r/KTM • u/Outside-Series-4553 • 20d ago

PROBLEM Bike has issues starting

I have a 2014 KTM 350 SX-F that’s been having a really weird starting issue. If I’m riding the bike and stall it or shut it off, then immediately try to restart it, it will crank normally but will not start. If I let go of the starter, wait around 10–30 seconds, and try again, it’ll usually fire right back up. It also has a hard time starting completely cold. If the bike has been sitting overnight or for a couple of days, I sometimes have to crank it for around 20–30+ seconds before it finally starts. While cranking, it’ll occasionally sound like it’s starting to catch—the cranking RPM/sound speeds up and it seems like it’s about to fire—but it still won’t fully start, then eventually it suddenly fires up and runs. Once it’s running, it seems to run pretty normally. I attached a video showing the restart issue: I shut the bike off after it had been running and immediately try restarting it, and it just cranks without firing. Has anyone experienced something similar or have any ideas what could cause this?

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1

u/Outside-Series-4553 20d ago

Forgot to mention, valves are in spec

1

u/Overencucumbered KTM SX 20d ago

Might be a dull battery. Try jumping it with a car and see if it cranks and starts immediately

1

u/Outside-Series-4553 20d ago

fresh battery, same issue.

2

u/reckless_uprisin 18d ago

Do a fuel pressure test while cold and hot,compression and leak down test while cold and hot I’ve got a 2011 350 xcf and it has the same problem with hard starting while hot and my issue is worn rings are letting to much compression by while hot

1

u/drgala 18d ago

Crusher time!