2025 rocket 3 prolonged occasional starting.

[Journeyman]

yes, that is correct, this happens and not sure why, as I have tried priming fuel injector until they stop priming and then give an engine start but it does that sometimes and there is no pattern in regards to temperature or anything else.

@imcool where are you at with checking/adjusting your valves? I'd be curious to know if that hard start continues after you've readjusted your timing. The timing being off could account for hard starts. Some of the bikes in this thread don't have many miles, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee that the timing is set as it should be and on older bikes, originally set properly, it could develop over time. Just a wild theory (one of many)...

 

[rick danger]

I'm pretty sure tight intake valve clearances make for hard starting.

 

[mo8414]

I have a touchless electric tester that turns red when it senses current. I've been putting it by the first spark plug wire when starting to see if when it does the hard start if it senses current or not. So far it hasn't did the hard start since using the tester. I also switched to mid grade gas. We will see.

 

[vsteel]

I have never run anything in the bike other than 87 with the exception of racing on the salt where I put in 98 octane. It was the lowest octane I could get from the approved fuel list which I had to purchase from Sunoco.

 

[Journeyman]

I have a touchless electric tester that turns red when it senses current. I've been putting it by the first spark plug wire when starting to see if when it does the hard start if it senses current or not. So far it hasn't did the hard start since using the tester. I also switched to mid grade gas. We will see.

Regular gas (instead of at least mid-grade) could have something to do with it- the old Rockets (unmodified) used regular.

Another thought... For some reason most (if not all) of us have discovered that the spark plug wires are not on tight- just laying on top of the plugs. You mentioned the spark plugs and this occurred to me as another potential reason, although timing being off is my best guess. My plug wires were just resting on top of the plugs when I did the 10K service, BUT I was not having the start issues you mentioned. Still....

10k mile service - DIY (also, Spark Plugs Not Tight & Wire Boots Not Pushed On!)

Sharing my experience here changing the air and fuel filter and inspecting the spark plugs. Refer to the manual for the basics, but here are things that may help, along with some very surprising discoveries I made... 1) Removing the tank There are three things to disconnect besides the bolt...

www.r3owners.net

 

[imcool]

@imcool where are you at with checking/adjusting your valves? I'd be curious to know if that hard start continues after you've readjusted your timing. The timing being off could account for hard starts. Some of the bikes in this thread don't have many miles, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee that the timing is set as it should be and on older bikes, originally set properly, it could develop over time. Just a wild theory (one of many)...

I am in process of collecting the steel bar, final item before I start but I am also getting a new rear time, it will be few weeks before I start.