When first starting bike...

[Steve]

First, it's on a tender, and is a new battery. So, when I first crank the bike in the morning (or after sitting for hours) I hit the start and it's like the first turnover it takes all the juice that it can muster just to get it to start the next crank. So, first crank, tries real hard and then finally starts cranking faster. It starts up fine, runs fine, but am just wondering if that is how these bikes start (when cold, sitting overnight or after hours of no use). If it is, I won't worry about it, if not I wonder what is going on. Anyone have any idea? Thanx bunch.
Steve.

 

[Gas Man]

They can be hard to crank but that is why we tell you to have a good agm battery and keep the bike on a tender.

Also, give it 2 twists (3 if its real cold), then hit the starter. Don't use the enrichiner as it will just foul out the plugs most of the time. If you have to use it, get it turned off asap and hold the idle up with the throttle.

 

[Cavazos]

I would check the battery, sounds like it's giving out.

 

[ChuckRB05]

re

On cold starts I like to crack the enrichner open just a tad after I give the throttle two twists. It fires up quick. I wait about 8 seconds then shut off the enricher and use the throttle lock.

 

[woodbutcher]

something simple to do that i have found helps a lot is to, after you turn on the key, reach down and manually depress the compression releases. if the comp. rels. are not opening on their own, it will drag down the battery big time.

 

[rhinoevans]

First, it's on a tender, and is a new battery. So, when I first crank the bike in the morning (or after sitting for hours) I hit the start and it's like the first turnover it takes all the juice that it can muster just to get it to start the next crank. So, first crank, tries real hard and then finally starts cranking faster. It starts up fine, runs fine, but am just wondering if that is how these bikes start (when cold, sitting overnight or after hours of no use). If it is, I won't worry about it, if not I wonder what is going on. Anyone have any idea? Thanx bunch.
Steve.

That is exactly how mine starts everytime.

 

[dingo]

something simple to do that i have found helps a lot is to, after you turn on the key, reach down and manually depress the compression releases. if the comp. rels. are not opening on their own, it will drag down the battery big time.

I do the same thing :2thumbs: - manually depress the compression releases and the motor turns right over.

 

[chaingunner]

I do the same thing :2thumbs: - manually depress the compression releases and the motor turns right over.

No shit!?!!? You do this EVERY time?

 

[woodbutcher]

No shit!?!!? You do this EVERY time?

every time i think about it, which is just about every time. takes strain off battery, starter, and wiring (overheat).

 

[K9PSYCH]

I thought the compression releases were electric & could not be opened manually. Isn't that why you're never suppose to twist the throttle while starting?

 

[woodbutcher]

comp. rel. are electric but they CAN be operated manually by pushing down on the rubber ball in the center of the rocker cover. sometimes they get a carbon build-up on them which restricts their motion. for me, i would rather do the manual thing pushing down the release than do the manual thing of pushing the bike to start it. there aren't too many hills down here in the lowcountry to roll it down.

as far as twisting the throttle, that's so you don't flood the thing and run the battery down. the plugs foul out very easily.

 

[lee]

opening the throttle also increases the compression in the cylinder making it more difficult to turn over - exactly the opposite of what the releases are trying to do

 

[DRBarnhart]

First, it's on a tender, and is a new battery. So, when I first crank the bike in the morning (or after sitting for hours) I hit the start and it's like the first turnover it takes all the juice that it can muster just to get it to start the next crank. So, first crank, tries real hard and then finally starts cranking faster. It starts up fine, runs fine, but am just wondering if that is how these bikes start (when cold, sitting overnight or after hours of no use). If it is, I won't worry about it, if not I wonder what is going on. Anyone have any idea? Thanx bunch.
Steve.

Ditto what's been said before... Make sure your compression releases are working and that you don't open the throttle while cranking. If the CR's aren't working or you open the throttle during cranking the compression increases substantially and makes for some hard work by the starter. There's even the chance of kickback which can really bust some stuff up!

Mine cranks just fine after sitting for several weeks at freezing temperatures WITHOUT a battery tender on it!

Dennis

 

[dingo]

No shit!?!!? You do this EVERY time?

I really only need to do it to the rear release when the motor is cold but it's become a simple habit every time.

 

[joey1158]

something simple to do that i have found helps a lot is to, after you turn on the key, reach down and manually depress the compression releases. if the comp. rels. are not opening on their own, it will drag down the battery big time.

It's halfway decent (warm) today in Maryland and so I decided to remove my K9 from the shed (on a tender for the three weeks of cold it had to endure away from the heated garage I normally keep it in). It's fuel injected so no switches to flip, turn, etc. put the key in the ignition, hit run, watched for the correct lighting on the speedo and it cranked ok but backfired a lot! Didn't start. Kept that up for about 20 minutes (with pauses in between). Always cranked but wouldn't start. So, what to do. First thing is come to this forum and do a search "cranks but won't start". Did some reading. Saw the part about depressing the compression releases manually. Let me tell you that bike never cranked so fast!!!! Started up also. Can not thank you guys and this forum enough for all I've learned and have yet to learn about Big Dogs. Beers for everyone.

 

[mzinna]

Mine was doing this exact thing... it turned out to be the Strator...

 

[liferider]

That's why I had 12 volt compression releases installed. I have eaten up way to many starters! Now that I have the releases installed. Much easier starting my bike!!!!!! Heads were already tapped for them. So it was an easy installation

 

[TylerDavin06K9]

where is this compression release you speak of? I have a feeling thats why its so damn hard to start my bike EVERY TIME! Do I need to depress both, and thats it, they'll return to the right place after the bike runs?

 

[TylerDavin06K9]

would my 06 k9 have the compression release?

 

[dingo]

where is this compression release you speak of? I have a feeling thats why its so damn hard to start my bike EVERY TIME! Do I need to depress both, and thats it, they'll return to the right place after the bike runs?

would my 06 k9 have the compression release?

Your 06 K9 has compression releases - each cylinder has one - there is a hole in the center on the top of each cylinder head / rocker box - inside the hole is a rubber boot covering the compression release - just press the rubber boot and you will feel the compression release operate / click - I am on my ipad now so can't post a pic but will try to later. My rear one tends to stick but I click them both before starting - takes 2 seconds and bike turns right over.