squirting fuel into airbox to start??

I have aquired a very cheap 2003 fE 400 with a dellorto carby. Apparently the bike has been to the doctor for over a year with the previous owners intention to fit a beefy electric leg - never happend. When it came back it would not start at all.

I'm not a mechanic's armpit, but I have tried to get it going. The only way I can get it to run when it is cold, is to squirt a bit of fuel into the airbox/air intake - choke out. Bike starts 3rd kick and runs like a dream. Infact when it warms up it starts second kick no problem. I have cleaned the carby - no obvious problem there and new spark plug. Stator readings are interesting though, I have a reading of around 5485 between the black and red wires, the others are ok. I suspect it is a choke issue, but what would I know.

Please any advice.
Bigbob
Tasmanian Endurance Riders Club
http://www.taserc.com

thanks bofwool, tried that a million times trust me. I seems to me that its not getting enough fuel initially. Although today i primed the airbox as usual and it wouldnt start from cold until I pushed the choke back in.... I was wearing a different pair of socks today aswell. Dam thing is messing with my head :roll:

Ok this is going to sound really stupid, but isn’t there supposed to be a hole in the choke jet at the bottom? (The way it’s mounted in the carby)

There is nothing under the pilot/idle jet, so I guess this is the problem. Now to find somewhere to get one.
thanks for your help.