strange start

[pdedse]

Well, it starts / runs fine again. I don't winterize the bike, because I ride it. Around a week to 10 days is the longest it goes without me riding for at least 25 miles. Both times this has happened in winter, after sitting a week. It sat for 7 weeks during Jan - Mar last year but no-issue-start-up temp upon return was probably 55-60 degrees. It it happens again this year, maybe I'll have dealership look at it.

[kennyw]

My bikes usually don't sit more that a few days. However, the last few months have been busy moving/ home improvement projects/ etc so I've been driving my truck almost exclusively.

Yesterday was the first 50 degree day in a while so I took the 2017 EX. Only the battery was low so I had to throw the charger on it. Once I had enough juice it started easily but the check engine light came on and stayed on all the way to work (1 hour ride). After work it was off and did not come back on. This is the second time for this exact scenario. Last time was early fall 2019 I think.

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[max]

In NZ we only have one brand that contains ethanol as far as i'm aware, just googled "ethanol water content" and came up with some surprising facts i did not know about, lots of info on the net, some good some just made up, i just extracted the ones that looked reliable.

Ethanol works different in two stroke engines, the ethanol ( alcohol) in the mixture does not mix with the lube oil in the mix, here is a husquvarna site with more info;
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/forest/basi...free-fuel/

Ethanol can be useful to remove water from fuel tanks with vigorous mixing and instant removal, the water content mixes with the fuel, suspending in it and settling to the bottom OVER TIME (where the fuel pump lives).
Here's a guy testing mixing additives to gas and the varying disappointing results ;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElbgPhujl_M

And a way to extract ethanol from the fuel, no ethanol in aircraft engines, wonder why?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO1hsaxaMXo

Actually i have trouble believing the ethanol content in that fuel and they don't show the extraction content but it shows the principle very clearly.

As for pdedse's delayed start i don't know if this is the problem but maybe worth considering for the lack of another solution, i also had an instance of a crank fine but no engine start, i tried various throttle positions and after some time it just fired up, all cylinders at the same time, no hesitation, it only happened once that i can recall and was not related to ethanol, i don't use e-fuel.

[SportsterDoc]

Evap purge valve stuck open/partially open?

[Inhouse Bob]

Just started my 13 for the first time since the summer rally and it fired right up, first crank. Tires were low, though. I gotta get out more! Anyhow, I am following this thread in case I run into trouble down the road. Thanks to all for chiming in with suggestions. We have lots of knowledge on here.

[the Ferret]

First time since September? Holy cow!

[pdedse]

Well...just like last year, my strange start up difficulties came and apparently went. I've had maybe 3-4 startups and rides the last two weeks and absolutely no sign of the peculiar ailment that revisted from last winter. But now that it's happened twice, I'm gonna make special notice of weather conditions and number of days between start-up next winter to see if it happens again.

I think I will also make note of when I add Sea Foam (usually 2-3 times per year), and whether I leave the tank full of gas or partial, just to see if there seems to be anything that can be related to triggering the issue.

[the Ferret]

Last time I rode my CB was Jan 10. Got it out today to go find some photos for the monthly photo challenge and she fired right up and ran great. I love this motorcycle.

[Houtman_imp]

I took my 2017 out today and the last time I used that one was Dec. 25.
Started perfectly and run flawless . ( now I am cursed !)