Reinhard:

I read in digest mode and was away, but I saw this
and thought I'd chime in.

I have an '81 aircooled since new and have driven
it many times to ski in the Rockies.  Cold and
10,000 feet.  It is a trick to start.  The same
was true with my '76.  Many times I've had to get
a push.  Lots of black smoke and then it finally
caught.

I put a switch on the cold start valve to no effect.
Then I put a switch on the fuel pump.  I found that
if it didn't start right away, it was flooded.  So
cranking with the fuel pump off 'til it fired, then
turning the pump back on always did the trick.

I am convinced that there is a flaw in the FI design,
in terms of cold starting at altitude.  The blackish
smoke should have told me sooner that it was flooded
but I'm dense.

                        Richard A Jones
                        Boulder, Colorado