18-01-12, 08:57 PM
11.8v from a battery after it has delivered a lot of power attempting to start a bike isn't bad... certainly worth sticking on the charger of course, but it doesn't sound like you've a dead cell in there. Sparks or fuel must be more likely as the cause of the problem.
"Why would a blocked air filter stop it from starting when that is exactly what you are doing with the choke."
Gnasher is right, it wouldn't, but it's not quite the same thing anyway... the choke does restrict the flow of air, but also forces it down over the slow jets which is actually what makes the mixture richer. So a blocked air filter isn't a good substitute for the choke, that tends to make the mixture richer when the throttle is opened wider.
"Why would a blocked air filter stop it from starting when that is exactly what you are doing with the choke."
Gnasher is right, it wouldn't, but it's not quite the same thing anyway... the choke does restrict the flow of air, but also forces it down over the slow jets which is actually what makes the mixture richer. So a blocked air filter isn't a good substitute for the choke, that tends to make the mixture richer when the throttle is opened wider.