Staring problems/questions 1985 XL600r

[thumper21]

Picked up a 85 XL600r. Starting it is one is not easy. It is especially stubborn when warm/hot. Here is my ?, should I be looking at the CDI or the stator? Since I learned that there is no good way to test the CDI, I was hoping someone can help. Also does anyone know if plastic parts (impossible to find for the XL 1985) from the XR the same year fit on the XL. Maybe someone knows a manufacturer that has plastic parts.
Thanks

[VAL]

I have an 83 XL 600. These bikes have coffee cans for pistons and can flood if not started correctly, especially when warm. If you were able to start it cold and ride around, but then could not start it after it was warm, it might just be your technique. With my XL, I have to be religious with turning off the gas when I turn the bike off. Then when I restart, I turn on the ignition, pull in the compression release and give her four swift kicks. Then I press down on the kick-start lever until I hit TDC, (you will find this when the kick has the greatest resistance). Go just a smig past TDC, then kick straight through with no compression release. If she doesn’t start, I go through the steps again. Once started, then turn on the gas.
As far as the plastics, I would like to find some myself, so I hope someone can answer that one.

[thumper21]

Thanks for the information, I'll follow your instructions and if I find some plastics, I'll be sure to let you know too.

[Beatty]

Ya, my 83 xr500 is more like a wine sipper than a beer guzzler. If you give it any gas while your kicken it over your gona have fun clearin it out with the decompression. I would get a new spark plug that did wonders for mine. If that dosn't work take the cdi to honda. For the plastics, Ebay, people are constanly parting out those bikes. Thats where I got my rear fender and side plates.