hello my 96 fxsts bad boy did not come with an owners manual and i need to know the starting procedure for a cold bike as iam having trouble starting it in the morning and stopping it from stalling and when should the choke be cancelled any advice will be greatly appreciated

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Its a carbed Harley. Thats one of the things I love about them , no two are the same. I ride year around (leave for work in 30 min at 3:15 am and 38 degrees). Try this on a 1st start up of day pull choke all the way out and roll throtal 1x to full throtal and let return then hit the starter. If it doesn't start roll throtal 1 more time and this time when you hit starter have the throtal cracked open just a little. As soon as it hits pop the throtal to keep rpms up till it catches its rythem. Talking like 1500 rpms not wraping it up. Bad on cold motor!! If that doesn't work all I can say is keep trying differant systematic steps till you find one that works repeatally. On mine if I pop comp. releases,full choke and 1full roll it will start every time. Failure to do any of that and never start. After its been started for the day if I stop it for over 15 min I still have to choke it full for the 1st hit of starter. Air/fuel good on dyno run just a carbed HD. I leave my choke 1/2 on till engine temp reaches 100 degrees in winter. Good luck..

 

You should leave the enricher out full for the first 2-3 miles of riding on a real cold morning, this will keep it from stalling, then cut it to half for another mile or so, it should be plenty warm by then. I have a carbed heritage and it does take a roll of the throttle to start after it is warm but will starton 30 degree morning with just the enricher out though. Every bike has its own routine that it likes.