GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Have you ever attempted to start a cold engine? It will be challenging to start carbureted engines like those found in motorcycles. Choking will play a crucial part in this. A motorcycle choke can act as an excellent tool and a saviour in a situation where you struggle to start your bike by the conventional method.

Let’s understand how choke functions and how you can use it optimally.

What is a motorcycle choke?

The choke is a crucial component of bikes with carburetors. The air-fuel mixture is composed and fed to the engine mechanically or manually in motorcycles with carburetors through the choke.

A motorcycle choke is basically a pulling lever fastened to the carburetor. It can be mounted on the front panel, the handlebar, or both, but it remains connected to the carburetor via a cable. Wherever the lever is positioned, it instantly operates a carburetor valve and the entire choke assembly.

Role of a motorcycle choke.

Pulling the choke lever out to start a cold engine was once considered necessary, especially in the morning. You might not need it as regularly during summer, but in winter, it is occasionally required to lift the lever each time the engine starts. The choke lever increases the fuel ratio in the air-fuel combination immediately.

In a carburetor, the choke lever opens or closes a valve or gate to regulate the air or fuel that goes into the mixture. This aids the engine in gaining enough power to make the bike ready to use.

The choke's failure warning signs.

Several typical indications of a failing choke are listed below:

● Difficult start

● Excessive smoke produced after the engine has started

● The engine stalls after starting

Even though the choke is working, if the engine is difficult to start, there may be a problem. Either the choke is not closing all the way, or the fuel is being cut off. Check if the choke opens and closes effectively because excessive fuel utilisation is another effect of a broken choke.

Excessive fuel use will also result in smoke from the exhaust pipe. The engine's continued operation demonstrates the choke's effectiveness when engaged. The linkage could be incompatible if the choke is not working correctly.

How can choke longevity be guaranteed?

The constant usage of the choke can result in its wear and tear over time. The choke wire may also become ineffective if it is not used frequently.

To ensure longevity, keep the following in mind:
1. Access the area where the cable attaches to the choke plate.

2. Spray the cable and open the choke to get the lubrication into the joint. If done repeatedly, it increases the choke's lifespan.

3. Keep the air filter and carburetor clean to avoid pressure on the engine. You can use spray cleaners to help if you do not feel like removing the carburetor and cleaning it.

The choke requires low maintenance but might deteriorate more quickly if used frequently. Pay attention to how the engine starts and idles because it may indicate a choke issue. Make sure to empty the fuel from the motorcycle before putting it away for the winter to avoid clogging the fuel system.

When the engine is cold, it is more challenging to burn fuel. The choke enables the supply of an ideal air-fuel mixture that results in combustion and aids the bike's engine in drawing power. To avoid unexpected repair expenses to vent your pocket, invest in reliable insurance from the best motor insurance company in India.

Click HERE to buy insurance from the best motor insurance company in India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

A two-wheeler provides many conveniences and advantages, particularly in terms of time savings. Two-wheelers are becoming increasingly popular as a form of transportation, mainly in urban areas where traffic congestion is the main issue. However, two wheelers are also more inclined to accidents.

If you encounter an accident while riding, make sure to check yourself and your fellow passengers before moving on to the next step. Look for any indications of pain in your body. Check your accessories to see what body parts have touched the ground. You may have been hit in one or more of these body parts if your jacket, pants, shoes, gloves, or helmet have any sign of damage. Before determining the motorcycle's condition, check your physical health.

Sometimes it's impossible to stand the bike back up, and you need assistance. It might have fallen in an odd place, or maybe it's too heavy. Yet again, it's a huge, hefty piece of equipment, so don't feel guilty asking for help.

Make sure it is safe to ride by giving it a quick inspection. Here is the checklist you can follow to know about the damage done.

● Check the fluid levels even if you cannot see anything under the spot where the bike fell over. It might be a case of the coolant splashing out of the reservoir, or the braking fluid reservoir cap coming off. Do not ride the bike if the brake fluid reservoir has air in it, the fluid level is low, or it is leaking. The consequences of having air in your brake lines go far beyond simply dropping your bike.

● Inspect your handlebar and ensure the clutch and brake cables didn't break or bend in a way that will make the bike unsafe. Confirm the foot pedal controls in the same way, assuring the shifter isn't jammed and the rear brake pedal isn't locked or jammed.

● Ensure that the motorcycle starts! Some motorcycles include tip-over sensors, which won't immediately turn back. This can usually be resolved by turning the key on and off.

● If you have a bike with carburettors, the fuel may have leaked out, and you will need to give it a few revolutions to get the gas back into the system.

● The main cause of a motorcycle that won't start after tipping over could be a problem with the gasoline supply, such as too much petrol spilling into the engine cylinders. A broken internal switch or a disconnect in the electronics due to the crash could be present in the motorcycle.

● Sometimes too much fuel from the carburettor might be pumped into the engine cylinders when a motorcycle is knocked over.

● The spark plug's contacts may become wet from the gasoline if too much fuel is put into the cylinders, preventing it from sparking.

A motorcycle has numerous connections that must all work together to turn over. The connection to the battery is one of the most crucial. Over the period, the connection created on a battery becomes brittle because of the rust on it. So, inspect the battery for any faults or loose connections, and once this is fixed, you can start your bike.

Even though a two-wheeler has many advantages, it has a unique set of risks. For starters, the possibility of a surprise collision increases the risk of both the rider and the pillion rider suffering injuries and potential two-wheeler damage. This may result in increased financial hardship.

This then makes sense to buy bike insurance online to avoid adding extra expenses to your budget if something unfortunate happens to your motorcycle. Also, ensure that you have the safety gear and important documents handy before planning your trip. Making the right purchase will handcraft you a safer and more immersive riding experience!

Click HERE to buy bike insurance online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

A group health insurance plan for employees is a group mediclaim plan purchased by a company for all its employees. The employees get basic coverage against common ailments and treatments. The employers usually deduct a certain sum from the CTC of the employees to pay for the premium of the policy. Also, they may decide to either share the premium burden or pay it fully themselves.

This trend of insuring employees' health and well-being has been followed for a long time. It establishes a bond of trust and responsibility the company takes for its employees. But how exactly is group health insurance beneficial? Here are the perks of buying a group health insurance policy for employees.

1. Cost efficient:
Since such policies are bought to cover many people, insurance companies provide them at a good discount. If the employer buys the same number of health insurance plans individually for his employees, it will cost him much more.

2. Motivation booster:
A group health insurance policy is a symbol of the care and concern of an employer for his employees. The employees feel valued that the employer is taking care of them. This acts as a motivation, and they work in a more dedicated and devoted manner towards the company. Also, such policies act as a retention tool. Employees think twice before changing jobs since they feel attached to the employer and the company.

3. Zero waiting period for pre-existing diseases:
A regular health insurance policy provides coverage for pre-existing diseases after 3- 4 years of buying the policy. However, there is no waiting period for the coverage of certain pre-existing diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, etc., under a group health insurance plan. Employees get full coverage for any possible medical expenditure from day one.

4. Preferential treatment:
The buyers of group health insurance policies are big customers for the insurance companies. Hence, the insurance companies cannot afford to annoy them and have to deal with them as a priority. The employees get preferential treatment at the time of passing of claims.

5. Maternity coverage:
Regular health insurance plans usually do not provide maternity coverage and assistance. However, a group health insurance plan comes with automatic maternity coverage. The newborn child also gets automatic protection under the policy as a dependent after 90 days of birth.

6. Full family cover:
The group insurance plans provide health insurance benefits for the employee and his family. He can avail of the benefits for up to 5 dependents at no extra cost. Family-floater plans under regular policies charge much higher premiums for providing similar coverage.

7. Premium as a business expense:
An employer who pays the premium for a group health insurance policy for his employees can claim it as a business expense. It is treated as a benefit that he is providing to his employees. He can book the expenses in the profit and loss account like a general business expense and save on taxes.

8. Validity of the policy:
As per the IRDAI, an employee can migrate to an individual health insurance policy from a group health insurance plan while leaving or changing his job. He will have to complete some formalities with the insurance company for the same. Also, this depends upon the insurance company to continue or terminate the policy.

9. No medical checkups:
Another benefit of a group health insurance plan is that it does not require any medical checkups of the employees before buying the policy. The usual health insurance plans require a medical checkup before issuing the policy.

Buying a group health insurance for employees is often a win-win situation for the employer and the employees. There are many benefits and perks of such policies, which we have already gone through above. Moreover, such a policy is compulsory for employers and mandatory by law. Choose the best health insurance company in India that takes care of your most valuable assets- your employees.

Click HERE to buy the best health insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Cat eyes reflectors are also known as road studs or raised pavement markers. They are safety devices installed on the roads and reflect or emit light flashes at night. You can commonly see them on roads or highways while driving. Drivers use them as lane markers to guide vehicles on dark roads.

Cat eyes reflectors reflect light to a light source, such as a car’s headlights. Hence, when driving on a dark patch of road, these reflectors reflect back light to your vehicle. This helps you to identify the sides and centre of the road and minimise the chances of a mishap.

Types of cat eyes reflectors:

There are primarily four types of cat eyes reflectors in use.

1. Plastic:
Reflectors made of plastic are the least durable and not as strong as the other types of reflectors. They are good to use on the sides of bridges and highways.

2. Aluminium:
These reflectors are made of aluminium and hence, are strong enough to withstand the load of heavy vehicles. These have reflective objects installed inside them. They are also ideal to use in the middle of the roads because of their strength and durability.

3. Glass:
You will also spot reflectors made of hardened safety glass. They come with a coating on their bottoms that reflect the light back to the source.

4. LED:
LED cat eyes reflectors are the most advanced as they have solar panels on their tops. This acts as their energy source and helps them to emit blinking light at night. They provide the brightest light and have much better visibility than the above three types of reflectors.

Advantages of cat eyes reflectors:

● Enhanced visibility:
The primary advantage of cat eyes reflectors is to make night driving safe and secure and minimise the chances of accidents. They help to make corners of traffic lanes visible at night and ensure that the drivers do not skid away from the roads, especially at dangerous curves.

● Prevent unsafe lane changing:
Cat eyes reflectors mark the lanes on the roads. This ensures that vehicles do not frequently change lanes or swerve from one lane to another, causing accidents.

● Speed control:
Cat eyes reflectors also act as a road rumbling strip. The traffic automatically slows down while passing over them since they act as barriers to speed. Thus, they help to control rash driving.

● Durable and easy to install:
These reflectors are very durable, economical, and easy to install than other lane markers. They do not come out by themselves when attached to the roads. Also, there is very little chance of their theft. Hence, they have a very long life.

● Multi-coloured:
Cat eyes reflectors are multi-coloured. While this increases their aesthetic beauty, each colour has a special meaning too. White reflectors denote lane divisions and centre marking on the roads, and red reflectors denote lines that we cannot cross. Green reflectors denote the lines we can cross, such as entrances to service lanes.

Cat eyes reflectors are excellent warning devices on roads inside cities and highways. They have a special role on highways since there are few streetlights, and vehicles run at high speeds. The governments have increased their usage in recent years. It is a step in the right direction as they enhance the safety and security of all types of vehicles plying on the roads.

Similar to cat eyes reflectors, online motor insurance takes care of our vehicles in the best way possible. Buy motor insurance online and receive the safety and security of insurance combined with the convenience of buying it right from your home or workplace without visiting the insurance office personally. Hence, it is the best form of comprehensive coverage and the most recommended one.

Click HERE to buy motor insurance online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.