Cold starting/not so good

Energy One
Red Bull

Red Bull

Active Member
Hey all, Happy New year, Well I couldn't wait to here the dog again after being so long with this crappy weath....SUCKS...is it spring yet???....

Anyway I went to start the girl and she would crank and crank and would not turn over, then it wouldn't turn at all and the battery charger showed red and it was recharging again....so trying to start it seemed to drain the battery....Just wondering why it wouldn't turn over when I had it cranking???....had the choke up, twisted the gas twice, like I always do...the indicators on the speedo work, the needle went up and back down....

The other thing that happened when the battery drained is that the right turn signal started to go off...I guess maybe that is a thing that happens when you loss battery power and try and start it....didn't do it when I went to start it the first time....

So I figured I'd ask the exsperts on here....always a wealth of knowledge....hopefully you guys can help...

Thanks much,
RED
 
K9Anniv

K9Anniv

Well-Known Member
Gas in the tank?..and if so, was the petcock turned on? Sounds silly, but it's happened to me!!:eek::bang::rolleyes:
 
C

clevelandx

New Member
sounds like its missing gas somewhere. (I think we have ALL forgotten to open that damn petcock once or twice!)

I was doing some carb work a while ago and I had a similar issue. I had the tanks off and when I put it all back together I didn't have a good flow of gas to the carb. Air pocket somewhere in there. It would crank and crank until I drained the damn battery. After I charged the battery and made sure the gas was flowing, fired right up.

That turn signal thing is a "low voltage" indicator. Usually the horn will chirp once and the flashers will come on. Are you sure it was just the right one, or both?
 
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L

LUPHOLE

Well-Known Member
hey andy it is too friggen cold to be doggen. but seriously, is the bike in an area where it has really been cold. a little frost, which is now ice, could be the problem.
also, have you tested the battery? our dogs hate bad batteries.
spring just around the corner, chuck
 
RADAMS445

RADAMS445

RADICAL
This shit happens to me when she sits for 2 or more weeks At a time. But always starts up a min.or 2 later.I think the gas dries up in the fuel bowl.:crazy:
 
W

woodbutcher

Mr. Old Fart member #145
Staff member
you said you had the enrichener up and you gave a couple twists on the throttle. you may have flooded the fucker and fouled the plugs. change the plugs and do either/or. if you use the enrichener, when it cranks use the throttle to keep it running and get rid of the enrichener. could be worth a try.
 
B

Baldielox

Active Member
How long did it sit? And was it on a battery tender? Maybe check the water level in the battery... The battery shouldn't go down that quick unless water is low or it got froze, that will ruin a battery pretty quick too.

- B
 
Moespeeds

Moespeeds

Well-Known Member
When it's below 50 degrees, it's a bitch to start mine and the Bourget, I never knew why. I use a shot of starter fluid in the intake to get it to kick over. Our batterys don't have water, they are AGM or Gell Cells, sealed, no maintenance.
 
bkingjr

bkingjr

Active Member
Thanks to folks here I feel like I know how to trouble shoot. Seems like 9 out of 10 times, it's the battery. If it looses enough power the tender will not bring it back enough. You can put it on a good charger or buy a new battery. After 4 batteries in 14 months(BDM paid for all but the last), I finally bought a Harley Soft Tail battery. It's awesome. I now always keep it on the tender when not riding.
I think everyone has hit the sweet spots - plugs, fuel, spark, power to the starter, etc...

Good luck! Let us know what happens.
 
B

Baldielox

Active Member
Just FYI... My mechanic told me to always use a battery tender especially in the winter, it keeps the battery warm enough that it won't freeze. He said that once it gets froze once it's never the same.

- B
 
boydog

boydog

Active Member
battery

Baldielox said:
Just FYI... My mechanic told me to always use a battery tender especially in the winter, it keeps the battery warm enough that it won't freeze. He said that once it gets froze once it's never the same.

- B
Click to expand...
he is correct:2thumbs:
 
Red Bull

Red Bull

Active Member
Thanks much everyone...yeah sorry I didn't reply earlier, work and had route canel today....ouch..lol...doing ok though....

Anyway I will try to start her without the choke and just use throttle to keep it going....maybe I did flood her....I'll double check the petcock....maybe put my flood light next to her to see if that helps...hey do you usually close the petcock when leaving her sit for the winter???.....

Yes just one turnsignal went off....ok on ther voltage being low....cool makes sense..learning learning....

You guys rock man....hey I just have to hear it ya know???....jonesen here with no riding man....killen me.... Winter sucks...lol....

hope to meet some of you all this year....

RED
 
Baby Ray

Baby Ray

Well-Known Member
Same thing here, no heat in da shack and hooked up to the tender but just to cold to turn it over. but should get back to the 50's mid week:cheers:
 
Raywood

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Red Bull said:
twisted the gas twice, Thanks much,
RED
Click to expand...
Check the adjustment on your accelerator pump and make sure it's a full two turns out. It may not be getting enough fuel or maybe too much.

I keep mine at about 1 1/2 turns out.

:cheers:
 
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