What is wrong..

Depends on how many hours are on the bike. The needle jet and needle rub together on the Dellorto and wear, causing the engine to run richer at idle and partial throttle. As this condition continues, it can cause it to become too rich in fuel at idle, making it harder to start when hot and run rough at partial throttle. To avoid this I replace those parts at 100 hour intervals.

The other 2 conditions that I know of are the valves not being properly adjusted, and the SEM ignition stator starting to fail, Its usually the CDI charge coils that open. This can be gradual and reversible with stator temperature or sudden, and non reversible. I have had 3 stators fail in 10,000 miles on my 2000 FE501E

I would suspect the stator, sorry...

Download the 'Hard Start Guide' and trouble shoot your bike!

Best regards,

Joe

I had the same problem with my 02 550. The drill I use for starting hot or cold is.
1) Pull in the manual decompressor on the bars.
2) Open the throttle
3) Kick the bike through 5 times using full and complete strokes (this should clear out and partially burned or perculated fuel)
4) Bring it up to TDC and give it a full stroke kick (do not cheat it at the top). if it does not start by the second kick. Repeat the whole process.

It will usually start.

I think Husby found a guy who rewind the stator. This far I haven't seen any posts about how it works for him. Since it is in Portugal it's no problem with the customs or taxes if you decide give it a go.

When starting it cold I use the choke for 2 kick. then kick it without choke a couple of times and it starts.

Click to expand...

I had this behavior when it was cold, some degrees below zero. I found out it was wrong idle speed. If it is too high the bike will not start. My bike starts quite easy since I started to use very slow idle speed.

If the bike stalls you often need to open the throttle and do a few slow kicks to dry the bike as berger writes. Never touch the throttle when you try to kick start it.

Yes it could still be the stator.

Have you run the stator tests yet in the Hard Start Guide?

What was the unloaded resistance between the Red and Black stator leads?

What was the unloaded VAC Red to Black when doing the kick start and Electric start tests?

Joe