Ok first newb question.

[watchamakalit]

I have an 97 mag.  When it has sat for more than say an hour it is really doggy upon first startup.  I has been this way since I got it.  It isn't as bad when the ambient temp is in the 80's or above.  But it still does it.  I have pulled the baffles out of the stock pipes and am getting ready to order the shim and jet kit for it.  The doggy feeling was there before I pulled the baffles.  Could it be a carb issue or is this just typical of the mag?

P.S. I bought the bike about a year ago with 4200 orig. miles.  It now has about 11000 on the clock.

[TLRam1]

Need more info.

Describe "Doggy Feeling".

Does it correct itself after you ride?

Is it hard to start than it's fine?

Sounds like something is not right. The stock 3rd gen. Magna is a nice running bike with few issues. Doing the shim kit you may locate what ails the Magna.

[Greg Cothern]

I highly suspect the idle jets are partially clogged.  When you get the jet/shim kit and install it be sure to remove and clean the idle jets while your there.  They are next to the main jet and have a slot for a flat blade screwdriver.  Be careful they are brass and deform easily.
They have a very small hole and you should be able to see through it when holding it to a light.
If your bike is stock other than the resonator plates removed, then I would adjust the D shaped pilot jet screw to 2 3/4 turns out.  
I would plan a K&N air filter as well if the rest of the bike is stock as with the jet kit she will be a bit rich without it.

[watchamakalit]

By doggy I mean that within the first few minutes of running if you try to throttle it at all it just falls on its face.  It is almost like it isn't getting any fuel.  

Yes the bike is all stock except for the removal of the resonators.  I will look it over real good when I put the shim and jet kit in. And thanks for the suggestion on the K&N filter.

[Magnum Magna]

With out seeing and feeling what you are saying it could be slow speed jets or the Magnas  needs just a little warm up time.  There are many different opinions about choking it at start up.  I always chock on a cold start.  I let it ideal for a few seconds or to 2000 - 2500 RPM's if it is cold out (50 F or colder).

[RedMagna]

Would you describe it as a stubborn cold start?

My bike has been torn down to the carbs, everything looked through, jet and shimmed, filters, and etc, but when first started acts like it is getting limited fuel for the first minute with the choke on for no reason also.  It did this with the previous owner (close friends brother's bike) that hadn't been worked on since it only had 4500 miles on it.  I There are a few others that have the same issue and none of us have been able to resolve it.  You just learn how to slightly twist the throttle to boost the RPMs.  

I've found that if I twist the throttle all the way, pull out the choke, and then crank it, it seems to crank best.

[Sledge Hammer]

My '95 is sluggish when I first start it up cold and requires the choke to keep it running ufor the first 30 seconds or so. In fact, I have found it starts better if I pull out the choke 20-30 seconds before attempting to start it. Before it is fully warmed up, the throttle response is almost binary: for the first two or three thousand RPM it seems like it can't get out of its own way, and then it will suddenly light up as though it had afterburners. Never a dull moment when I am trying to get out of my subdivision in the morning.

[watchamakalit]

So it sounds like my experience is not just limited to my bike.  I will let you know how it performs after the shim and jet kit and the KN filter.

On a side note when you guys pull your choke knob out will it stay out on its own or does it slowly work its way back shut?  I have noticed on mine I have to hold the knob out or it will slowly work its way back in.

[Jerry G Turner]

On my 94 it always worked its way back in.

[Slydynbye]

There is a tightener on the choke assembly. Just behind the actual knob, when loose it will go back in on you.

[Greg Cothern]

Remember that the choke (actually a fuel enrichment valve) should only be used as long as necissary to get on the throttle to keep it running.

[RedMagna]

There is a tightener on the choke assembly. Just behind the actual knob, when loose it will go back in on you.

I tightend mine a bit also, but YES the choke goes back in by itself.  Which you would want it too, otherwise you'd be running with it on by accident a lot.

Please let me know how you bike does if you follow my suggestion of; pull choke out, twist the throttle completely, and then hit the Start button with a slight throttle twist as you normally would.  I'm riding in 38 degree weather right now and by doing this, the bike is starting right up with almost no problems.  I just started doing this last month btw.

[HardDriveUSA]

ok, let me bounce this off yall.  Most of the time I can't use choke to start the bike, or it will just kill it.  I start the bike it's at a low RPM, I try to give it some gas and it dies.  I just have to let it idle till it warms up on its own.  I have used sea foam, will try again.  Seems like it might be time for real cleaning though, slow jets if I understand right.  That still doesn't answer why it kills the bike giving it a lil more gas at warm-up though.  This might have needed to be a new topic, but for now this should work.

red 96  

[Greg Cothern]

It has been my experience that your slow speed jets are a bit clogged.  I will be holding a wrench session in the very near future.

[Moja]

It has been my experience that your slow speed jets are a bit clogged.  I will be holding a wrench session in the very near future.

After Greg and the guys helped me clean my low speed jets and did the shim job, my '00 no longer required choke at all, no matter the temps (only tested down to about the 50s so far this year.)  My M.O. for starting is to turn the key on, immediately fire the bike up, and then put on my helmet and gloves.  About 45 seconds later, I get on it and ride immediately, giving it a bit more throttle, and a bit less clutch for perhaps the first 1/4 mile.  On rare occasion it will have maybe one small "stumble" (which is what I call what you are describing) but then it always pulls cleanly after that.

You might try some SeaFoam in the mean time - that worked well for me too.  One can will treat easily 4 tanks.  I've found that after getting it running the way I like, the best formula for keeping it that way is run it hard, and run it often.  Good luck!