also backfires when I stop it using the switch on the throttle but not usually when I turn it off using the key.
I rebuilt it a few months back from a bit of a basket case and the inlet rubbers seemed OK but I will check them again, it also had a carb service kit at the same time, float needle seals etc.

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1983 Yamaha XT600 Tenere 34L

Checked the inlets and the plug colour looks good so I don't think it is sucking air from somewhere it shouldn't and there is a good spark but still haven't found a starting technique that seems remotely consistent.
Have been searching other posts for info and a couple mention getting the ignition timing right but the manual I have says it is fixed, is there any way to adjust it?

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1983 Yamaha XT600 Tenere 34L

Might be making some progress, took the carbs off and stripped them down again and everything seemed OK but noticed when putting them back on that the choke plunger was only coming about half way out and couldn't find any way of getting it to open fully just using the control on the bars, I have checked the 'fingers' for rough bits and put loads of grease on so can't see why it wont run to the end. I currently have a loop of wire twisted round it and hanging out over the oil cooler and it starts a lot better when this is pulled fully out. I think I can live with just pulling the bit of wire but it would be nice to get it working properly if anyone has any suggestions.

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1983 Yamaha XT600 Tenere 34L

Under the float there is a filter sometimes this is missed when a carb service is done,
Remove the float take out the bullet shape fuel cut off valve under there is a mesh filter you will find that some dirt or some obstruction in there clean put back together, try that

Hi Pete, all are truth what you wrote about this hard starting, beside we love our XT, we are angry and sad about this circumstenses. I am german, since 88 have my american xt 600, before since 82 XT550 and several Tenere in München. Only E start solved this common problem, but I do not want destroy the original ( 29 year old, 37 K mile) so we are all suffering about, no exemption. After long years experience, I quess the kick starter lucky adjustment could be some help. I said this, because my XT 550 started excellent, never have problem with, the kickstarter aliagment was very smouth, like you said easy start with hand as well.

But what is the right adjustment? I tried to adjusting light as possible, in this case not started because missing compression. I think we have to reach the closest point from this, thats mean, close to the point, where couldn,t start.... I blame the design, the kick aliagnment is not clear and easy understable

I like your mean, we dont need to lock it, nobody able start it, just some other XT owner. But the life make funny event, I told my son, (who never ride bike, but he wnat try it) id you are able to start it, you can ride with one hour. He just pushed easy one time and start, without knowledge, how could be the proper way. This happened with me as well, several time I gave up any hope, but just rutin in the end pushed one more time and..... started southly.....

Sorry because my bad english, please just focusing in the kick adjustment. and waiting for your advise.

regards
peter

Please help me, where you adjusted yours?

Greetings pbuchmeuller72,

We have a small language problem, so to save time maybe you should go to the site https://www.xt600.de/ It is the greatest store of XT knowledge. It is in your language, so can help me maybe!

You may find what you are looking for. Even if you don't you will learn much.
And you can come back here anytime for help.

How to start an XT, latest version: start with a good bike

I have been lucky. I am 3rd owner of my '87 2kf, It is standard, i rebuilt the engine and gearbox. No mods before i got it. My policy is to fix anything as well as i can, regardless of cost. Only genuine parts if possible. Found all manuals i needed, with some help from people here.

So the engine needs to be in a good mechanical condition, with clean carbs, good float level and a good spark. No air leaks into rubber inlets and a well set de-compression cable. It's in the manual. Learn to kick the engine from click or TDC. (there is a better description here than mine, to find tdc. top dead centre) Both work. Engine position is critical to start easily.

The settings you talk of: Xts are very fussy about fuel mixture strength. They are often more difficult to start when hot. Flood easily.

Use the advice given; consider what conditions the engine may need to start.
Cold, full choke. Warm, try some, or no choke. You will find that one eventually. Hot, no choke. Always dry the engine if it fails after 2 kicks. Learn how many turns it needs with throttle wide to dry it enough. If many you can set mixture screw leaner and maybe float level lower.

Practice. And tell us how you get on.

best,
p