trouble starting in warm weather

I have a 1982 Xj550 and I rode it on "warmer" days this winter and I had no problem getting it started but now that the weather is getting warmer I cant seem to get it started with out trying for at least 20 minutes. also the starter button just broke as well, but it would turn over just fine before it broke,(I plan on replacing it with a radio shack switch. what could be the problem? and the solution would be nice too.

 

Your starter switch has four contacts in it. When you press it to start the bike, it disconnects the headlight curcuit to give full power to the starter. When you release it, it makes contact with two connections and completes the curcuit to the headlight. I doubt if Radio Shack has any switches like that (maybe, who knows?) Just sayin'.

 

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/p=171494.html

 

I may be wrong about the switch (sorry) I guess I jumped the gun on this one. I'm thinking of the switch on my other bike (Honda) that has two sets of contacts in it. I don't give false information, but I do make mistakes!!

 

if it's like the 650. the headlights don't come on till the motor runs.

 

You'll need to give as a better idea of "cant seem to get it started with out trying for at least 20 minutes" means if you want some help with the original problem.

Won't turn over? That's one whole list of possibilities.

Turns over won't fire? That's a whole (mostly) different list of possibilities.

And yes, the 550s have a headlight relay also, the headlight doesn't (shouldn't) come on until the bike starts.

 

It will turn over and give me a few puffs every now and then but it usually takes about twenty minutes to get it to start. once it gets started it goes just fine and will start right up but if i let it sit for a day it just wont start.

 

Thanks, unfortunately that opens up the following list:

IN order of being the cause, keeping in mind that it could be a combination of ANY of the following:

-Soggy battery. Which could be the battery; it could also be a MYRIAD of other things; how many miles on the bike? Might be time for alternator brushes, or a wiring/connection problem.
-You need new plugs. NEW, NGK D8EA.
-Dirty air filter.
-VALVE ADJUSTMENT. Once again, mileage on bike? History? YOUR history with it?
-Carbs need cleaning, especially enrichment wells.
-Carbs need sync'ed.
-Carbs need floats checked/adjusted.

If you take care of ALL OF THE ABOVE I can about guarantee it will start. It could be any one of the above; unfortunately they tend to "hinge" on each other.

There most likely isn't a quick and easy fix for your issue; the more info you can provide the better we can be with diagnosing but you probably won't like the bottom line:

You gots some work to do.